In 2020, World Mission Partnership piloted the “District Links” programme, which aimed to develop relationships between MCI Districts and sister churches overseas. As part of this programme, Irish Methodists have joined with their church family in Poland, Ghana and Togo, for [joint service], [Bible studies], and [visits].

From May 2024, WMP are moving to a new approach. Rather than working at District level, we will focus on supporting individuals, groups and congregations to develop relationships with their world church family, at the local level.

This does not mean that WMP is ending our links to Togo, Poland and Ghana. We will continue to support people or congregations who want to continue the connections they have made, and the change in approach should not impact any planned or ongoing work.

However, we will no longer be encouraging whole Districts to engage with these links. Instead, we will focus on finding and developing connections which already exist between Irish Methodists and world churches. WMP will look for ways to support those connections, by offering:

• Promotion and publicity, sharing good stories more widely within MCI. We hope this will be an encouragement to those involved, and inspire others to offer support or to emulate the example.

• Guidance or advice, where needed. WMP will not seek to take over or supplant an existing relationship.

• Financial support, e.g. to supplement local fundraising efforts, or to ensure that those with fewer financial resources can still take part in the relationship.

Are you passionate about a particular country, or sister church? Does your church already have an existing relationship with a church overseas, that WMP could support? If so, we would love to hear from you!

You can get in touch with us at worldmission@irishmethodist.org