REPORT TO THE WORLD METHODIST COUNCIL STEERING COMMITTEE

October 2025

Rev. Edgar De Jesus, World President

The World Fellowship of Methodist and Uniting Church Men also known as WesleyMen is a global connecting point of men’s ministry for Wesleyan, Methodist, and Uniting denominations. An affiliate organization of the World Methodist Council, our mission is to lead men in Christian Fellowship with a foundation rooted in the actions and words of Jesus Christ. And our three major priorities for the new quinquennium 2025-2029 are summed up into three impactful words– CONNECT, CULTIVATE, COLLABORATE.

CONNECT

WesleyMen recently elected Rev. Scot Moore of African-American Methodist Episcopal (AME) Zion Church as the new Board Member & Regional Leader North America. Based in Maryland, USA, Rev. Scot is a strong and gifted Christian leader. He is currently serving as the International Director of the Men of Zion, the Men’s Ministry of the A.M.E. Zion Church. He also serves as the Presiding Elder of the churches in Barbados and St. Vincent.

WesleyMen works closely with the World Methodist Council and its Regional Bodies to deepen our connections and relationships as well as mutually collaborate with each other. We formed a Task Force to study and make recommendations about the relationships between WesleyMen Regional Leaders & WMC Regional Bodies such as Africa Methodist Council, Asian Methodist Council, CIEMAL, European Methodist Council, etc.). Currently, WesleyMen Regional Leaders serve as “liaison” connecting WesleyMen to the WMC Regional Bodies and then connecting back the men’s ministry of their region to the WesleyMen Board. How does this specifically look like in terms or roles, structure and programmatic implementation? How can the WesleyMen Regional Leaders relate to/be linked with WMC Regional Bodies?

WesleyMen is also represented at the World Methodist Council Steering Committee Meeting on August 11-15, 2025 in Accra, Ghana. The World President met with WMC leaders as well as Methodist leaders from Africa Methodist Council, CIEMAL, North American Table, Asia Methodist Council and European Methodist Council— seeking stronger collaboration and partnership.

Furthermore, the World President also met with Ms. Sipiwe Chisvo, World President of the World Federation of Methodist & Uniting Church Women. A future Zoom Conversation is being planned between WesleyMen and the World Federation of Methodist & Uniting Church Women. WesleyMen is also planning to host Roundtable Virtual Forums in other geographical regions of the world in collaboration with the WMC Regional Bodies. The main goals of Roundtable Virtual Forums are: (1) introduce the mission and core values of WesleyMen; (2) serve as a platform for listening & conversation, mutual collaboration & call to action; (3) foster unity and energize the WesleyMen and the worldwide Methodist community. We are prayerfully envisioning for in-person WesleyMen Gathering during the 2026 World Methodist Council Meeting.

Finally, the World President attended the Ecumenical School on Governance, Economics, Management (GEM) for an Economy of Life sponsored by the World Council of Churches and National Council of Churches in Korea last August 16th-30th in Seoul, Korea.

CULTIVATE

WesleyMen is observing the 2025 International Men’s Day (IMD) on November 19, 2025. With the theme: “Supporting Men & Boys to Know Jesus Christ”, the 2025 IMD is a celebration of global awareness for issues confronting men and boys: parental alienation, abuse, homelessness, depression, violence, and suicide. Men and boys are looking for a place to belong, to be included, loved, embraced and welcomed into a Christian community and to know the transforming love, grace and hope of Jesus Christ.

The IMD is observed on 19th November each year. In 2025, the day falls on a Wednesday, providing a platform to engage in activities and discussions related to men’s issues (including their health and well-being). WesleyMen recommends that Sunday, 23rd November 2025 be the culmination of the 2025 IMD in the context of Sunday worship service. Furthermore, we encourage the leadership of Men’s Fellowships/Organizations and Member Churches of the World Methodist Council to observe and promote the 2025 IMD and share this important directive to your constituencies.

Background Information

Every year, the world celebrates International Men’s Day (IMD) to recognize and appreciate the role of men as fathers, brothers, husbands, and colleagues. This day holds significant value as it promotes the positive role of men in framing society, state, and nation and also promotes gender equality. According to the IMD’s official website, the objective of this day is to promote gender equality, appreciate the positive contributions made by men to society, highlight discrimination against men, improve gender relations, and create a safe and better world.

Brief History of the International Men’s Day

Inaugurated in 1992 on February 7th by Thomas Oaster, the day was not celebrated until November 19, 1999, but it came into existence after Dr. Jerome Teelucksingh re-initialized the day in Trinidad and Tobago. International Men’s Day gained massive support in the Caribbean, after which the day was accepted by the international community. Today, International Men’s Day is celebrated in many countries, including Singapore, Australia, India, the United Kingdom, the United States, Haiti, Jamaica, Hungary, Malta, Ghana, Moldova, and Canada.

The day holds significant value as it highlights the “Six Pillars of International Men’s Day”, which includes contributions, in particular for their contributions to the nation, union, society, community, family, marriage, and childcare. On this day, discrimination faced by men is also highlighted, which creates a chance to improve gender relations and equality. It is also a significant day for men all across the globe because it promotes awareness of causes related to men’s health and awareness of men’s mental and physical health. On this day manhood is celebrated and the power of goodness of men is acknowledged.

