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WHEN CHURCHES
JOIN - 6. General Documents
Local Ecumenism Information Kit
- Developed by the Local Ecumenism Working Group, NSW
Ecumenical Council, October 2000
Phone (02) 9299 2215 for more information.
[Back
to Contents of Local Ecumenism Information Kit]
Section 3.
Resources Available
Personal - Don't under-estimate
people!
• Key resources are clergy or lay people with a vision;
action can begin in a small group.
• Encourage dialogue.
• Bring together those with common
responsibilities in e. g. outreach, visiting, youth work,
education, finance, lay leadership.
Parish/Congregation
• Local ecumenical action need only involve two churches
at the outset (but aim to involve all of them if possible).
• A Ministers' Association may
have a role though if all clergy cannot meet regularly together,
maybe groups of 2 or 3 can do so.
• Develop an environment where
respect, trust and friendship can grow easily; focus on common
interests and witness.
• Identify a core of people to
carry it forward, to develop a mandate for change.
• Take care to avoid duplication
or overload; the rule of thumb is Never do alone what
could be done together.
Church
• As local churches are under the administrative oversight
or supervision of their diocese/presbytery/region/Bishop and
are part of diocesan, state or national bodies, they have
extensive resources on which they can call for infomiation
and guidance.
Councils of Churches
The NSW ECUMENICAL COUNCIL - As the state ecumenical body,
the Council is able to help local churches with information
about ecumenical activities, to offer guidance on establishing
ecumenical organisations and programmes, and to arrange contact
with other local groups. The Council's officers will be very
interested to hear what is happening in your local area.
The NSW Ecumenical Council's offices
are located:
SYDNEY: Level 6, 379 Kent Street, Sydney
Postal Address: Locked Bag 199, Sydney 1230
Phone: (02) 9299 2215 Fax: (02) 9262 4514
E-mail: rwilliamson@ncca.org.au
Website: nswec.org.au
CANBERRA: The Wellspring, 69 Northboume
Avenue, Canberra
Postal Address: GPO Box 1526, Canberra 2601
Phone & Fax: (02) 6257 4095
E-mail: ghunt2@tpg.com.au
CHURCHES COMMUNITY HOUSING
3 Smail Street, Broadway
[P O Box 417], Broadway 2007
Phone: (02) 92127455 Fax: (02) 92127522
E-Mail:
info@churcheshousing.org.au
The Council has a Local Ecumenism
Working Group, which is available to assist local groups
as needed.
Reference Material
Books, articles, tapes etc. on a range of ecumenical subjects
are available from the NSW Ecumenical Council's Office. Denominational
bookshops may also have a range of ecumenical resource material.
A video resource, "Portraits of Unity",
produced by the National Council of Churches in Australia
promoting the covenanting process between churches is available
from the NSW Ecumenical Council. The cost is $22 (incl. GST).
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