Ecumenism related articles

Archbishop Justin Welby welcomed Anglican Ecumenical Officers to an online meeting

A number of Anglican Ecumenical Officers attended the "All Ecumenical Representatives Conference" organised by Churches Together in England (CTE) in September 2023.

This conference brought together a large number of people in ecumenical roles.  John Bell from the Iona Community was the main speaker and he talked about the history of the Iona Community, the link between singing and belief, and the future of ecumenism.

Anglicans, including Jeremy Morris and Tim Norwood from the ecumenical team at Lambeth Palace, were present at Westminster Abbey for Evensong and a reception with the Anglican-Lutheran Society. The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Great Britain is a close ecumenical partner, through the Porvoo agreement, and it was lovely to have a chance to catch up with old friends and make new ones.

Anglican and Old Catholic theologians and church people met at Neustadt an der Weinstrasse in Germany

Church leaders from across denominations write open-letter to the Home Secretary about housing for people seeking asylum.

This year, the Council of Lutheran Churches, formerly known as the Lutheran Council of Great Britain, is celebrating its 75th Anniversary. The festive day was Reformation Day on the 31st of October, culminating with a service at the Norwegian Church.

The Enabling Group of Churches Together in England (CTE) met in Swanwick in October 2023.   The twenty-four hour residential included a panel of young ecumenists, plus input from Victoria Turner.  The gathering included the CTE AGM which welcomed new member churches and charities and networks in association.

A big highlight was the launch of the Bill Snelson Young Ecumenists Fund.

Ecumenical Reception at Lambeth Palace Library

The Global Christian Forum met from 16 to 19 April in Accra, Ghana, under the theme ‘That the world may know’.  True to its aim to embrace the whole worldwide fellowship of Christians, there were Christians from every continent, and from a huge range of the global Christian family, including members of the Church of England.  The forum is a place of encounter and faith-sharing, and does not make statements or take decisions.  Its meetings included opportunities for sharing personal stories of faith, and for acts of worship, and a visit to the Cape Coast Castle where slaves were imprisoned and traded, and an ensuing service of lament and reconciliation.

COMMENT / The Bishop of Worcester, Dr John Inge, explains why he will be supporting new proposals for communion between the Church of England and the Methodist Church in Great Britain.