| Welcome to Wiltshire Churches Together |
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Wiltshire Churches Together is a partnership between the major Christian denominations and churches in Wiltshire.
This website provides information to support the Church and ecumenical movement in the County.
Wiltshire Churches Together is part of Churches Together in England and World Council of Churches. |
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| Clergy representing the different churches in Devizes during the 2009 Mission week - Believing in Devizes |
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| Kate Sax, Ecumenical Mission Enabler writes |
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| Fresh new sprouts of Ecumenical Mission growth! |
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| As I have travelled around various parts of Wiltshire, meeting members of Churches Together Groups in my role of Ecumenical Mission Enabler, I am struck by the wide variety of activities which go on, often largely unnoticed and not widely publicised. Ecumenism is not high on the agenda of many people, nor, sadly many Dioceses. |
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| Perhaps that is partly due to the fact that it does go on quietly and steadfastly through the efforts of small groups of individuals committed to working together with fellow Christians and is not very high profile. Traditionally the activities undertaken by the various churches together have been “by the Church for the Church” – inter-church Lent Groups, Joint Services, Songs of Praise and the Easter Walk of Witness, although the latter is intended to be just that, a witness to the community. |
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| However, here and there, there are signs that the focus of joint activities is turning more and more towards reaching out to those outside the Church. This in part has been prompted by the effects of the recession and greater awareness of local needs to which the church can respond. |
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| I am sure there are many more projects of which I am not yet aware and I would love to hear from any Churches Together Groups who are either planning community outreach projects or who would like help to do so. It is good to share stories and to encourage one another by so doing. We can only raise the profile of Ecumenism if we ensure that it is a thread which runs through all our activities and our thinking from grass roots up to our Bishops and Church Leaders and we need to communicate that thinking and that energy in every way that we can. Linking in with other groups and especially our Community Area Partnerships is a really effective way of witnessing to our Christian faith, identifying the needs of our communities and working towards a common vision of improving our towns and villages for everyone. Please do contact me for help or information. Revd Kate Sax – Ecumenical Mission Enabler. |
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| kate@kinkiizi.fsnet.co.uk Tel: 01380 831120 |
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COMMUNITY AREA PARTNERSHIPS
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Community Area Partnerships invite Churches to join with them in action in our hard hit communities – how can we meet some of the challenges of the recession?
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| There are around 20 Community Area Partnerships in Wiltshire, representing towns and villages and made up of all sorts of people and organisations with one thing in common – a desire to make our county a better, safer and healthier place to live. Jesus told us to heal the sick, feed the hungry and give to the poor – in other words care for your communities and show them love. |
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| This can best be achieved by working with others and whilst there is a tremendous amount of good work being done by many churches and church groups, even more could be done if we worked in partnership. |
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By doing this, not only are we alerted to the wider issues and encouraged to address them, but by our presence amongst other community workers, we have a tremendous opportunity to witness to the love of Jesus Christ – in deed and often in word. When we step out of our comfort zones and obey God, He frequently opens the door to conversations and actions which promote the Gospel.
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To find out more about your local Community Area Partnership, go to the WFCAP web site: wfcap.org and follow the links. If you are unclear or need further guidance, e-mail me or telephone and I will put you in touch with the right people.
Kate Sax
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| Community Area Managers |
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| Amesbury Linaker, Karen Karen.Linaker@wiltshire.gov.uk Bradford on Avon Townsend, Elly Elly.Townsend@wiltshire.gov.uk Calne Vaughan, Jane Jane.Vaughan@wiltshire.gov.uk Chippenham Welsh, Victoria Victoria.Welsh@wiltshire.gov.uk Corsham Roberts, Dave Dave.Roberts@wiltshire.gov.uk Devizes Gale, Jonathan Jonathan.Gale@wiltshire.gov.uk Malmesbury Gilmour, Miranda Miranda.Gilmour@wiltshire.gov.uk Marlborough Julia Densham Julia.densham@wiltshire.gov.uk Melksham Gutierrez, Abbi Abbi.Gutierrez@wiltshire.gov.uk Pewsey Brailey, Caroline Caroline.Brailey@wiltshire.gov.uk Salisbury Dodd, Marianna Marianna.Dodd@wiltshire.gov.uk Southern (Downton) Bray, Tom Tom.Bray@wiltshire.gov.uk South West Wiltshire Munro, Richard Richard.munro@wiltshire.gov.uk Tidworth Powley, Val Val.Powley@wiltshire.gov.uk Trowbridge Efemey, Rachel Rachel.Efemey@wiltshire.gov.uk Warminster Dew, Katharine Katharine.Dew@wiltshire.gov.uk Westbury Hendry, Sally Sally.Hendry@wiltshire.gov.uk Wootton Bassett & Cricklade Scott, Karen (DCS) Karen.Scott@wiltshire.gov.uk |
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| Secretary for WCT |
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The Secretary for Wiltshire Churches Together is responsible for servicing meetings, maintaining a data-base,links with ecumenical bodies and the website as well as publishing the newsletter:
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