Churches Together presidents hail year of celebration

The Presidents of Churches Together in England (CTE) have heralded 2012 as a “year of celebration”.

With the Olympic Games and torch relays, and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee all on the horizon, they say the four month period of May to September will provide opportunities for people to gather and celebrate together “in ways which will both enhance and deepen community life”.

The CTE Presidents are the Moderator of the United Reformed Churches, the Rev Michael Heaney, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Westminster, Vincent Nichols, and the head of the Lutheran Church in Great Britain, the Rt Rev Jana Jeruma-Grinberga.

In a joint statement, the Church leaders spoke of the “unprecedented” collaboration between the denominations ahead of the Olympics, both through their own staff and the More than Gold organisation.

“More Christian communities from different traditions than ever before are coming together to plan practical ways of serving the project of the Olympic Games, which can bring many and diverse benefits," they said.

This week has seen the end of the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity and the start of the six-month countdown to the Games.

Outreach being planned by churches through More than Gold includes hosting athletes’ families and showing the Games on big screens in church buildings or grounds.

Another nationwide initiative is inviting churches to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee by lighting beacons.

The CTE Presidents affirmed their commitment to continue working in the coming months towards the “visible unity of all Christians in the one faith, expressed in common discipleship, worship, witness and service”.