Ecumenism

Ecumenism is about different branches of the Church in Scotland, and indeed Christians around the world, working together locally and in unity as part of a global Christian movement.

Ecumenism springs up naturally in our own back yards. It is not just people talking about how the churches can come together, although that is important. It is mainly about Christians living in local communities discovering that there is more that unites us than divides us.

Within the Church of Scotland, the Ecumenical Relations Committee is responsible for encouraging and enabling an ecumenical vision in Scotland.

Our global family

The Church works with a number of partners and other churches throughout Scotland and across the world.

Action of Churches Together in Scotland (ACTS)

ACTS is an expression of the commitment of nine trustee member Churches to one another. It is governed by a Board of trustees which consults with the Members’ Meeting. The Members’ Meeting is composed of representatives from the nine trustee member Churches. There are four Networks: Church Life, Faith Studies, Mission, Church and Society. They also give expression to the Churches’ commitment to work together and bring together key people in a defined field of interest or expertise. Associated ecumenical groups and bodies in association contribute to the life of the networks.

ACTS is staffed by a general secretary, an assistant general secretary and two network officers. These structures facilitate regular consultation and intensive co-operation among those who frame the policies and deploy the resources of the churches in Scotland and throughout Britain and Ireland. At the same time, they afford greater opportunity for a wide range of members of different churches to meet in common prayer and study.

Visit ACTS online at www.acts-scotland.org

Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI)

In September 1990 Churches throughout Britain and Ireland, solemnly committed themselves to one another, promising to one another to do everything possible together. To provide a framework for this commitment to joint action, the churches established Churches Together in Britain and Ireland for the United Kingdom and Ireland and, for Scotland, Action of Churches Together in Scotland (ACTS), with sister organisations for Wales and England.

CTBI works with member churches to co-ordinate responses, share resources and learn from each other’s experiences.

There are currently eight subject-based areas:

• Church and Public Issues
• Theology and Unity
• Mission
• China Desk
• Inter-Religious
• International Students
• Racial Justice
• Action on Asylum and Refugees

There are also three theme-based work areas:

• Environment and Climate Change
• Culture, Identity and the Public Square
• Migration and Movements of People

Visit CTBI online at: www.ctbi.org.uk

Conference of European Churches (CEC)

The Church of Scotland is a founder member of the Conference of European Churches (CEC), formed in 1959. More than 100 churches, Orthodox and Protestant, are members. Most of its work is done through its Commissions on Church and Society and on Churches in Dialogue and it is in the process of merging with the Churches Commission on Migrants in Europe.

Although the Roman Catholic Church is not a member there is very close co-operation with the Council of European Catholic Bishops' Conferences. With the removal of the long-standing political barriers in Europe, CEC has opportunities and responsibilities to assist the Church throughout the continent to offer united witness and service.

CEC covers the whole of Europe, not just the European Union, and its member churches come from every country from the Atlantic to the Urals.

Visit the CEC online at: www.ceceurope.org

Community of Protestant Churches in Europe(CPCE)

The Church of Scotland is a founder member of the Community of Protestant Churches in Europe (CPCE), which was formery known as the Leuenberg Church Fellowship. The Fellowship came into being in 1973 on the basis of the Leuenberg Agreement between the Reformation churches in Europe, and the name was changed to the CPCE in 2003. The Leuenberg Agreement stipulates that a common understanding of the Gospel based on the doctrine of Justification by Faith, and interpreted with reference to the proclamation of the Word of God, Baptism and the Lord's Supper, is sufficient to overcome the Lutheran-Reformed church division.

Over 100 Protestant churches in Europe, and a number of South American Chuches with European origin, have been signatories to the Leuenbeg Agreement, including Lutheran, Reformed, United and Methodist churches, as well as pre-reformation Waldensian, Hussite and Czech Bretheren, and they grant each other pulpit and table fellowship. Our representative on the CPCE Council is Rev Dr John L McPake.

Visit the CPCE online at: www.leuenberg.eu

World Communion Reformed Churches (WCRC)

The World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC) brings together 80 million Reformed Christians worldwide united in a commitment to making a difference on the big issues of our day - climate change, human rights, economic justice.

Its 230 member churches are Congregational, Presbyterian, Reformed and United with roots in the 16th century Reformation led by John Calvin, John Knox and others.

WCRC was born through an historic merger of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) and the Reformed Ecumenical Council (REC) in June 2010. Delegates meeting in June 2010 in Grand Rapids, United States, launched a landmark effort to unite Christians for common witness and service to the world.

Our representative on the WCRC Europe committee is Rev. Alexander Horsburgh.

Visit WCRC online at: wcrc.ch

World Council of Churches (WCC)

The Church of Scotland is a founder-member of the World Council of Churches (WCC) formed in 1948. The WCC was established as a "fellowship of Churches which confess the Lord Jesus Christ as God and Saviour according to the Scriptures, and therefore seek to fulfil their common calling to the Glory of the one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit".

Its member churches, which number more than 300, are drawn from all continents and include all the major traditions: Eastern and Oriental Orthodox, Reformed, Lutheran, Anglican, Baptist, Disciples, Methodist, Moravian, Friends, Pentecostalist, and others. Although the Roman Catholic Church is not a member, there is very close co-operation with the departments in the Vatican. The WCC holds its assemblies every seven years.

Our representative on the WCC's Executive Committee and Central Committee is Rev Graham McGeoch.

Visit WCC online at: www.oikoumene.org