About us Committees and Commissions Ecumenical Commission (Christian Unity) Archdiocese of Birmingham Ecumenical Commission The Commission is dedicated to promoting unity between Christians. The lay and clerical members of the Ecumenical Commission represent designated areas of the Archdiocese. Our aims are to foster the cause of Christian unity across the Archdiocese, and to deepen our relationships with other Christian communities. We aim to enable and encourage ecumenical practice within parishes by sharing good practice; acting as a source of advice and support; and developing ecumenical leaders. Why we support Ecumenism The call to seek Christian unity comes from Jesus himself. He prayed the world may be one, “as I am one with The Father” (John 17:21). Ecumenism (from the Greek word Oikoumene: meaning the whole inhabited world) is not complicated; it is simply witnessing, in unison, with other Christian communities to the salvation of Jesus Christ. Christian unity is not a distant prize at the end of our journey of faith; it is a gift from God that we receive on the journey itself when Christians travel in harmony. All we believe, all we practice, all we love about our faith, has an ecumenical element; instead of doing “ecumenical things” to promote unity, we should seek to do all things ecumenically. If you wish to know more about the role of the Commission, and/or offer support, please contact Deacon David Fairbotham, Diocesan Ecumenical Officer, [email protected] or 07948379545, or contact one of the other Commissioners named below who will be delighted to help. The ways we promote Christian unity Seek and encourage opportunities for shared prayer for unity Develop and champion a vision for ecumenism with the four priorities of the Diocesan Vision, Unfolding God's Plan Act as a source of advice and support to Archbishop Bernard Longley Be a catalyst and empowerer of all involved in ecumenism Provide advice, guidance, and inspiration Develop ecumenical leaders Support diocese-wide and local projects Develop a calendar of annual national and local ecumenical events. Please contact us The Commission exists to support and encourage anyone involved in this mission. If you would like to discuss anything connected with this, or an ecumenical project, please contact one of us. We will be delighted to help. The Catholic Church in England and Wales is a member of Churches Together. This is a national ecumenical instrument supporting and encouraging churches from a wide range of traditions to work together in unity. The Ecumenical Commission operates within this framework. We work with a wide range of contacts in all the major Church communities. Commission Members and contact details Chair: Deacon Nick St. John Email: [email protected] Phone: 07450 294036 Secretary: Deacon David Fairbotham Email: [email protected] Phone: 07948 379545 Birmingham Churches Together Deacon Peter Middleton Email: [email protected] Phone: 07752 229704 Deacon David Fairbotham Email: [email protected] Phone: 07948 379545 Black Country Churches Engaged Ann Bayley Email: [email protected] Phone: 01902 421567 Coventry and Warwickshire Janet Wiltshire Email: [email protected] Phone: 07794 249097 Janet Ward Email: [email protected] Phone: 07802 413887 Chapel of Unity, Coventry Cathedral: contact Janet Ward, above. Churches together in Oxfordshire Deacon Nick St John Email: [email protected] Phone: 07450 294036 Churches Linked Across Staffordshire and the Potteries (CLASP) Barbara Davies Email: [email protected] Phone: 07401 201272 Churches Together in Worcestershire Dr Christine Dodd Email: [email protected] Phone: 07596 557368 Other Members Fr Kevin Kavanagh Email: [email protected] Phone: 01675 463939 Write to the Ecumenical Commission Deacon David Fairbotham, Diocesan Ecumenical Officer, St Dunstan’s Church, 6 Kingsfield Rd, King's Heath, Birmingham B14 7JN. Or email: [email protected]