Department of Dialogue and Unity (DDU)
Department Purpose:
To engage in dialogue and outreach with other Christian traditions and other religions. This is achieved through the work of each Bishop within the department, supported by the department committees. The department is committed to the task of the Church to engage with the agenda of social cohesion within society in England and Wales.
This department’s primary focus is Christian unity and interreligious dialogue. The Committee for Christian Unity provides the Conference with up-to-date briefings on Catholic Church's relations with other Christian traditions.
Many of these ecumenical issues are filtered through Churches Together in England and Wales, an inter-denominational Christian body which seeks to promote co-operation between Churches and plans for shared action and worship.
The Bishops of the department have areas of responsibility and are assisted by committee secretaries. Overall management of the Department is the responsibility of the Assistant General Secretary, assisted by the Department Administrator.
The department also liaises with the Ecumenical Instruments where the Conference’s interest is represented by Bishop Paul Hendricks.
The Department has three permanent Committees, Christian Unity (CCU), Catholic-Jewish Relations (CCJR) and Relations with Other Religions. These are managed by a Bishop Chair and Committee Secretary who are then supported by Committee Members.
Within the CCU, there are five sub-Committees who meets twice yearly during which stories of ecumenical practice from the local scene were exchanged. The result of which is to advise the Bishops' Conference, through the Department of Dialogue and Unity on ecumenical issues, and supports for ecumenical activity in the dioceses.
The five sub-Committees are:
Diocesan Ecumenical Representatives (DERS) , British Methodist-Roman Catholic Committee (BMeRRC), Catholic-Oriental Orthodox Forum (COOF), English Anglican-Roman Catholic Committee (English ARC or EARC) and United Reformed Church-Roman Catholic Committee (URCRC).
BISHOPS AND STAFF:
Tel: 020 7901 4841
Fax: 020 7901 4821
Email: dialunity@cbcew.org.uk
BISHOPS:
The Bishops of the department have areas of responsibility and are assisted by Committee Secretaries. Overall management of the Department is the responsibility of the Assistant General Secretary, assisted by the Department Administrator.
Most Rev. Kevin McDonald
Archbishop of Southwark
Chair, Department of Dialogue & Unity (DDU), Committees for Relations with Other Religions and Catholic-Jewish Relations (CCJR)
Rt. Rev. Michael Evans
Bishop of East Anglia
Chair, Committee for Christian Unity (CCU) and Co-Chair, British Methodist-Roman Catholic Committee (BMeRCC)
Rt. Rev. Paul Hendricks
Southwark
Bishop Representative on Ecumenical Instruments (Auxiliary in Southwark)
Rt. Rev. Declan Lang
Bishop of Clifton
Co-Chair, English Anglican-Roman Catholic Committee (EARC) and United Reformed Church-Roman Catholic Committee (URCRC)
Rt. Rev. Philip Pargeter
Birmingham
Episcopal Member (Auxiliary in Birmingham)
STAFF:
Monsignor Andrew J. Faley
Assistant General Secretary for Ecumenical & Interreligious Affairs and Acting Secretary, Committee for Christian Unity (CCU)
OTHERS:
Sr. Clare Jardine
Secretary, Committee for Catholic-Jewish Relations (CCJR)