The Hayes Conference Centre in Derbyshire (part of The Christian Conference Trust) recently played host to the ‘CTE Forum 2018’, the broadest ecumenical gathering of Christians in England.
The 6 Presidents of Churches Together in England (CTE) and around 270 delegates came to the conference centre to consider the theme “‘I am with you always’ – together in God’s mission” in a series of keynote addresses, top-table conversations among and with the Presidents, workshops, small groups, a multi-voice bible study and time around the dinner table.
Left to right: Cardinal Nichols, Archbishop Justin Welby and His Grace Archbishop Angaelos.
The Hayes was therefore host to the 6 Presidents: Archbishop Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury; Cardinal Vincent Nichols, the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster; Revd Dr Hugh Osgood, Free Churches Group; Revd Canon Billy Kennedy, the President nominated by the New Churches, Religious Society of Friends (i.e. the Quakers), and the Lutheran and German speaking churches; His Eminence Archbishop Angaelos of London, the President for the Orthodox churches; and Pastor Agu Irukwu, the Pentecostal President.
The conference brought together representatives from 47 Member Churches, as well as the Intermediate (County) Bodies which promote regional and local ecumenism and 51 Bodies in Association – all charities and organisations which work ecumenically in mission, theology and community action of all kinds.
Left to right: Revd Dr Hugh Osgood, Cardinal Nichols, Pastor Agu Irukwu, Revd Canon Billy Kennedy and His Grace Archbishop Angaelos.
It was fitting that CTE chose The Hayes Conference Centre given that it is home to The Swanwick Declaration. In 1987 at The Swanwick Conference there was a coming together of different Christian churches and they made the commitment to become more fully, in His own time, the one Church of Christ, united in faith, communion, pastoral care and mission. As Revd Dr David Cornick, General Secretary of Churches Together in England said, Swanwick is ‘like the spiritual home of English ecumenism’.
John Harrison, CCT’s Chief Executive said, “We feel very blessed to be once again hosting the CTE Forum and hope that everyone attending the event enjoyed their stay at The Hayes. The roots of CCT are very firmly embedded in ecumenism and we offer a warm welcome to those of all Christian denominations who wish to hold their own events at our centres.”
See a video of Revd Dr David Cornick at Forum 2018 speaking about Churches Together in England and The Hayes Conference Centre.
Photos by Chris Dobson © Churches Together in England
Video by Jim Cooke
