Central Sussex United Area

The Ecumenical Area amalgamates the Methodist and United Reformed Churches and several Local Ecumenical Partnerships (LEPs) of two Methodist Circuits (Mid-Sussex + Eastbourne) and two-thirds of the Sussex East URC District - stretching from Haywards Heath to Eastbourne, and northwards to Crowborough. Of the 28 churches, many are actively involved in the combined service and mission of local Churches Together groups and 9 are constituted LEPs involving largely the Methodist and United Reformed Churches, and some with Anglican and Baptist Churches in local expressions of unity and mission.

As the United Area is one of the largest in the U.K. it will be divided geographically into four Local Mission Partnerships, one to the west around the Haywards Heath area, one along the south coast in the Seaford area, another which covers the country churches north east of Lewes, and the fourth for the whole of Eastbourne. The purpose of a Mission Partnership is expressed in the title - to enable the churches more locally to support and encourage each other ecumenically in their mission and life. Whereas the wider grouping of the United Area, governed by its Area Meeting and Pastoral Executive, will oversee administration, deployment and support of ministry, training and particular mission initiatives and projects which require the support of the United Area as a whole.

We ask for the prayers and support of the synod as we develop this new venture in unity and mission.

Included on the Web Site are 2 documents which would be of assistance to any churches or areas considering closer collaboration between United Reformed and Methodist churches. These are the Statement of Intent and the Constitution (March 2007) of the Central Sussex United Area.

Revd Bryan R Shirley
Southern Synod Ecumenical Officer

• Declaration of Intent & Constitution for the Central Sussex United Area of the Methodist and United Reformed Churches