CHURCHES from all the mainstream denominations in Stoke-on-Trent are joining forces to demonstrate that Christians are concerned about issues affecting public life.
On Friday 2 October, at The Bridge Centre, Birches Head, representatives from the Methodist, Anglican, Roman Catholic and Baptist churches are holding a joint synod to quiz a panel of experts on the topic of ‘Jobs and the Economy’.
Based on the TV ‘Question Time’ format, a panel consisting of Joan Walley, the North Stoke MP, Bryan Carnes from the Chamber of Commerce, Gerald Coyne, the regional secretary of the trades union UNITE, and Alison Knight from the North Staffs Regeneration Board, will answer questions submitted by members of the participating churches. The Bishop of Stafford, the Rt Revd Gordon Mursell, will set the scene by giving theological input about the nature of work, and the evening will close with a short act of worship.
The idea for a joint meeting of synods, circuits and deaneries began back in 2007 when the Ecumenical City Links Officer, the Revd David Lingwood, realised that although there are active Churches Together groups in the city there was no body trying to bring churches together city-wide.
‘I started by getting the two Anglican deaneries of Stoke and Stoke North together for a joint synod at St Peter’s High School to look at the subject of education,’ said David.
‘Then early in 2008 I approached Lloyd Cooke from Saltbox and representatives from the Methodist, Roman Catholic and Anglican churches to suggest that we try to organise a joint meeting to address an issue of concern to us all. This was enthusiastically taken up, and more than 100 people attended a meeting on the subject of regeneration.’
In 2009 that group was widened to include URC and Baptist leaders, and it was agreed that as far as possible all the participating churches would make an annual joint synod one of their official meetings.
‘We hope that this will show that Stoke is a place where exciting new ecumenical ventures are taking place,’ said David. ‘As well as helping Christians to think theologically about the economic issues facing North Staffs, we want the people with influence to know that the churches are an important partner in the city.’
Starting at 7.30pm, the meeting is open to all.