Methodists debate stance on drink Religion in the UK: special report Martin Wainwright Guardian (London) Thursday June 29, 2000 Britain's Methodists will today consider a new relationship with one of their oldest enemies, the demon drink. For the first time in 40 years the church's governing conference will debate the long-standing ban on alcohol in Methodist chapels, which extends even to communion wine. The issue is expected to cause deep divisions among the 400 delegates to the annual conference in Huddersfield, but reformers are keen to reach a decision. Chapels and local Methodist circuits, or branches, have been consulted for the past year, and traditional teetotal attitudes among individual Methodists have been widely replaced with accepting drink but strongly emphasising moderation. Chapels have already relaxed other restrictive rules on ancient vices, such as gambling in the form of raffles, and this year's conference has displayed a radical nature by overwhelmingly backing a forgiving acceptance of sex offenders in congregations. Delegates voted to respect the privacy of convicted offenders in return for safeguards, including a written agreement never to be alone with young people and attendance at household support groups to help rehabilitation. After today's alcohol debate, delegates will decide whether to change the rules. Methodist minister David Deeks, secretary of the consultation working party, said: "If we decide to allow alcohol in church premises in principle, it would then be up to individual church councils to apply for a licence. There might be concern about division within church councils, but another view of the church is that we should be strong enough to face issues that divide us." Methodism earned its reputation for a stern attitude to alcohol during the worst days of cheap gin and wholesale drunkenness, when hymns inveighed against the destruction of health and families by drink. Chapels were influential in the foundation of temperance movements and used the rituals of the Women's Bright Hour and Boys' Brigade to encourage the signing of the teetotal pledge.