Press statement, 15 March 2022
CTE Forum is the broadest gathering of churches and Christian organisations in England, gathering 52 national member churches, Christian organisations and intermediate ecumenical bodies. Meeting at The Hayes, Swanwick on 14 – 16 March 2022, the Ukrainian crisis was an urgent priority alongside its planned programme considering ‘Reconciling Hope — A Broken Church for a Broken World’.
Delegates at the CTE Forum 2022 made this statement:
The statement
As 300 delegates from 52 national Member Churches, numerous Christian organisations and ecumenical bodies from across England, we call for the immediate cessation of hostilities, the withdrawal of invading forces of the government of Russia under President Putin and the observance of the Geneva Conventions.
In this holy season of Lent, we call upon churches everywhere to campaign for an immediate end to the war in Ukraine, and to proclaim the dignity of every human life, whatever its nationality.
We welcome and commend the extraordinary efforts of countries neighbouring Ukraine in receiving refugees from the war and call on the UK and the whole of Europe to follow their example. We support every measure to protect the most vulnerable.
We commit ourselves to pray for the nations of Russia and Ukraine, our own Government and people, and for all who find themselves refugees, or bereaved, wounded or destitute. May Christ have mercy upon our world.
ENDS
Media information:
Rev Dr Paul Goodliff
General Secretary of Churches Together in England
[email protected]
07741 893141
Bishop Mike Royal
Incoming General Secretary of Churches Together in England
[email protected]
07967 368350
Notes to editors:
Churches Together in England (CTE) is the national ecumenical instrument supporting and encouraging churches from a wide range of traditions to work together in unity. CTE brings together 52 national Member Churches. With churches drawn from the Anglican, Catholic, Pentecostal, Charismatic, Orthodox and Lutheran traditions, as well as Free Churches, Quakers and others. CTE unites one of the broadest range of churches in the whole of Europe. Read more about CTE.
CTE Forum takes place every three years. It was postponed from 2021 due the Coronavirus pandemic.