Theme: “SUPPORTING MEN AND BOYS TO KNOW JESUS CHRIST”

Six Pillars of the International Men’s Day

• Positive male role models
• Positive contributions to society
• Men’s health and well-being
• Discrimination against men
• Improve gender relationships and gender equality
• Safer, better world

Six Objective of the International Men’s Day

• To improve male health
• To tackle discrimination
• To foster positive gender relations
• To make the world a safer place for everyone
• To value male role models
• To acknowledge the contributions of men and boys.

 Suggested Road Map to Guide the Celebration of the 2025 IMD

18th – 21st November 2025 -Men’s Fellowships/Organizations in the various conferences (countries) would be expected to select a day (preferably Wednesday 19th November 2025) to hold a seminar or a talk on the 2025 IMD theme. The objectives are: (1) To enable the men appreciate the need for the celebration of the IMD just as the International Women’s Day, which is celebrated in March every year, (2) To arouse the consciousness of men that they (just as women) have emotional challenges that need to be addressed to avert cases like drug abuse, depression and subsequently suicide etc., and (3) To challenge the men to be more committed to enable them perform their God given role creditably.

23rd November 2025 – Hold a Sunday Service Celebrating the 2025 International Men’s Day. Men’s Organizations & Churches are requested to develop and share a communique (based from your context) and be read from the pulpit during the November 23^rd Sunday Service.

Sample Communique from the Africa Methodist Men’s Movement (AMMM)

The International Men’s Day (IMD) seeks to offer men a happy, incredible and fulfilling life. It is a day set aside to make men feel loved and appreciated. To achieve these would require some form of action and not mere rhetoric. There is, therefore, every need to “shout out” to all men and boys to reposition them for them to fulfill their God given role as fathers, husbands, and leaders in all spheres of life. The occasion also focuses on men’s health, men’s vitality, and men’s resourcefulness to improve gender relations; that is, empowering men and women for the cause of humanity. The IMD celebration this year should awaken citizenship, caring, fairness, trustworthiness, respect, and responsibility for all humanity. On behalf of the Africa Methodist Men’s Movement (AMMM), we wish all men and boys in Africa and world as a whole, a Happy International Men’s Day!

 COLLABORATE

WesleyMen affirmed the action component of the Prayer Statement regarding the Hunger Crisis in Gaza. Please see link: https://wesleymen.org/a-call-to-prayer-against-hunger-in-gaza/

• Encourage WesleyMen to attend the 2nd & 4th Wednesday Methodist Liaison Office (MLO) Jerusalem Updates & Prayer Zoom Meetings
• Subscribe to Methodist Liaison Office (MLO) Newsletter
• Host Zoom Conversation w/ Daoud Nassar of Tent of Nations in collaboration w/

WMC Youth & Young Adults Committee

• Partnership w/ Shepherd’s Field/Bethlehem Bible College
• Host Future Zoom Conversations w/ Methodist Liaison Office (MLO)
• Organize Solidarity Visit to the Holy Land

WesleyMen is actively engaged and representing the World Methodist Council to the Prayer & Action Against Hunger Coalition (PAAHC). The PAAHC is a coalition of Christian organizations, including church-based organizations, denominations, Christian NGOs, and parachurch ministries. Its primary functions are to ground and coordinate responses to the global hunger crisis in prayer, raise awareness about the issue, and mobilize the global church to take faith-driven action.

During the October 16th World Food Day, WesleyMen wanted to take a moment to thank everyone for your continued commitment to ending hunger through prayer, advocacy, and action. As we mark this day, I encourage you to consider using it as an opportunity to:

• Promote the Prayer & Action Against Hunger Coalition within your networks – https://www.wvi.org/…/prayer-and-action-against-hunger…
• Share resources from the Weekend of Prayer & Action Against Hunger – ttps://www.wvi.org/hun…/resources-events-hunger-nutrition
• Support the FastPrayGive of the https://wesleymen.org/or known as The World Fellowship of Methodist and Uniting Church Men. Since 2011, WesleyMen has focused on bringing awareness to and exposing the realities of global hunger, severe malnutrition, and starvation. We work to recruit and equip leaders in the movement to end world hunger. We welcome leaders who will equip persons in their sphere of influence to engage in compassionate action and justice. Since 2016, we’ve operated FastPrayGive as our primary initiative.  https://fastpraygive.org/

Whether through a social media post, a prayer gathering, or giving to WesleyMen, the World Food Day is a powerful moment to remind the world that hunger is not inevitable — and that faith communities have a vital role to play in ending it.

In closing, God is on the move through the WesleyMen! We are grateful to Bishop Debra Wallace-Padgett, Rev. Dr. Léo Neto, the WMC Steering Committee, and the entire WesleyMen Board including Past World President Rev. Steve Hickle for their constant prayers, commitment, mutuality and solidarity. May the Pentecost Spirit be with the WesleyMen and the World Methodist family!