On a warm, hazy evening in early September, leaders from Pentecostal, Charismatic, Orthodox and Churches of the East gathered together at the Armenian Orthodox diocesan centre in Brentford, West London. We enjoyed fellowship, food and the deepening existing friendships between our diverse traditions, which share much in common through their conservative theology, focus on scripture, prayer and emphasis on family life.
Churches Together in England Orthodox President His Grace Bishop Hovakim Manukyan hosted the group and shared a short history of the Armenian community in the UK. He also reminded us of the severe political and legal confrontation underway between Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s government and the leadership of the Armenian Orthodox church.
Those gathered heard stories from Pentecostal leader Apostle Adejare Oyewole from the Unification Council of Cherubim and Seraphim Churches and his extensive service with the World Council of Churches, Conference of European Churches and other bodies, and his impassioned cry to take ecumenical relationships more seriously.
Pastor Henry George from Ichthus Christian Fellowship, one of CTE’s member churches of Charismatic orientation, shared the story of the March for Jesus, first pioneered in 1987 and recently revived. Last year. the Jesus march (newly named) saw 7000 people walking through the streets of London without a flag in sight. Pastor Henry spoke of his longing for a march that would unite Christians in sharing the love of Jesus and solidarity with brothers and sisters in Christ from across the diversity of our churches.
Finally, His Eminence Archbishop Angaelos, Coptic Orthodox Bishop of London, reminded those gathered of the history of this group and that there was a need to take the model of engagement between Orthodox and Pentecostals and Charismatics to an intermediate and local ecumenical level.
The next steps seem to be living out some of these relationships on the ground – we hope to share stories of what this looks like in the coming year.