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New York, NY, Dec. 6, 2005--A new autonomous Methodist Church in Cambodia has resulted from a successful experiment in Methodist mission collaboration in the Southeast Asian country.

The new church, which has 172 congregations, is the outgrowth of careful planning among Cambodians and Methodist mission partners in Asia, Europe, and the United States. Participating groups set up a united Methodist Mission in Cambodia in 2002, and by the Fall of 2005 the new Cambodian Church was ready to take its place among the expanding network of Methodist churches around the world.

'The Methodist Church in Cambodia will continue to have the encouragement and support of the mission partner organizers,' said the Rev. Dr. David Wu, an executive with the Evangelization and Church Growth unit of the United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries. 'At the same time, the new Church will select its own leaders, train its pastors, and assume the other duties of a denomination in its cultural and historical setting.'

Prior to 2002, several different Methodist groups were working in Cambodia. These were the Korean Methodist Church, the Methodist Mission of Singapore, the World Federation of Chinese Methodist Churches, the United Methodist mission unit of France and Switzerland, and the United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries.
'By unifying our efforts, we have been able to move faster and more effectively toward a nationwide Methodist presence in Cambodia' Dr. Wu explained.

Last September 2nd, bishops from the five mission partner agencies ordained three Cambodian elders and appointed them as superintendents of three of the seven projected districts. There are a total of 163 Cambodian pastors, plus missionaries, several of whom will serve as 'missionary superintendents.' The September event was held under the banner of a theme from Psalm 127:1: 'Unless the Lord Builds the House?.'

The new Cambodian elders are the Reverends Lun Sophy, Troenung Chan Bony, and Hem San.

'The Pastors in each of the Districts are beginning to know and work with each other, as before they were separated by relationships with their sponsoring agency. This is a God-given step forward,' says missionary the Rev. William Warnock, one of the missionary superintendents. 'Efforts are also underway to unify and strengthen the ministries of education, healing, and hope among the people of the Kingdom of Cambodia.'

A Bible School for the training of pastors already exists as do orphanages and training centers for meeting the needs of children, youth, and women. Organizations of women and youth are part of the new Cambodian church structure and there are existing publishing operations and community development programs.

An executive mission board is made up of seven Cambodians and eight missionaries. This board has 10 working committees, including finance, Christian education, theological education, social concerns, trustees, women, youth, children, publications, and congregational development.