CTE appoints new general secretary

‘We value Bishop Mike’s experience of local ecumenical work, focusing on the service which unites the churches rather than interpretations of theology.'

Britain Yearly Meeting (BYM) has welcomed a new general secretary of Churches Together in England (CTE). Mike Royal, a pentecostal bishop, will take up the position in March 2022 when Paul Goodliff retires.

Noting that Quakers have worked with Mike Royal on the CTE’s Racial Justice Working Group, BYM said: ‘We value Bishop Mike’s experience of local ecumenical work, focusing on the service which unites the churches rather than interpretations of theology. As a church which especially recognises and values the continuing inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Quakers in Britain warmly welcome the appointment of CTE’s first General Secretary from the Pentecostal tradition.’

BYM highlighted Mike Royal’s acceptance remarks referring to the challenges and difficulties of this vital ecumenical journey. It said that an important challenge in CTE’s ecumenical journey is ‘living with the impacts of the 2019 decision not to accept a Quaker, Hannah Brock Womack, as a President of the organisation because member churches were unwilling to accept a President in a same-sex marriage’. It added: ‘Quakers look forward to working with Bishop Mike in grappling with how CTE member churches live out our commitment to journeying together, even with our diversity of approaches.’

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