Former President of the World Methodist Council, Rev Dr. Kenneth Greet, died on February 12. Dr. Greet served as President of the World Methodist Council from 1976-1981, and was known for the visionary leadership he gave his home church, and the global church, particualrly through his advocacy for social justice and peace.
Dr. Greet’s tenure as President set the stage for the worldwide expansion of the body, which began at the 14th World Methodist Conference in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA. His desire to explore and challenge his audience and himself was both a driving force and a conscience for the World Methodist Council.
Dr. Greet’s service to the World Methodist Council is one part of a lifetime of ministry and mission, illustrated at the 1981 World Methodist Conference: “There are certain things to which I am irrevocably committed; to the cause of peace, to justice, and goodness and reconciliation, to Christian unity, to the gospel of redeeming love. I confess the way is harder than once I thought, the warfare long and the battle fierce.But I can go on, on to the end, provided I can be sure that my side will win. And I can because it is the Lord’s side. “
“Though Dr. Greet’s time with the World Methodist Council predated my own by a number of years, the work of his generation of leaders continues to inform and inspire my own initiatives and vision,” said General Secretary Ivan Abrahams. “We honour one of our patriarchs, a man of visionary leadership and passionate commitment to causes central to the Methodist people.”
