Sunday Times 2
Lankan-born Bala Gnanapragasam elected Vice President of the Methodist Conference for 2018/19
View(s):The Methodist Conference has elected the Revd Michaela Youngson to serve as President, and Bala Gnanapragasam to serve as Vice-President, starting their year of office when the Representative Session of the Methodist Conference meets in Nottingham next year.
Bala Gnanapragasam and Michaela Youngson
Sri Lankan-born Bala Gnanapragasam believes strongly in the mission and social justice. He serves on the board of Christian Aid and MHA (formerly known as Methodist Homes for the Aged). He is also a trustee of the London HIV/Aids Chaplaincy. He was the first Synod Secretary for the London District.
Bala came to the UK in the 1960s and has previously served as an elected councillor for the London Borough of Lewisham. He has also served as the Chair of University Hospital Lewisham.
Bala said: “It is both humbling and an honour to be elected to this position. I look forward to serving our great Church.”
Michaela has been Chair of the London District since 2012. With a passion for social justice and for developing strong ecumenical relationships, Michaela is committed to working within the diverse and rich context of the Connexion. She is a regular contributor to the BBC Radio 2 Early Breakfast Show’s ‘Pause for Thought’.
The role of President of the Methodist Conference is reserved for presbyters (ministers) and Vice-President for lay people or deacons.