Churches
Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI) has various classes of membership. Churches are members as denominations, not as individual congregations, and the qualification for membership of CTBI is that the church operates on a national basis; it works ecumenically and is a member of one of the National Ecumenical Bodies, (i.e. Churches Together in England; Action on Churches Together in Scotland; Cytûn; Irish Council of Churches or the Free Churches Group). The formal position is set out in CTBI’s Articles of Association.
If you are a member of any of these bodies you need notify the Company Secretary of CTBI of your wish to join CTBI and provide details of the Church’s membership of a National Ecumenical Body. The application is considered by Trustees and then submitted for approval by the existing membership in General Meeting. Otherwise you may wish to apply for membership of a National Ecumenical Body. Contact details are available from their websites, links to which are available here.
If however you are interested in joining a local Churches Together Group you should apply to them directly and again you should be able to get information on local groups from the appropriate National Ecumenical Body.
Bodies in Association
CTBI has three classes of member: National Ecumenical Bodies, Churches (Denominations) and Bodies in Association (BIA).
Independent ecumenical organisations can join as Bodies in Association with Churches Together in Britain and Ireland. This status links them to CTBI, Churches Together in England, Action of Churches Together in Scotland and Cytûn (Churches Together in Wales).
The following are the qualifications for membership for Bodies in Association:
* Have aims and basis consistent with those of the ecumenical instruments.
* Have a broad presence, not confined to one locality or region, within at least one of the four nations of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales.
* Have an inclusive membership, welcoming people from all denominations and traditions represented among the churches.
* Have proper constitutional arrangements and accountable leadership.
* Are among the leading organisations in their field.
In order to apply for membership in this category the organisation would need to write, for the attention of the Company Secretary, summarising the operation of the organisation and showing how it complies with the above criteria. The application would then need to be approved by the CTBI Trustees and then the members in general meeting. The formal position is set out in CTBI’s Articles of Association.
Any queries should be addressed to the Company Secretary.
