Methodist Church in Malaysia

Methodist Church in Malaysia
Classification	Protestant
Orientation	Methodist
Polity	Episcopal (Connectionalism)
Leader	Rev. Dr. Hwa Yung
Associations	World Methodist Council, Christian Federation of Malaysia, Council of Churches of Malaysia, Christian Conference of Asia, World Council of Churches
Geographical areas	Malaysia
Origin	1976
Branched from	United Methodist Church
Congregations	573
Members	97,197 [1]
Ministers	387
Primary schools	42
Secondary schools	32
Tertiary institutions	1
Official website	www.methodistchurch.org.my

The Methodist Church in Malaysia is a body within the Methodist tradition in Malaysia. With approximately 180,000 members in more than 560 congregations, it is the largest Protestant denomination in the country.^[2] The current bishop of the Methodist Church in Malaysia is the Rev Dr Hwa Yung.

The other body of Methodists in Malaysia was started by the Free Methodist Church of the United States^[3] in 2002.^[4]

The History of the Methodist Church in Malaysia

The church shares part of its heritage with the Methodist Church in Singapore as both the territories shared a similar political history.

The history of the Methodist Church in Malaysia began 120 years ago following a decision taken at the South India Conference held in Hyderabad in 1884, when William Oldham was appointed as a missionary to Singapore in 1885.

The Tamil work started with the coming of a Ceylon Tamil, Mr Underwood. In 1894 the Tamil work was started in Penang by the Pyketts, and in Kuala Lumpur by the Kensetts and was continued by Rev. S Abraham from Ceylon in 1899.

Methodism came to Sarawak in the year 1900 when a group of immigrants came from Foochow in mainland China. Missionaries came in 1903 in the persons of J.M Hoover and G.V Summers. Methodism grew rapidly in the town of Sibu and a solid foundation was laid.

The work among the indigenous people, the Ibans, began in 1937 with pioneers like Lucius D. Mamora and Paul H. Schmuker who took the Gospel to the longhouses. The work amongst the Sengoi community in Pahang was started in 1930 with the help of missionaries from Sumatra, Indonesia.

The Methodist Church in Singapore and Malaysia became a self governing body in 1968. After the separation of Singapore from Malaysia, the Methodist Church in Malaysia became autonomous in 1976.

Beliefs and Practices

Membership

The composition of the Methodist church in Malaysia reflects the racial composition of Malaysia. There are 381 churches and 596 preaching points with 417 pastors. The total membership of the Methodist church is 182,965, consisting of 97,509 confirmed members, 59,763 preparatory members and 25,693 baptized, above 16 but not confirmed. There are more than 72,000 weekly worshippers in all the churches.^[2]

Organisation

Governance

There are six conferences under General Conference of The Methodist Church in Malaysia. The annual conferences were traditionally organised along linguistic and ethnic lines but the present day constituent congregations of the various annual conferences tend to be multi-lingual and multi-ethnic ^[5] :

• Chinese Annual Conference (CAC)

Chinese language congregations in Peninsular Malaysia

• Tamil Annual Conference (TAC)

Tamil language congregations in Peninsular Malaysia

• Trinity Annual Conference (TRAC)

English language congregations in Peninsular Malaysia

• Sengoi Mission Conference (SMC)

Sengoi congregations in Peninsular Malaysia

• Sarawak Chinese Annual Conference (SCAC)

Chinese and English language congregations in Sarawak

• Sarawak Iban Annual Conference (SIAC)

Iban congregations in Sarawak

(including 1 congregation in Johor Bahru, Johor)

• Sabah Provisional Annual Conference (SPAC)

Chinese, English and Malay language congregations in Sabah

Education

Education has been a vital aspect of the work of the Methodist Church in Malaysia from the very beginning. Today, a total of 83 schools and colleges throughout Malaysia are affiliated with the Church. Management and development of these institutions are coordinated by the Methodist Council of Education ^[6].

These include 2 institutions of higher learning, the Methodist Pilley Institute in Sibu, Sarawak and the Methodist College Kuala Lumpur in Kuala Lumpur, 6 private schools, and the rest being government aided schools ^[7].

See also

• Christianity in Malaysia
• Status of religious freedom in Malaysia

External links

• Methodist Church in Malaysia - official website
• Chinese Annual Conference Methodist Church Malaysia - official website

References

1. ^ Note about membership: 97,197 confirmed; 58,315 preparatory; source: World Council of Churches
2. ^ ^{a b} Methodist Church in Malaysia : Statistics. Retrieved 19 June 2006
3. ^ Free Methodist Board of Bishops : State of the Work Report (PDF). Retrieved 19 June 2006
4. ^ Free Methodist World Missions : Malaysia. Retrieved 19 June 2006
5. ^ Methodist Church in Malaysia : Organisation Chart
6. ^ "What We Do". Methodist Council of Education. The Methodist Church in Malaysia. http://www.methodisteducation.edu.my/main.php?choice=101. Retrieved 30 October 2011. 
7. ^ "Our Schools and Colleges". Methodist Council of Education. Methodist Church in Malaysia. http://www.methodisteducation.edu.my/main.php?choice=201. Retrieved 30 October 2011.