Churches Together in evangelisation
All Christians and Churches are called to evangelise. Jesus also prayed that we 'may be one .. that the world may believe'.
Churches Together
The two most significant quotes which guide the Churches Together movement in England come from the 'Great Prayer' of Jesus in John 17:20,21 and what is commonly called 'The Swanwick Declaration'. This was agreed by the national church leaders in 1987 at The Hayes Conference Centre at Swanwick in Derbyshire, where a plaque commemorates the significant meeting and statement of intent.
The Biblical text of Jesus prayer, and the Swanwick Declaration of the national church leaders, form the basis on which GfE as the Churches Coordinating Group for Evangelisation, exists and derives a mandate..
John 17: 20,21
'I do not pray for these only, but also for those who believe in me through their word, that they may all be one; even as thou, Father , art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us, so that the world may beieve that thou hast sent me'. (RSV version).
The Swanwick Declaration
'It is our conviction that, as a matter of policy at all levels and in all places, our churches must now move from co-operation to clear commitment to each other, in search of the unity for which Christ prayed and in common evangelism and service of the world'.
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