For two years, it had only been possible to hold video conferences online – but finally the time had come, between 22 and 25 October, for the members of the Advisory Board on “Migration and Church Communion” to travel to London for a series of meetings and get-togethers. Besides internal discussions addressing the advisory board’s work schedule and the theological concept of hospitality, amongst other things, the key focus was on meeting churches with roots outside Europe.
It is one of the CPCE’s medium-term aims to establish closer relations with these kinds of churches, which have sprung up as a result of migration to Europe. With this in mind, exploratory talks have already been underway for a number of years with the Unification of Cherubim and Seraphim Churches (Europe Chapter).
After representatives of this independent African church, which is located predominantly throughout Nigeria and the neighbouring countries, had already visited the CPCE’s office in Vienna and attended the General Assembly in Basle, as well as four representatives of the CPCE visiting London in 2017, the plan was to now enter into more detailed theological discussion. The participants spent two evenings examining the topics of spirituality and healing, along with the question of sacraments. In this context, the Cherubim and Seraphim Churches also questioned the lack of certain aspects in the traditional European churches – with regard to faith in the power of healing, lively worship and the role of dance.
On Sunday, the CPCE’s delegates celebrated worship at the Christ the Resurrection Cherubim and Seraphim Church in Borough, led by Special Apostle Adejare Oyewole, the General Secretary of the Europe Chapter. The President of the CPCE, Dr John Bradbury, simultaneously the General Secretary of the United Reformed Church, was invited to deliver the sermon. The letter of intent was also signed during the service. Since several issues still need resolving on the path to the Cherubim and Seraphim becoming full members of the CPCE, the purpose of this joint document was to attest to both sides’ continuing interest in deepening their relations. The service was of course followed by a delicious buffet.
Separate talks were also held with four representatives of the Presbyterian Church in Ghana (PCG), which runs its own “Presbytery of Europe” for the numerous congregations that have emerged in this geographical region. The Church, which dates back to the activities of the Basle Mission and developed relations with the Church of Scotland after the First World War, is a member of the World Communion of Reformed Churches and in many places has close relations with local churches in the CPCE. This first meeting served to establish whether dialogue should also be taken up with the PCG with a view to deepening cooperation and perhaps even leading to it joining the CPCE. The discussions went very well, signalling hope of further talks.