3B Migration+Christianity in the UK

EDUQAS The challenges of Christian migration to the UK, with reference to assimilation, provision of worship, style of worship and issues of culture. The reverse mission movement to the UK.

Immigration

Moving to a new location permanently

Migration

A movement from one country or region to another often frequently

refugee

A person who has been forced to leave their country in order to escape persecution, or natural disaster

asylum seeker

Someone who has migrated to another country in the hope of being recognized as a refugee legally

Pentecostalism (detailed)

-A movement in Christianity emphasising the experience of the worshipper.
-It uses references to the powerful experiences of the early church in Acts 2
-Worship can include singing, dancing, and speaking in tongues.
-Over past decade Church attendance and worship has been in decline

-Huge variations as dif denoms are influenced
BUT
-Caribben + West Africa Pentecostalism Christianity is predominant
-Large Influx of people > surge in new churches been set up (Independent) based on their own at home and an increase in Christian activity in the UK again.
eg
-RCCG is a Nigerian denomination (1952). Has had huge growth. 800 congregations in Britain which supersedes the amount of indigenous Pentecostal churches in the Uk.

Redeemed Christian Church of God

Nigerian Pentecostal denom
Over the last 70 years huge growth
Outnumber indigenous Pentecostal bodies in the UK

RCCG

-RCCG is a Nigerian denomination (1952). Has had huge growth. 800 congregations in Britain which supersedes the amount of indigenous Pentecostal churches in the Uk.

Acts 2

Pentecost
"They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues. as the Spirit enabled them."

Immigrants + Christianity

-Amongst immigrants, Christianity is the largest represented religion (of those that identify with a religion)
-More immigrants come to the UK > more people joining churches.
-They either join and attend churches that exist
in Britain and their country or there are new denominations of churches that have high immigration populations

-Caribben + West Africa Pentecostalism Christianity is predominant
-Large Influx of people > surge in new churches been set up (Independent) based on their own at home and an increase in Christian activity in the UK again.
eg
-RCCG is a Nigerian denomination (1952). Has had huge growth. 800 congregations in Britain which supersedes the amount of indigenous Pentecostal churches in the Uk

-Study of 126 new churches in NE 47 primarily migrants (they bring new forms)

Christian migration to the UK (overcoming challenges)

CHALLENGE

- Some churches may realise they are not effectively welcoming immigrants

-migration causes challenge as it risks losing the sense of community

- Worship differences:

there are clear differences in religious practices e.g. liturgy vs Pentecostal worship.

Worship is diverse > issues also arise where migrants are unfamiliar with practices >cultural Issues and negative feelings about worship

-Social support:

immigrants have their own needs and struggles such as establishing a new home and social network.

may struggle to participate in worship or be comforted due to language barriers.

- Uneven spread of immigration:

large areas without immigrants and so there aren't opportunities for churches to assimilate those from other cultures.

OVERCOME

Churches have while wanting to be open to those who are new to the community.

-Worship differences:

incorporating the other styles of worship e.g. Pentecostal worship, into their worship (charismatic churches).

-Language barriers:

utilising leaflets in various languages to support migrants.

-Social support:

many Churches have responded to this by using leaflets and appointing an 'immigration chaplain' or 'episcopal vicar'

ADVANTAGES

encouraging congregations to respect diversity of practices which promotes good values

allows migrants to find some form of worship that is like what they are used to. episcopal vicar: managing charity, oversee aspects of church life.

"We are all one under Christ Jesus"

Mission

-Travelling to other countries to spread God’s word+convert (eg St Paul)

-Great commission “make disciples of all nations”

-Many are inspired by St Paul who persecuted Christians>heard JC> went on mission

-Christianity has been spread (observable in the rise of Angelican + Methodist churches throughout Brit empire)

-Decline in Uk>reverse mission

Why does reverse migration occur

-Global shift of Christianity towards southern hemisphere
-Growing pentaclism linked with migration
-Decline of Christianity in the UK
-Perceptions of those from majority Christian countries seeing the UK as atheistic and secular

-Come during short term visits (share music, dance in churches to spread faith)
-Some churches come to evangelise and convert others come for school
-International appointment of a leader from a migrant background.
-Churches with high migrant populations reach out to white-British nationals as part of its God-given mission (some churches fund)

Emigration

Individuals leaving their country of origin to settle in another.

Rebecca Catto on reverse missions

-many reverse missionaries report facing cultural challenges including the resistance of secular British nationals to the Christian message.
-There were difficulties adjusting to the new country for the missionaries.
-It does not appear to have been successful.
-Some reverse missionaries have actually decided to focus more on their own nationals in the country and established churches supporting the needs of migrants.

