Eastbourne

Churches in Eastbourne have pushed aside theological differences to become a positive Christian witness in their community.

Hope 08 was an example of how the churches are working together on a practical level with a litter clear-up. A telephone hotline for vulnerable and elderly people to call, if they need help with basics such as shopping or changing a light bulb has been set up. A chaplaincy in the precinct of the town’s shopping centre is another scheme as well as joint Alpha courses and a festival. There is also an Eastbourne Christian Agencies Network which takes on the social action agenda for the town.

Martyn Relf, who co-ordinates the core group of Churches Together for Eastbourne, said: “These have been tremendous ways of really binding us together and encouraging people to get involved. Even where a church might not want to officially partner with us because of theological issues, they are able to meet and pray with us and work together with us to some extent.”

Martyn described how the new organisation grew out of a local Evangelical Alliance which had died, and a struggling Churches Together in Eastbourne, when two new ministers arrived in town.

One was a Baptist, who agreed to lead Churches Together provided some radical changes were made. The other was a Methodist and they sat down with Martyn and hatched a three point vision for the future. The vision was based on:

1) Unity based around mission and a common purpose

2) Doing away with committees and constitutions and placing a greater emphasis on relational unity with churches working together, building trust and getting to know one another

3) Devolution of a central structure to five groups based on geographical areas. While there is still a core central group the five geographical groups are autonomous and each comprises 10 to 12 churches.

Martyn said: “The five smaller groups have helped with the building of relationships and enabled churches to catch the vision of reaching out to their community.

“You have got the responsibility of being witnesses to Christ in your neighbourhood together.

“The core group means that when there needs to be one voice to speak, that voice exists. If the secular authorities want to talk to us, there is a single point of contact we can maintain.”