I came across the enclosed article in The Indian Express, dated June 30. Does anyone on Goanet and residing in the UK would like to comment on what seems an attempt to divide the Christians in the UK? And who exactly is this Ram Gidoomal? Does he have any following amongst Indian Christians in the UK?
Best regards, Dr. U. G. Barad Article is as follows: A feeling of rejection in God's own house Indian Christians In The UK, Who Feel Unwelcome In Churches, Have Started Their Own Churches Indian-origin Christians who feel unwelcome in mainstream churches in Britain are forming their own small churches where they sing and pray in Hindi, Gujarati, Ta mil and Punjabi. Ram Gidoomal, a member of the Asian community and chairman of the South Asia Forum, said that there were at least 200 such small churches founded by disenchanted Christians across Britain as a response to feeling of rejection. He said there were nearly 75,000 Christians with origins in the Indian sub-continent in Britain, and many of them felt unwelcome in mainstream churches. New migrants add to the congregations, particularly those from Kerala. "It is important that mainstream churches welcome those who come from different cultures. There are churches who allow a song or two in Hindi or Tamil, but there are many Asian Christians who feel unwelcome," Gidoomal, who unsuccessfully contested the London Mayor election in 2000 on a Christian People's Alliance ticket, said. In Wolverhampton alone, there were 11 such small churches catering to Christians who did not find the right atmosphere and welcome in churches of the Church of England and other denominations. For example, the congregation in one Tamil church in east London grew from about 20 members to over 1,000 recently, Gidoomal said and added that often priests and church representatives from India are invited by these congregations. "We are saying that Asian Christians do exist and they are not a small number. The South Asia Forum has been set up to connect different Asian Christian groups and to represent them in interaction with the government and the mainstream churches." Gidoomal added: "Asian Christians want to join mainstream churches but if they are not welcome they will then form their own fellowship. It is sad and it is a pity that those who are meant to be united by one faith appear then to be divided, that really is a tragedy."