St Albans represented in European Church delegation

8 August 2007

 Helen Hutchison, European Contact Officer for St Albans Diocese, is to join a delegation of eleven prominent church figures led by the Bishop of London. The delegation to the Third European Ecumenical Assembly will bring together 2000 delegates from churches across Europe to share their vision and hopes for renewal and unity in Europe. The Assembly will meet in Sibiu, Romania, the home of Romanian Orthodox Christianity.

European identity, other faiths, migration, creation, justice and peace will be on the agenda, alongside questions of unity, spirituality and witness. The theme will inevitably be the moral and spiritual direction of travel for Europe and the role which Europe's Christian Churches intend to play in the future.

Speaking today about the assembly, Helen Hutchison said:

“The Assembly offers us a unique opportunity to meet Christians from different traditions across Europe and to reflect together on our tasks and responsibilities in the new Europe of the 21st century. It is vital that we draw on our diverse Christian roots for the challenges that face our continent.

“With a long history of serving our communities all over Europe we are well placed to continue that role and to engage with today’s larger community of nations and its structures.

“Our commitment is to work for peace and to help shape a vision for the future where people are valued whatever their culture, race or creed. Politics and faith do mix when that is the goal”

Helen Hutchison is a writer and campaigner.

The Assembly, organised by the Conference of European Churches and the Roman Catholic Bishops' Conferences in Europe, runs from 4-9 September.

Notes to editors
The Council of Christian Unity website, at www.cofe.anglican.org/info/ccu, offers a wide range of background information on the Assembly, including prayer, worship and study materials on the theme The light of Christ shines upon all.  Hope for renewal and unity in Europe