UK ecumenical organisations
The ecumenical scene differs in England, Scotland and Wales and as a consequence, the URC interacts with a variety of umbrella bodies.
- Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI) spans all three nations (and the Republic of Ireland). CTBI produces the material each year for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, and other practical resources for churches.
- Churches Together in England (CTE) is made up of more than 50 national member denominations, as well as over 100 Charities and Networks in Association that address a wide range of social, religious and international issues and concerns. CTE’s Flexible Framework for Local Unity in Mission is an easy-to-use framework which helps local churches to collaborate with confidence and flexibility – guiding them step-by-step to develop the right agreement for their venture.
- The Free Churches Group is an umbrella body for the Free Churches in England and Wales. The term “Free Churches” in the UK refers to denominations whose history has emphasised independence from state Churches. The Free Churches Group has a particular focus on chaplaincy work in prisons, healthcare and education. In 2025, the Revd Dr Tessa Henry-Robinson, a former Moderator of the General Assembly of the United Reformed Church, was elected the 62nd Free Churches Moderator. In 2020, a report commissioned by the Free Churches Group and published by the religion and society think thank Theos, discussed the relationship between the Church and social cohesion in England. The Church and Social Cohesion: Connecting communities and serving people includes practical recommendations for how both churches and policymakers can maximize the churches’ potential to foster social cohesion in the community.
- The URC is a partner member to HOPE, which acts as a catalyst to encourage churches to work together in missional projects, specifically at a local level.
In England
The URC belongs to Churches Together in England (CTE), which has a very wide membership, encompassing 49 different denominations and church groupings. Although still a work in progress, the CTE document, ‘A new Framework for Local Unity in Mission’ is now the broadly accepted resource paper for ecumenical working in England. It provides a realistic and up-to-date picture of the state of ecumenism in England. The document helpfully encourages a more creative and lighter touch approach to ecumenical ways of working. The CTE website is a helpful source of ecumenical resource material
In Scotland
The Scottish Christian Forum (SCF) is the official “responsible ecumenical body” for Scotland, and the URC’s National Synod of Scotland plays a role in both the Church Leaders’ Forum and the Ecumenical Officers’ Forum. The Synod Moderator (the Revd Lindsey Sanderson) and the URC Ecumenical Officer for Scotland (the Revd John Bremnar) are the contact people for anyone wishing to know more.
The URC is also a member of Action for Churches Together in Scotland (ACTS), which now exists as a grant-making body, helping to enable ecumenical and other initiatives. Lindsey Sanderson currently serves as convenor of the ACTS Trustees.
In 2010 a partnership was established with the Scottish Episcopal Church and the Methodist Church (EMU). The URC has a natural and active relationship with the Church of Scotland as a fellow Reformed Church.
In Wales
The URC belongs to Churches Together in Wales (CYTUN), which has made formal partnership arrangements with the Commission of the Covenanted Churches in Wales. This latter body brings together the URC, Methodist Church, Covenanted Baptists, the Presbyterian Church of Wales and the Church in Wales. CYTUN organise a very helpful residential ecumenical course to help introduce new ministers to Wales. The URC Ecumenical Officer for Wales is a shared Assembly and Synod post currently held by the Revd Martin Spain.