CTBI Spring 2026 Magazine

Discover the work of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI), its member churches and related organisations in our Spring 2026 magazine.

You can read online or download (PDF), below.

Welcome

Together with our members and partners, we spent much of last year reflecting on the significance of the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea.

To conclude, in December we organised a roundtable discussion, led by Revd Dr Susan Durber, World Council of Churches (WCC) President for Europe, to explore what we had learned through this year of engagement, and how we might continue to build on that learning and momentum. Dr Durber drew on the experience of her many and varied events and encounters, on these islands and in the wider international context, to identify potential priority areas for attention and development. Among these was the encouraging interest in dialogue on doctrine indicated by the wide variety of events and initiatives offered throughout the year, as well as the breadth and depth of participation in these encounters.

Christians around the world were not only responding positively to the invitation to explore together what we believe about Jesus and what that means for our witness and mission in today’s world, but they were also embracing the opportunity to do so in dialogue with others who differ in significant ways in terms of their beliefs and practice. This engagement offered new opportunities to reflect on what we mean by unity within the ecumenical movement and beyond.

We saw evidence of a willingness to engage in difficult conversations about difference and respect, about injustice and exclusion – historical and contemporary, and the need for all of us to challenge ourselves about the impact of our words and actions on others in their sense of belonging.

In the magazine, you will see how we are continuing to draw inspiration from the experience of marking this anniversary across the different areas of our work. At a time of escalating conflict and deteriorating relationships globally, we find many signs of hope in our work. At local level, the continued commitment to the Church of Sanctuary work is a powerful witness to the truth, not only of our Christian faith, but of the warmth and compassion of our communities, and a courageous challenge to those who seek to misrepresent and divide.

At the European level, the renewal of the Charta Oecumenica demonstrates the willingness of the churches to engage in self-critical reflection about their progress and the impact of their work and challenge themselves to go deeper in their relationship-building and widen their outreach.

The level of engagement with our resources for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity and Racial Justice Sunday has encouraged us to offer a wider range of resources to support local churches in connecting with our work. Our experience suggests that people are actively seeking Gospel-based resources to help them engage in dialogue around the social justice issues that are polarising communities, recognising that the Church is not immune from these divisions. Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI) has also tried to help and support through listening, sharing the learning from the ways in which diverse communities have approached the challenge of identity-based conflict.

We are grateful for the generous support of all those who have contributed to the work shared in this magazine – volunteering their time, sharing their expertise, bringing their ideas and helping us to make connections. As you read, we invite you to reflect on the ways in which our coming together is making a difference, and if you have any reflections, feedback or suggestions we’d be very glad to hear from you.

Dr Nicola Brady, General Secretary, Churches Together in Britain and Ireland

Photo: Catholic Communications Office, Maynooth

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