Leslie Griffiths

For the crossbench peer, see Hugh Griffiths, Baron Griffiths. For the Conservative peer, see Brian Griffiths, Baron Griffiths of Fforestfach.

Leslie John Griffiths, Baron Griffiths of Burry Port (born 15 February 1942) is a British Methodist minister and life peer in the House of Lords, where he sits with the Labour Party. He served as President of the Methodist Conference from 1994 to 1995.

Early life

Griffiths was born in Burry Port in Carmarthenshire, Wales, on the 15 February 1942. He attended Llanelli Grammar School before studying at Cardiff University.

Early ministry and career

Griffiths became a local preacher in the Methodist Church of Great Britain in 1963. He completed a Master of Arts in Theology at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge in 1969, while training for the ministry at Wesley House. He spent most of the 1970s serving the Methodist Church of Haiti, where he was ordained, before returning to Britain to serve in ministries in Caversham, Loughton, Essex and Golders Green. In 1987 Griffiths completed a PhD from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London.

President and superintendent

In 1994, Griffiths became one of the few people to be elected President of the Methodist Conference whilst still a circuit minister. In this role he was the spiritual and administrative leader of the Methodists in Britain.

Since 1996 he has been superintendent minister at Wesley's Chapel, London. He was created Baron Griffiths of Burry Port, of Pembrey and Burry Port in the County of Dyfed in 2004.

On 20 August 2009, Griffiths published an article in the Methodist Recorder outlining a prospective plan for his "conditional ordination" by Richard Chartres, Bishop of London, in the Church of England. The plan was the subject of detailed discussion at the Methodist Conference (sitting in closed session) in 2008 and 2009 and the conference withheld consent for this move.

On 1 September 2011, Griffiths was appointed as the thirteenth president of the Boys' Brigade

Arms

Arms of Leslie Griffiths

Adopted 2006 Coronet Coronet of a Baron Crest Entwined about a Bottle Kiln Or a Dragon wings displayed the body reflexed over the sinister side with the tail to the dexter Gules langued Or Escutcheon Gyronny Argent and Vert on a Celtic Cross Gules between four Escallops flukes inwards five roundels Or Supporters On either side a male Griffin Gules armed langued rayed and holding in the interior forefoot a Conch shell Or Motto IN FIDE FIDUCIA Symbolism The griffins are a pun on the surname. The rest of the Achievement contains elements from Wales, including the green and white field, and Christianity.

References

• House of Lords Biography [1]
• Wesley's Chapel [2]
• "Peerage for Revd Dr Leslie Griffiths" from The Methodist Church News Service [3]
• "What Can We Learn from the Methodist Church of Haiti" [4]