“We are no longer strangers or foreigners, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of the household of God.”
Ephesians 2.19
There are an estimated 7,000 - 10,000 members and adherents worshiping in languages other than Welsh or English in Methodist gatherings and services across the Methodist Church in Britain.
‘The Fellowships’ is the name in common use for these language-diverse groupings and congregations present in our local churches and circuits.
"We are reminded that the early Church was a global movement from the start, and the Church thrives when it 'goes out', not when it just 'stays in'."
The Revd Nigel Cowgill, Connexional Global Communities Officer cowgilln@methodistchurch.org.uk.
Our work as a Global Communities Team with the fellowships in the Methodist Church is about building trust along the lines of relational theology, working alongside local communities and churches and encouraging the Gospel to be culturally relevant in the local churches
We are delighted that currently we work with over 20 different fellowships Groups and diverse language-speaking congregations across the Connexion.
- Brazilian Fellowship
- Iranian Fellowship
- Fijian Fellowship
- Ghanaian Fellowship and Language Congregations
- Korean Fellowship
- Nigerian Fellowship
- Tongan Fellowship
- Zimbabwean Fellowship and Language Congregation
- Gujarati -speaking Fellowship
- Chinese - speaking Congreation
- Hong Kong Fellowship
- Swahili - speaking Fellowship
- Urdu -speaking Fellowship
- Punjabi- speaking Fellowship
- Hindi -speaking Fellowship
- Telugu-speaking Fellowship
- Tamil - speaking Fellowship
Each of the fellowships and congregations brings a gift of many languages and cultures to the Methodist Church, and each group represents the diversity of ministry in terms of growth, positive energy and dynamism within local churches and circuits.
In many places they already worship in an English-speaking Methodist setting, but there are a number who worship in the context of their own distinct spirituality and in their own language and style of worship.
The fellowships are varied and are in different stages of development. Some fellowships have formal chaplains, and others work in a more informal way.
It is exciting work as we respond to God’s love in Christ and to live out its discipleship in worship and mission as we seek to together to be a growing, inclusive, evangelistic and a justice-seeking church.
This work is overseen by the Revd Nigel Cowgill the Connexional Global Communities Officer who is able to offer support for your church, circuit or district when working with fellowships and diverse language congregations.
Nigel can be contacted at cowgilln@methodistchurch.org.uk.