BUT it has caused British church bodies to reflect on the quality of their own outreach

Are reverse missions successful

NO
Rebecca Cato- many reverse missionaries report facing cultural challenges including the resistance of secular British nationals to the Christian message.
-There were difficulties adjusting to the new country for the missionaries, some rather focus on own countries
-It does not appear to have been successful.

YES
-Long standing church bodies have begun to reflect on their own quality of outreach which has the potential to lead to growth.
-Church growth has happened, just not necessarily with traditional, indigenous churches e.g. RCCG

Secularisation Thesis

-The belief that as societies modernise, religion will decline
(We have the ability to experience any culture, broader religious education)

-Clear from decline in church membership (COE reports 20 church closures a year)
(This census shows a huge drop from 72% to 59% associating with Christianity, who has the oldest age profile)
-Decreasing roles of Chu rch in public life
-Loss of personal faith

BUT
-there are a huge percentage of young people (18-34 year olds) who note that they pray occasionally or regularly, so is mission necessary? We have the alpha course and a rise in evangelicals

Is assimilation easy

NEW DENOMS
-Can find churches similar to own (RGCC), with more migration more migrant churches > more aware of issues, help with assimilation
-Lots of migrants in same area
rowth of denoms makes assimilation easy
BUT
-Causes friction and division between indigenous
-Hard to assimilate, staying within culture
-Being around migrants makes assimilation harder

DIFFERENT PRACTICES
-All one in christ, dif in practice allows for diversity (preached by Christianity)
-Familiar features
BUT
-Worship and belief different (Pentecostalism, v formal literary) hard to assimilate

CULTURAL DIF
-Christianity is the story of migration (Abraham, wandering Israelites, Mary+Joesph)

Leviticus 19::34 “the alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you[…] for you were aliens in the land of Egypt”
-Churches higher people to help
-Benefits migrant by helping them learn language
BUT
-Language barrier prevents worship, may lose interest
-Dif social and pastoral

Is the UK a modern mission field

-Christians (evangelicals) view unpractising locations as mission fields- ‘Great Comissioon’

-UK is appealing due to the decline in practicing (v south rise)

BUT

-Unhelpful to view it as such as (pluralism) there are many paths to God (should humanitarian outreach be the priority?)

-UK is officially Christian (influences society+laws, COE) (an athiest would view it as religious, easy to be a practicing christian)

-Christian sentiment may be dormant and may awaken without mission (which Brits seem averse to due to dif in approaches (charismatic))

Assimilation

The process where individuals adopt the cultural traits and norms of a dominant group, often leading to the loss of their own cultural identity.

Congregation

A group of people who gather for religious worship and community.

Conversion

The process of changing one's beliefs, values, or religious affiliation to another.

Denomination

A distinct group or branch within a religion, characterized by specific beliefs, practices, and organizational structure.

Evangelicals

Christians who emphasize the authority of the Bible, personal conversion, and evangelism. They believe in the importance of sharing the Gospel and strive to live according to biblical teachings.

Evangalise

To spread religious beliefs and convert others to a particular faith through preaching, teaching, and sharing the message of salvation.

Independent churches

Christian churches that are not affiliated with any larger denominational organization. They have autonomy in their governance and decision-making processes.

Liturgical

"Liturgical" refers to a form of worship that follows a set order or ritual. It often includes prayers, readings, and ceremonies performed in a specific sequence.

eg RCC

Non-liturgical

Informal worsip style without a set liturgy or ritual. Allows for spontaneous prayers, contemporary music, and creative expressions of faith.

Emphasizes personal connection with God and community engagement.

eg Evangelical and Pentecostal churches.

Pastoral care

Providing emotional and spiritual support to individuals in need, often within a religious context.

Helps promote overall well-being and resilience, addressing both practical and spiritual aspects of life.

Pentecostal

A Christian movement that emphasizes the experience of the Holy Spirit, including speaking in tongues and spiritual gifts.

Secular

Secular: Relating to or advocating for a non-religious or non-spiritual worldview. It refers to the separation of religion and government, and the belief in the importance of reason and evidence-based thinking.

Reverse mission

-Missionary engagement of people from countries that historically have been the recipients of missionaries to countries that have historically been the senders of missionaries.

WHY
-Decline of religion
-Shift towards southern hemisphere
-Growing Pentecostal church due to migration
-Perceptions of other countries of UK as secular

statistic of distribution of immigrants in the UK

75% settling in London and 10% in the south west

number of RCCG congregations in UK

800

Grace Davie

-idea of believing without belonging

>challenges secularisation theory, many continue to hold spiritual beliefs bit dont participate in the communal, institutional aspects

-Migrants can continue to believe in churches that exclude their views but will feel alienated