Diocesan Commission

for Christian Unity

"The Holy Spirit is at work today causing people everywhere to pray and work for Christian Unity - that unity so greatly desired by Christ. This Council urges all Catholics to co-operate fully with this grace and to devote themselves actively and intelligently to the work of ecumenism."                     — Unitatis Redintegratio - Vatican II 

 "Thus it is absolutely clear that ecumenism, the movement promoting Christian Unity, is not just some sort of apendix which is added to the Church's traditional activity. Rather, ecumenism is an organic part of her life and work, and consequently must pervade all that she is and does; it must be like the fruit borne by a healthy and flourishing tree which grows to its full stature." — Ut Unum Sint - Pope John Paul II

Ecumenism (the work and prayer for Christian Unity) in our Diocese is an integral part of our Diocesan mission and expresses itself through the regular meetings and initiatives of the Bishop with other Church leaders, the "fraternal" gatherings attended by local parish clergy, the prayer events and activities of Churches Together groups, and at times, the more formal "Local Ecumenical Partnerships" in which, for example, churches are shared by two or more traditions. 

This movement, the way of the Church, encourages us all, individually and collectively, to greater practical co-operation, common witness, dialogue and prayer with our fellow Christians. 

Commission Members: Revv S Pearson; C Cousens; M Murphy; Rev Deacon R Wordsworth; Mr Tony Parrini (Secretary); Mr G Stappard; Mr Ian Birnie; Ms J Katamba 

Rev Stephen Pearson (Chairperson)

Tel: 01253 352587

26 All Hallows Road,
Bispham,
Blackpool
FY2 0AS

frstevepearson@hotmail.com

Diocesan Ecumenical Officers:

Rev Stephen Pearson (Lancashire)

Rev Michael Murphy (Cumbria)

County Ecumenical Officers:

(Churches Together in Cumbria):

Carole Gotham

Email: carole.marsden@urc.org.uk

(Churches Together in Lancashire):  

Debbie Peatman 

Email: debbie.peatman@ctlancashire.org.uk

 Other Useful WebLinks:

• Pontifical Council for Christian Unity (Rome)
• World Council of Churches
• Churches Together in Britain & Ireland
•   Churches Together in England 
• Churches Togther in Lancashire 
• Churches Together in Cumbria 

• Anglican Diocese of Carlisle 
• Anglican Diocese of Blackburn
• The Methodist Church in North Lancashire
• The Methodist Church in Cumbria
• The United Reformed Church (North Western Synod)
• The Baptist Church (Northwest Batist Association)
• Salvation Army (Northwest) 

Edinburgh 2010

Useful Church Documents: 

Second Vatican Council:
Dogmatic Constitution on the Church - Lumen gentium

Second Vatican Council:
Decree on Ecumenism - Unitatis redintegratio

Pope John Paul II:
Encyclical Letter on Commitment to Ecumenism - Ut unum sint

The Ecumenical Directory
(Directory for the Application of Principles and Norms on Ecumenism)

Shortened Version prepared by the Bishops' Conference of England and Wales:
The Search for Christian Unity