Church Unity in Cambridgeshire
Churches Together in Cambridgeshire promotes the visible unity and mission of God’s Church. We do this within the civic area of the County of Cambridgeshire and a small part of west Norfolk.
The purpose of Churches Together in Cambridgeshire is to assist the churches in our area in the visible expression of Christian unity. This is part of a larger ecumenical movement in Britain and Ireland --- and, indeed, throughout the world.
What is ecumenism?
Ecumenism means participating in God's mission together. We are gifted with spiritual unity as one Body of Christ. We are then called to express that unity outwardly through our life together.
Through this gifting and calling, we move from division to wholeness, from conflict to peace, from competition to collaboration. We commit to a common life, 'doing together whatever we do not need to do apart.'
We begin to live on this earth the vision of heaven in which all peoples worship God together. We are diverse voices lifted in one praise. We celebrate our differences and learn from one another in a process called receptive ecumenism.
How do we live ecumenically?
Churches Together in Cambridgeshire is an intermediate body of Churches Together in England. This means that we are the link between the national ecumenical movement to local ecumenical movements.
We believe that Christian unity contributes to God's dream of unity for all of creation. We are one of the only intermediate bodies to support an international ecumenical partnership.
We bring decades of experience, from planting one of the first ecumenical churches in England, to emerging forms of partnership like the Northstowe Church Network. Through our network, we can build on county wide mission strategies, especially in areas of new housing. We help churches collaborate instead of compete.
After over three decades of partnership, Churches Together in Cambridgeshire continues to be a sign of the member churches' commitment to one another. Join us in seeking church unity throughout Cambridgeshire and the world!
Cambridgeshire Ecumenical Council
Member churches gather twice a year as the Cambridgeshire Ecumenical Council. These meetings include regional church leaders, denominational ecumenical officers, and church representatives.
For a long time, our official organisational name was 'Cambridgeshire Ecumenical Council.' The work of church unity continues in between Ecumenical Council meetings, however, which is why we are now known as Churches Together in Cambridgeshire!
Member Churches
The Anglican Diocese of Ely
The Cambridgeshire Area Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)
The East Anglia District of the Methodist Church
The Eastern Synod of the United Reformed Church
The East of England Division of the Salvation Army
The Roman Catholic Diocese of East Anglia
Membership is open to all churches or associations of local churches with a presence in Cambridgeshire whose national bodies are members of Churches Together in England. Other churches or associations of local churches may be approved for membership. Contact the County Ecumenical Officer if you are interested in joining!
Officers
Chairperson: Revd Canon Gale Richards, Regional Minister, Eastern Baptist Association
Vice-Chairperson: Revd Colin Watkins, Ecumenical Officer for the East Anglia District, The Methodist Church
Treasurer: TBD
County Ecumenical Officer: Revd Mark Burleigh
Contact the officers using our Contact form.
Priorities for Church Unity
Churches Together in Cambridgeshire currently has the following five priorities:
Growing relationships with unrepresented branches of the Church and inter-faith networks
Growing an ecumenical church presence in areas of new housing developments
Growing receptive ecumenism through local churches, pioneers, Christians Together and unity groups, and chaplaincy networks
Reviewing Local Advisory Groups of established Local Ecumenical Partnerships (LEPs) and strengthening links with LEP ministers
Strengthening the Vellore Link for mutual learning