The Ecumenical Partnership

For over 30 years our two churches, here in The Westlands, have worked increasingly closely together, whilst maintaining our own denominational allegiances. Despite differences in structures and routine, we believe that it is important to stand together, for Christ, in the heart of The Westlands.

We thank God today for our partnership in so many areas of Christian work and witness and we pray for all that we do that it may glorify God.

Worship

• Six major Morning Services each year
• Every Evening Service
• Monthly Day One Services
• Holy Week Services
• Christingle Service
• Carol Service

Teaching and Nurture

• Christianity Explored
• Sunday Club
• Following Jesus
• House Groups

Children and Youth Worker

• God’s Posse
• ID: monthly worship led by young people
• CY: Christianity Explored for young people
• Schools: assemblies, lessons, mentoring groups for young people

Midweek Groups

• Knit Wits
• Women’s Fellowship
• Monday Group

Events

• Keswick Convention
• Northern Men’s and Women’s Convention

Pastoral Care

• Baptism follow-up
• Bereavement Care Group

Communications

- 2,500 copies of Link delivered monthly

Below is the text of the Westlands Area of Ecumenical Experiment. You can also download a copy of the document:

The text of the Westlands Area of Ecumenical Experiment
Promulgated May 19th 1973)

As members of the two Westlands churches,
which have covenanted together in God’s service,
it is our purpose to achieve in the coming years
such a measure of unity as God shall,
by His Holy Spirit, reveal to be His will for us.

Our intention is:

1 That our work, worship, and witness shall increasingly demonstrate the reconciling power of Jesus Christ at work in a divided world, as well as creating thereby a far more effective instrument than at present exists for the spread of God’s kingdom in this area;

2 That we shall seek to learn in penitence from the failings and mistakes of our two Communions, which led to the break in our fellowship in past days, and to profit together from those distinctive gifts and traditions which each Church feels it holds in trust for the whole Church of God;

3 That such lessons as we shall learn together in our search for this deeper unity, we shall seek by every means to share with others that they too may be helped to move into closer unity in the service of our Lord, and in the establishment of His Kingdom here upon earth.

To this end, and with the blessing of our respective authorities:

a) The work of our two churches shall be recognised as being one, both by the people of the Westlands and by the authorities of our respective churches;

b) In evangelism, visitation, pastoral care, community service, and all forms of outreach, we shall present ourselves as a united cause, and we shall not undertake separately in those spheres any work which can be done together;

c) Those who are entitled to receive Holy Communion in one of our churches shall be free to receive it in the other;

d) We shall be free to develop forms of worship of an evangelistic or ecumenical nature which will enable people from a variety of denominational backgrounds to worship together more effectively;

e) Ministers and lay preachers of either church shall be free to preach and conduct worship in either church, as they shall be invited to do so by the Parochial Church Council or the Church Council;

f) United Services of Holy Communion may take place in either church when desired by the Parochial Church Council or the Church Council;

g) Ministers and clergy of either church shall be free to assist in the celebration of Holy Communion in either church, when invited to do so;

h) The premises of both churches shall be available for the services and other activities of either church, subject to the laws governing respective church properties;

i) Official meetings of the two churches may be held together to consult and decide on matters of mutual interest, or official observers may be appointed as appropriate;

j) We hope that those responsible for the future appointment of clergy and ministers (and any other full-time workers) in the Westlands will bear in mind the special status of the work, and will consult with the authorities of the other church.

SPONSORED BY:

Richard Stafford Bishop of Stafford

Richard B S Gillman Rector of Newcastle

J Eric France Lay Chairman of Synod

(on behalf of the Diocese of Lichfield)

B Arthur Shaw ) on behalf of the

Alan G Cox ) Chester and Stoke

J S Chicken ) District

T R Johnson ) on behalf of the Newcastle

N P Sedgman ) Council of Churches

* Countersigned by 212 persons from both congregations