Durham Churches Together

Durham Churches Together is affiliated to North East Churches Acting Together (NECAT) and Churches Together in England (CTE). Our primary role is to foster receptive ecumenism among congregations; instead of asking what other traditions need to learn from us, we ask “what does our tradition need to learn from them – what we can receive which is of God?”

To this end, we provide opportunities and encouragement for the development of mutual understanding between different churches and Christian Communities.

Our activities include inter-denominational groups for study and prayer, conferences, joint services and celebrating Christian festivals. Not least, we support international, national and local Christian charities (including their campaigns) such as Christian Aid and Durham Christian Partnership. We welcome and encourage wider public participation in our events.

Address: Durham Churches Together, c/o The Parish Office, St Oswald's Institute, Church Street, Durham DH1 3DQ.

Transitional Chair: Charles Jolly ([email protected])

Minutes Secretary: Mrs Stevie Taylor

Treasurer: Boyd Sims-Williams

The DCT Committee

Each member church and Christian organisation is invited to appoint one person – lay or clergy – as its representative on the DCT committee. Each church or other organisation is responsible for the appointment, term of office and replacement of their representative. The committee plans and promotes the programme of activities.

The Chair, Secretary and Treasurer are appointed for a three year term by the AGM. When an election is due, nominations for the posts are invited and identified. It is expected that nominees will be members of the committee or otherwise active in DCT. The committee may appoint deputies to these officers. Officers are eligible to stand for re-election at the end of their three year term.

Annual General Meeting

The AGM receives reports on the year's activities, elects the officers when there are vacancies and welcomes a speaker.

You can download the Durham Churches Together Constitution (PDF).

Activities include:

Lent

DCT arranges a series of ecumenical Bible Studies during each Lent.

The Good Friday Act of Witness

A Cross leads a Procession from Millennium Place to the Market Place. Hymns are sung and Prayers offered and representatives of churches read the story of the characters present during Christ’s Passion. The Service is thirty minutes long.

SERVICE FOR THE SEASON OF CREATION

The Season of Creation or Creationtide, from 1st September to 4th October each year, is now a major ecumenical festival. Different churches host a service for the Season of Creation each year. There is also a series of Bible Studies on the theme of caring for God's Creation.

ONE WORLD WEEK COMMUNITY LUNCH

DCT celebrates locally sourced produce in a Community lunch prepared by volunteers. Food justice depends on small farmers being encouraged to grow food for local consumption.

NEW YEARS EVE PROCESSION AND CATHEDRAL SERVICE

A torchlight procession leaves the Market Square and arrives at the Cathedral for the opening of the Service at 5.30 pm. The Service is supported by 400 people of all ages.

WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY lunch

The Prayer Lunch is hosted by different churches each year.

Grapevine

This is the monthly e-circular of notices from all the Durham churches and has a wide readership. Send information your church may wish to circulate in the monthly copy of Grapevine by the 25th of the month to [email protected].

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