Category Archives: Blog

INTERVIEW: Laferty Takes on Director of the Methodist Ecumenical Office Rome

MEOR director Rev. Matthew A. Laferty was interviewed for the World Methodist Council’s newsletter First Friday Letter. The Rev. Matthew Laferty began his duties as the new Director of the Methodist Ecumenical Office Rome (MEOR) in September. As he looks to the future, he shares his vision for MEOR includes several points. “First, the MEOR continues […]
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Nuevo director de la oficina metodista ecuménica en Roma

Por CMM*Traduccion y adaptacion: Rev. Gustavo Vasquez ** 7 de mayo de 2020  El Rev. Matthew Laferty fue designado como Director de la Oficina Ecuménica Metodista de Roma (MEOR) y comenzara su servicio el próximo 1 de septiembre.  Laferty dice que está emocionado por esta nueva oportunidad “Tengo un gran interés en la unidad cristiana […]
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All Roads Lead to Rome

This past week Bishop Tracy S. Malone announced that I will receive a new appointment in the autumn. Beginning 1 September 2020, I will be the director of the Methodist Ecumenical Office in Rome, Italy. The mission of the Methodist Ecumenical Office Rome is to foster relations between the global Methodist family and the Roman […]
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Preachers’ Perspectives in Pandemic

During Eastertide 2020, I am hosting and editing a special podcast series called “Preachers’ Perspectives in Pandemic” with my colleague Dorothee Büürma. Dorothee is the pastor of the Salzburg United Methodist Church. The podcast series focuses on preachers’ viewpoints on Scripture (mostly Gospel lessons from the Sunday lectionary) during Eastertide and the COVID-19 pandemic. I […]
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Holy Week Daily Prayers in English

During Holy Week, I worked with my colleague the Rev. Dorothee Büürma, pastor of Salzburg UMC, to produce and release a special podcast series called “Holy Week Daily Prayers in English”. We created six episodes. Each episode included a Scripture reading, part of the poem “It Was On” from the Iona Community, and prayers of […]
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Declaration on IDAHOBIT 2019

Declaration from “Religions for Equality” Vienna In a joint statement, the Initiative “Religions for Equality” makes a declaration on the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia 2019. IDAHOBIT is 17 May. We raise our voices against homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia. We know that even today people are being rejected and discriminated against in faith […]
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Christ is the light of the world

Note: This devotional was written for the Lenten devotional series for the Moscow Protestant Chaplaincy in Moscow, Russia. I served as MPC chaplain from 2011-2015.  “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” John 8:12 (NRSV) Recently I traveled to Ghana […]
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Building Bridges. Connecting People.

Stories of migrants, refugees and uprooted peoples critical in solving forced migration

Stories are powerful. The stories of migrants, refugees and uprooted peoples can change public policy. Rev. Matthew A. Laferty (The original article appeared on UMC Church and Society’s website, http://www.umcjustice.org.) The Gospel is a retelling of the story (and Good News) of Jesus Christ. We recall the handiwork of God in the Great Thanksgiving at […]
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Making the Local Newspaper

The Crestline Advocate, Issue 22, 5 April 2017