The Charities and Networks in Association with Churches Together in England (CTE) include a vast range of different organisations.
Find out more about our Charities and Networks in Association (CNAs) on this page.
What are Charities and Networks in Association?
While Charities and Networks in Association do not form part of the churches’ official structures, as voluntary associations of Christians or movements within the Church they are recognised and valued for their participation in the churches’ mission and ecumenism (churches working together).
The areas of focus of our Charities and Networks in Association are wide-ranging, and include:
- church life, mission and Christian apologetics
- public affairs
- justice and peace
- environment and sustainable development
- children and schools
- students and young People
- Christian discipleship and formation
- health, social and pastoral care
- community building
- prayer and spirituality
- dialogue and ecumenical learning
- international concerns and development
What does it mean to be a Charities and Networks in Association?
CTE Charities and Networks in Association:
- are in association with Churches Together in England
- are interdenominational associations of Christians working together for a particular purpose (bringing together Christians from different church traditions)
- have a national reach
- accept the Basis and ethos of Churches Together in England
- meet together to share information and expertise
- are represented on CTE’s Enabling Group and have places at the Forum
With members and projects across the country, Charities and Networks in Association can work with all types of ecumenical groups including County bodies and local Churches Together groups. Some Charities and Networks in Association also affiliate with Churches Together in Britain and Ireland.
Our Charities and Networks in Association build relationships, increase understanding of what it means to be ecumenical, and with their rich range of resources, action, partnerships and focus, they serve the Church’s ever greater unity. Often from a point of direct engagement with the changing conditions and needs of wider society, their insights also offer a refreshing addition to the churches’ united working, creating new space for the Church’s voice to be heard in the public sphere.
A key element within Churches Together in England
The Charities and Networks in Association meet three times a year and are part of the governance structure of CTE in two ways:
- Through their meetings they elect two representatives to CTE’s Enabling Group. The Enabling group gathers twice a year to nurture ecumenism in England (encouraging churches to work together), to provide a space for churches to discuss issues of common concern; and to consider matters of CTE governance and strategy.
- CTE’s triennial Forum also presents an opportunity for Charities and Networks in Association to present their work to the wider Church.
How to become a CTE Charities and Networks in Association
In the first instance, an organisation wanting to become a Charities and Networks in Association is invited to contact CTE’s Revd Dr Ben Aldous who will, with colleagues, confirm that they have a more-than-local presence, that they are open to Christians of all traditions, and that they operate ecumenically (bringing together churches from different traditions).
The application is then brought to CTE’s Trustees, who make a recommendation to the Enabling Group.
What about my local organisation?
Our national Charities and Networks in Association all have a more-than-local presence. If your local organisation works with Christians from different traditions, we encourage you to contact the County Ecumenical Officer in your area to find out more about how you can engage at a county (intermediate) level.