A Review of Annual Conference 2025

Reflections on the 96th Annual Conference: Celebrating What God Has
Done Through Us

Over the past three years, we’ve celebrated God’s love! We’ve come together. We’ve encouraged one another. And in hindsight, we actually did a lot! Therefore, it is time to celebrate.

At this year’s Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church in Austria (29 May - 1 June), hosted by Fünfhaus Gemeinde and ESUMC in Vienna, we gathered in our beautifully renovated sanctuary, ready to reconnect, reflect, and re-imagine our path forward as a church rooted in God’s love and action.

Throughout our time together, one thing became abundantly clear: we may be small, but we make a difference. Not because we strive for it, but because God works through us. This truth shaped our worship, our conversations, and our decisions. We don’t act out of obligation or for reward; we act because we have experienced God’s love, and we feel called to share it with others.

Some Conference Highlights:
- We held the conference in our newly renovated sanctuary, a visible sign of renewal and readiness for the future.
- Worship services and reflections (including a powerful morning devotion by Lea Hafner, our guest from Germany) grounded us in Scripture, grace, and joy.
- Ecumenical guests and their greetings (including a greeting from Matthew Laferty, our former pastor and the current director of the Methodist Ecumenical Office in Rome) reminded us that we are part of a much larger community in God's love.
- Young people were present, active, and vocal throughout the conference. Their presence is not only encouraging, it’s vital.
- The conference spent time with the “Weg- und Lerngemeinschaft” process, reflecting on how we can grow and learn together as a church network in Austria.
- Plans were discussed to expand our presence on social media, strengthening the way we share our message and connect across communities. More information regarding this will come soon, so keep your eyes open if you are interested in being a part of this!
- We affirmed ongoing efforts to care for God's creation and to live out our faith through justice, compassion, and sustainability.

Upon reflection we realized that our slogan “We make a difference” isn’t just something we hope to achieve. It’s a reality, something God is already doing through us. When we encourage each other, when we show up, when we step into action, that is how love takes shape in the world and change happens.

Yes, the journey is full. Sometimes we question why we do what we do. But this conference helped us re-center: we serve not from obligation, but from joy. From love. From a deep sense of calling. What a gift it is to know God's love, and to be part of sharing it.

So we move forward celebrating all that’s been accomplished, with hearts full of gratitude, and eyes lifted toward what’s ahead. Because when we live out God’s love, we do make a difference, again and again.

We celebrate God’s love. Therefore, we make a difference.