GCSDA
Corruption #74
Changes Ahead for Churches Together in Britain and Ireland
Derbyshire,
England .... [ANN
Staff]
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The
Seventh-day Adventist Church was one of more than 40 denominations
that met
recently at the triennial Churches Together in Britain and
Ireland (CTBI)
Assembly in Derbyshire, England. Some 300 delegates from
across the four
nations of Wales, Ireland, Scotland and England
attended the event, entitled
"Pilgrims Progress?".
For nearly 18 years the group has encouraged these
churches to work
together where possible, while maintaining their own
identity. At the
meeting it was decided that the size and frequency of the
assemblies
will be reduced. Final decisions will not be made until next year,
but
the way the Seventh-day Adventist Church relates to the CTBI may
change
somewhat, according to Pastor John Surridge, communication director
for
the Adventist Church in Britain. Adventists are currently
associate
members of CTBI, effectively, observers, but in the future they
may
relate only to the national bodies.
"We can certainly learn a
great deal about, and from, our fellow
Christians in other denominations,"
said Pastor Cecil Perry, president
of the church in Britain. "And I believe
that we have a lot to offer
them from our own theological and historical
perspective. Already the
family ministries team at the [church in] South
England works together
with Churches Together in England in producing
Christian family
resources, and it would be good if we could expand on that
good
example." However, he added, "It is important that we retain our
own
distinctive doctrines and are not sidetracked from our
unique
eschatological emphases." Source:
Adventist News Network"
