Council of Knights
Methodist Church Nigeria
“Chosen To Defend”
About Us
The Council of Knights of John Wesley and Charles Wesley is the highest Award which Methodist Church Nigeria confers on any member of the Laity for their contributions in the Church. Methodist Church Nigeria (whose governing body is the Conference), confers the title of Knighthood on deserving members of the Church from time to time. Such members are referred to as Knights of John Wesley (KJW) or Knights of Charles Wesley (KCW).
The Knights of John Wesley (KJW) and Charles Wesley (KCW) of Methodist Church Nigeria resolved to form themselves into an organization to promote understanding and unity among themselves and project the image and welfare of the Church. While a male Knight is referred to as ‘Sir’, the female Knight is referred to as a ‘Dame’.
The collection or assembly of Knights is known as the COUNCIL OF KNIGHTS OF JOHN WESLEY AND CHARLES WESLEY, METHODIST CHURCH NIGERIA. Knights of John Wesley is conferred on those who have distinguished themselves teaching and other forms of charity, the Knights of Charles Wesley is conferred on those who specialized in song writing, singing or music.
The Council has its official address as the Methodist Church Nigeria Headquarters, 21/22 Marina, Lagos, Nigeria.
Membership
Membership of the organization comprises all Knights of Methodist Church Nigeria, who have their names recorded in a membership register.
Membership is also arranged in Archdiocesan levels referred to as Chapters. Each Chapter represents an Archdiocese created by the Methodist Conference.
Officers of the Council
The officers of the Council are in two categories namely; the National Executive Committee and the Chapter Executives. The National Executive Committee comprises of the following:
The Executives or Officers of the various Chapters are called CHAPTER EXECUTIVES. The immediate Past-President is an Ex-officio member of the Council. Where a Conference Lay President is a Knight, he/she shall be one of the Ex-officio members.
The National Executive Officers and the Chapter Chairmen meet at a joint meeting referred to as the NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (NEXCO) Meeting.
Ladies of Knights Assembly
This is an Assembly of the wives (spouses) of the Knights.
The Assembly is governed by The National Chairperson and her team at the national level while the Archdioceses (or Chapters) are run by the ANCHOR LADIES.
Fellowships / Meetings
The Council meets three times in any given year (February and June for Quarterly Meetings and October for the Conference/ Annual General Meeting). While the Meetings of February and June are for the National and Chapter Executives, the October Meetings are used for the Conferences and Annual General Meeting.
Objectives of the Council
To provide a forum for all Knights to interact, fellowship and discuss matters of common interest affecting Methodist Church Nigeria.
To encourage members to practice the tenets for which Methodist Church Nigeria was founded.
To support the Church, morally, spiritually and financially.
To encourage members to imbibe true Christian spirit.
Through the Conference, to present the Council’s resolutions on issues that will assist the smooth running of the Church.
To promote the spirit of Christian leadership in members’ day to day activities.
To intercede in disputes amongst members at all levels of the Church.
To promote harmonious relationship by intervening in matters of interest between the Clergy and the Laity for the provision of Christian spiritual growth.