Our Constitution requires us to hold a General Meeting in the first half of each year and, rather than simply having a business meeting, our Society takes the opportunity to explore a theme that is relevant to both out Church traditions. We met in Coventry Cathedral in the heart of England. It is an ideal location in which to explore our theme because central to its mission is the Ministry of Reconciliation, and every day at midday there is a Litany of Reconciliation. The cathedral is also the originator of the Community of the Cross of Nails which links communities across the world which have suffered the ravages of war. We were to learn more about this later on in the meeting. But first we held the required business meeting.

An account of the Annual General Meeting 2023 can be found if you if you click here to download agm-for-website-1.pdf

The Co-Moderators’ Report can be downloaded here; The Treasurer’s Statement of Accounts is here; The National Coordinators’ Reports are here ; and The Membership Secretary’s report is here

When the business meeting had been concluded we turned to the programme for the day.

SESSION ONE : Bishop Michael welcomed the Rev Frank-Dieter Fischbach and invited him to introduce

‘The Discussion on Peace Ethics within the Protestant Church in Germany (EKD) since the War against Ukraine began’

You can download his paper in full as a Pdf by clicking here and you can open it in a separate window

THE LITANY OF RECONCILIATION AND THE EUCHARIST took place in the cathedral

You can find the Litany of Reconciliation here 

LUNCH BREAK and a hot lunch and dessert went down well on what was a very cold day!

A GUIDED TOUR OF THE CATHEDRAL

Canon Mary Gregory led us, starting in the ruins of the original cathedral and then into Sir Basil Spence’s new building which was consecrated in 1962. As we walked she explained its history and its mission today. Naturally, you can’t join us on that tour…

… but you can go on a guided tour with the Dean, John Witcombe, by clicking the arrow

SESSION TWO : Christine Allsopp thanked Canon Mary for the worship and the tour and invited her to speak on

‘Reconciliation: Healing the Wounds of History’

You can download her paper in full here

SESSION THREE : Patrick Litton then introduced Mr Matthew Carter who spoke on the topic

‘War and Conflict: A Faith Perspective to Assistance and the Work of Depaul in Ukraine’

You can download his paper in full if you click here

EVENING PRAYER rounded off our day, sung in the cathedral by the Choir of Jesus College, Oxford