Woman succeeds woman as president in first for Methodist Church

Rev Michaela Youngson became the first woman to succeed a woman President of the denomination as she took over the reins from Rev Lorraine Mellor.

Marking the start of her twelve-month tenure with a symbolic gesture repeated each time a new President is inducted, Rev Youngson was presented with a Bible used by John Wesley.

‘Radical grace’ has been named Rev Youngson’s theme for the year, reflecting her passion to see the Church reflect God’s grace in its hospitality and mission.

During her Presidential address before Methodists gathered the University of Nottingham, she said: “God’s grace is radical.

“It goes beyond what is only fair, to a prodigious reckless generosity. It is prevenient grace, which flows from the Lover’s desire to see the beloved flourish, to be whole and to live in delight.

“We need to let go of our tendency to ‘niceness’ and, prompted by just how uncomfortable God’s grace is, make a nuisance of ourselves again in the market place and in the public square, refusing to remain silent in the face of systems that reinforce injustice, and oppress vulnerable people.”

Rev Youngson – who will receive support from the new Methodist Vice-Presdient Bala Gnanapragasam – was first ordained in 1997.

The Methodist Church remains one of the largest Christian denominations in the UK, with approximately 188,000…