Fellowship

Definition and Meaning

Fellowship denotes a relationship of sharing and participating together in the faith. The New Testament Greek word koinonia basically means "sharing," "participation," or "partnership." Depending on the context, Korean Bibles render it as gyoje (fellowship), sagwim (communion), gyotong (mutual communication), or chamyeo (participation). The term refers both to communion between God and human beings and to communion among the saints.

Biblical and Historical Background

Acts 2:42 records that the church in Jerusalem "continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers." 1 John 1:3 states that the fellowship of believers is "with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ." 1 Corinthians 10:16 describes the Lord's Supper as "the communion of the blood of Christ" and "the communion of the body of Christ." The phrase "the communion of the Holy Ghost" in 2 Corinthians 13:14 (13:13 in Korean Bibles) is used today in the benediction. Romans 15:26 uses the same word for "a certain contribution for the poor saints," that is, an offering for relief. In the New Testament, then, fellowship is a concept that extends even to the sharing of material goods.

The early church is known to have practiced fellowship through the agape feast, a shared meal of love. The Apostles' Creed confesses "the communion of saints" (rendered in Korean as "the fellowship of the saints," or in the older translation as "the saints' communing with one another"). The Westminster Confession of Faith devotes Chapter 26 specifically to the communion of saints.

Practice in the Korean Church

• Table fellowship: Sharing lunch together after Sunday worship is a widespread practice. It is called aechan (love feast) or chingyo (fellowship).
• Small groups: Many denominations, including Presbyterian and Full Gospel churches, make the district group (guyeok) the basic unit of fellowship. The Korean Methodist Church maintains the sokhoe (class meeting), continuing the tradition of John Wesley. Churches that follow the house church model call their groups mokjang ("pastures"), and other names such as "cell" and darakbang ("upper room") are also used.
• Other activities: New members' classes and welcome gatherings, pastoral visitation, retreats, and church sports days are also regarded as occasions for fellowship.
• Fellowship within worship: Churches that emphasize liturgy (a prescribed order and form of worship), such as the Anglican Church of Korea, exchange the Peace during the Eucharist.
• Everyday usage: In Korean churches, the verb gyojehada ("to have fellowship") is also often used, for example in young adult ministries, to refer to romantic dating between men and women.

Some observers have noted that fellowship tends to remain confined within a single church or a single small group. In addition, as online gatherings have increased since the COVID-19 pandemic, discussion of the forms fellowship should take has continued.