Ecumenical Partnership

The Council of Mission sees ecumenical partnership as a vital component in our mission and evangelism. The Church of England has a covenantal relationship with the Methodist Church and through ecumenical structures such as Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI) church leaders of all mainstream denominations work together for the sake of God’s kingdom. In this diocese we enjoy particular relationships through the West Yorkshire Ecumenical Council (WYEC) and other bodies.

The Ecumenical Officers for the Diocese act as Resource Ministers. They ‘fly the flag’ for ecumenism in diocesan affairs, promote ecumenical partnerships in the ministry and mission of the Church and offer appropriate resourcing for developing partnerships.

The key working relationships are with:
Clergy of the Diocese
WYEC (West Yorkshire Ecumenical Council) County Ecumenical Officer and denominational ecumenical officers
Mission Resourcing Team (MRT)

Their main responsibilities are:

1.Development
1.1.Take every opportunity to ask ‘How can we do this ecumenically’ where policy is being discussed and to encourage churches to work more collaboratively with ecumenical partners.
1.2.Promote the Anglican Methodist Covenant and its fullest implementation in the Diocese. Attend the Covenant Steering Group.
1.3.Support existing and potential Local Ecumenical Partnerships (LEPs) and Churches Together groups, providing advice on the development of ecumenical working, local covenant agreements and the formation of LEPs.
1.4.Take an active part in sharing in the supervision and review of LEPs.
1.5.Maintain awareness of and communicate Anglican developments that have ecumenical significance and ecumenical developments that have implications for the Diocese.
1.6.Attendance, as appropriate, at the Mission and Pastoral Committee, the Council for Mission and other diocesan meetings

2.Networking
2.1.Represent the Diocese on WYEC and maintain contact with North East and Yorkshire E.O.’s at their annual meeting.
2.2.Attend the Annual National Ecumenical Officers’ meeting
2.3.Attend the twice-yearly Resource Ministers’ Forum
2.4.Be available to advise the MRT as needed.

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