Doreen Lawrence will address the conference's committee for racial justice

As a former refugee himself, Mr Bhogal, 47, feels passionately about the importance of giving strangers a warm welcome.

He will attack Britain's current stance on asylum seekers and urge people to be more welcoming, arguing against the use of prisons and detention centres to hold refugees.

He will use the example of the death of black teenager Stephen Lawrence, whose mother Doreen will address the conference during the week, to warn that racism can kill.

Mr Bhogal will hold office for one year.

An ethnic sikh, he was born in Nairobi but moved to Britain with his family at a young age and joined the Methodist Church in his teens.

Now based in Sheffield as a full time Methodist Minister and theologian, he works towards "a fair deal, and justice for asylum seekers".

Later in the week the conference will debate the relationship between the church and sex offenders.

Delegates will also consider appointing bishops instead of district chairmen to help move towards unity with Anglicans, and vote on whether the Methodist Church should relax its rules which forbid the consumption of alcohol on its premises.