"I look upon the world," said Methodism founder John Wesley, "as my parish." If John Wesley had been in Springfield, Mass, last week, he would have been pleased to see how well his parish was represented. Assembled for the Seventh Ecumenical Methodist Conference were 500-odd delegates from 16 independent Methodist groups on five continents.
The sobersided, dark-clad delegates met morning, afternoon and evening to hear and discuss the news and views of world Methodism.
Magnanimity Gone? Some of the views were pessimistic. Said stocky, grey-haired Rev. Paul Hutchinson, editor of the Christian Century: "Men as individuals give the impression of being in almost...