Editing Local ecumenical partnership

{{more refs|date=February 2016}}
[[File:All Saints Church.jpg|thumb|[[All Saints Church, Loughton|All Saints Church]], [[Milton Keynes]], is a part of the [[Watling Valley Ecumenical Partnership]] between the Anglicans, Baptists, Methodists and United Reformed Church.]]

In [[England]] and [[Wales]], a '''local ecumenical partnership''' (or '''project''') is a partnership between [[Christian Church|church]]es of different [[Religious denomination|denomination]]s. First piloted in 1964, over 850 now{{when|date=February 2016}} exist to promote unity between different [[Christianity|Christian]] denominations.{{fact|date=February 2016}}

The [[missiology|missiologist]] [[David Bosch]] in his ''Transforming Mission''<ref>{{cite book| title=Transforming Mission | publisher=[[Orbis Publishing|Orbis]] | year=1992 | first=David | last=Bosch | authorlink=David Bosch }}</ref> recognised [[ecumenism]] as the most recent paradigm of mission emerging from the worldwide Church. The main thrust of ecumenism is that despite the theological and cultural differences evident between denominations, the mission of any local Church is made more effective through a united witness. In some cases this has meant that a Christian presence has been retained in areas where neither denomination would be able to continue on its own. In addition, ecumenism encourages the sharing of different worship styles, the development of mutual understanding and the ability for the Church to speak with a united voice on social justice issues. Materials from organisations with a strong ecumenical emphasis, such as the [[Iona Community]] and [[Taizé Community|Taizé]], are evidence of this.

As a result of the [[Anglican-Methodist Covenant]],<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.anglican-methodist.org.uk/ | title=Anglican-Methodist Covenant | location=UK }}</ref> [[Church of England|Anglicans]] and [[Methodist Church of Great Britain|Methodists]] are committed to working in partnership with an end goal of achieving full visible unity.

==See also==
{{Portal|Christianity}}
*[[Ministerial association]]
*[[Shared church]]
*[[World Council of Churches]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukcm/1988/3 Church of England (Ecumenical Relations) Measure 1988 (No. 3)]
* https://www.cte.org.uk/Groups/235275/Home/Resources/Local_Ecumenism/Single_Church_in/URC/URC.aspx
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20061129115933/http://www.urc.org.uk/our_work/committees/ecumenical/ecu_expectations/ecu_expectations_index.htm United Reformed Church: ecumenical expectations]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070928180923/http://www.churches-together.net/Group/Group.aspx?id=43932 Churches Together in England: Ecumenical Notes]

[[Category:1965 establishments in England]]
[[Category:Christian ecumenism]]
[[Category:Christianity in Wales]]
[[Category:Christianity in England]]