The Church of England has given wholehearted approval for work and worship with other churches and has made provision for this through the ecumenical canons, B43 and B44. The canons and a helpful explanation can be found on the Church of England website.
It cannot be stressed too highly that the ecumenical canons are there to promote and guide unity between churches rather than restrict it.
The Diocese is committed to the greater unity of Christ’s church and working together with other churches throughout the region. Much of this happens through parishes working and worshipping with other Christians through “Churches Together” groups in towns and localities across the Diocese. In addition to this there are more formal “Local Ecumenical Partnerships” with partner churches in local congregations, industrial mission, prison and hospital chaplaincies. The formal ecumenical activity is sponsored in the South of the Diocese by Churches Together in Worcestershire and in the North by being one of the Dioceses actively involved with Black Country Churches Engaged.
Alongside this there are many informal expressions of unity as Christians work and pray together in various situations.
Useful links
- Churches Together in Worcestershire
- Churches Together in England
- Churches in Britain and Ireland
- Black Country Churches Engaged
- Birmingham District of the Methodist Church
- Council for Christian Unity
- United Reformed Church Synod
- Heart of England Baptist Association
- Worcestershire & Shropshire Area Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)
- The Archdiocese of Birmingham (Roman Catholic)