Q. Why is Nicaea relevant to our Member Churches today?
The unity that Member Churches enjoy as part of Churches Together in England is firstly and primarily based on what we believe about the nature of God and the centrality of Christ in the Christian faith. That meeting in AD 325 in Nicaea, in what is now part of modern Türkiye, established a clear understanding of the nature of Christ and the centrality of his life, death and resurrection for our salvation. The great thing about 1700 years of Nicaea is we have a chance to really celebrate what unites us together.
Q. How can the church make the anniversary relevant to wider society?
Emperor Constantine called the Council of Nicaea in many ways to unite his fractured Empire. However, most of those who attended were more interested in the unity of the church than a man-made empire. In this fractured and divided world it’s really important that people see the church standing as one and speaking as one about the things that most matter to them. Of course we will hold different views on different themes but my experience is people want to see the church speaking with one voice and they get terribly confused when we don’t. Nicaea 2025 gives us an opportunity to speak as one church about the Christ we love and seek to serve through the work of the church in the world. A quote that is often attributed to St Francis of Assisi reminds us to “preach the gospel at all times and if necessary use words.” People don’t care about what you know until they know that you care! There is an opportunity for the church to demonstrate the love and mercy of Christ through social action, meeting the needs of the last, the least and the lost.
Q. How does the Nicene Creed feature in your denomination’s worship?
Most Pentecostal Churches are not credal. However, if you read their tenets, listen to the sung worship or the preached word, the call and response – the truth contained in the Nicene Creed comes through loud and clear. The Apostolic Pastoral Congress (APC) is both vibrantly Pentecostal but also liturgical and credal. While we use liturgy in the Eucharist (Communion), we tend to use the Nicene Creed at special gatherings of our congregations like our annual Conference and in our ordination and consecration services. It’s a reminder of the truth that draws us together as a Congress of church members, Deacons, Priests and Bishops.
Q. What message does Nicaea have for worshippers in APC congregations?
There is a lot of stuff that gets preached in various congregations on a Sunday morning across all traditions. Some of it positive, some of it questionable. The truth in the Nicene Creed centres our congregations on Christ. As Pentecostals our core focus is not necessarily the Holy Spirit as some think, although the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit is vital for Pentecostals. The focus is Christ as Saviour, Sanctifier, Spirit Baptiser and Soon Coming King. No hymn sums up what Pentecostals believe better than the hymn “Jesus only, Jesus ever, Jesus all in all we sing, Saviour, Sanctifier, Healer, glorious Lord and Coming King. The 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea should remind Pentecostals of the centrality of the work of Christ for Salvation.
Q. How do you hope that church unity will be strengthened through all the Nicaea anniversary activities in 2025?
I think we can expect plenty of ecumenical gatherings this year focusing on Nicaea 1700. It will certainly be a focus at the Churches Together in England Forum from 17 to 19 March 2025. Expect a statement of unity from our Churches Together in England Presidents who represent the broad sweep of the 54 Member Churches of CTE. I’m hoping we can put aside some of our differences and focus on the thing we have in common, Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. And not only our Saviour but also the Saviour of the world.