European church body votes for reform

|PIC1|Delegates from Orthodox, Protestant, Anglican and Old Catholic Churches meeting for the 13th Assembly of the Conference of European Churches (CEC) have voted overwhelmingly in favour to reform the organisation.

After several hours of debate, the Assembly approved a motion to establish a special working group to carry out a revision of CEC as a whole. The decision took place on the day the Assembly focused on vision within the context of the Assembly theme, ‘Called to One Hope in Christ’.

The revision of CEC is to include looking at its common purpose, vision, the setting of strategic goals, and its structures.

A working group has been set up by the CEC Assembly to put together draft proposals by 31 December 2011, after which member churches are to be consulted. Final proposals for reform will be brought before a constitutional Assembly meeting in the summer of 2013.

The resolution was adopted by 238 votes in favour and 27 against, with six abstentions.

Though many Europeans say they consider themselves Christians, far fewer actually attend services.

A report on churchgoing in the UK published by Tearfund in April 2007 found that only 15 per cent of the population went to church at least once a month.

Commenting on the vote the General Secretary of CEC, the Venerable Colin Williams, said: “The Assembly has voted with an overwhelming majority for this proposal. All of us at CEC will work hard to achieve this important task which has been laid before us. Together we will work to be a more effective servant in the years to come.”