About us
Churches Together in South London (CTSL) is what is known as an intermediate ecumenical body in that its purpose is to encourage and support inter-church action and development in an area larger than the local but smaller than the national. In the case of CTSL, this area is the London boroughs of Greenwich, Lewisham, Southwark, Lambeth, Wandsworth, Croydon, Merton, Sutton, Kingston, and Richmond south of the River Thames.
The purposes of CTSL are set out in its constitution:
- assisting the constituent churches in the visible expression of Christian unity, which includes engaging in mission and evangelism together, the sharing of resources, and responding together in appropriate ways on matters of social and economic concern
- affirming, supporting and servicing Churches Together groups and other expressions of local ecumenism whether formal or informal, structured or unstructured
- acting as Sponsoring Body for all existing Local Ecumenical Partnerships in the area by supporting, advising and reviewing those partnerships as required by their own constitutions
- reviewing Churches Together groups or equivalents where requested
- encouraging the creation of new Local Ecumenical Partnerships and Churches Together groups or equivalents
- enabling the ecumenical dimension to be taken fully into account in matters of common concern, so contributing to the mission strategies of churches and associations of churches
- promoting study and debate on the theological issues raised by the quest for Christian unity
- stimulating churches and associations of churches to co-operate and to co-ordinate their work wherever possible.
CTSL is supported by the Anglican Diocese of Southwark, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Southwark, the London Methodist District, the United Reformed Church Southern Synod, the London Baptist Association, the Salvation Army London South East Division, and a number of smaller denominations. It has growing links with independent black majority churches in South London.
Its Chair is the Rt Rev Christopher Chessun, Anglican Bishop of Woolwich, and its Vice-chair is the Rt Rev Paul Hendricks, Auxiliary Bishop in the Catholic Archdiocese of Southwark. They meet with other South London church leaders to discuss matters of common interest and concern.
CTSL is run by a Council, consisting of denominational representatives and people from churches together groups across South London, and a smaller Enabling Group, consisting mainly of denominational ecumenical officers
CTSL has an Ecumenical Officer, John Richardson, who is responsible for seeing that decisions of the Council and Enabling Group are carried out and who acts as the co-ordinator of the various activities. He is based at St John’s Waterloo but spends much time 'on the road’ meeting people involved in ecumenical work and visiting ecumenical projects