Ecumenical Borough Deans are senior clergy representing the  Christian denominations in each London Borough, who meet regularly as a forum and representative group for the churches. Their function is:

• To maintain links between the churches and the local borough councils and their officers. In a way to be the ‘voice of the churches’ at borough level. This continues to be important with the establishment of the Greater London Authority as the boroughs continue to be responsible for carrying out responsibilities in, for example, education, social services, planning, transport and housing.

• To encourage co-operative action on behalf of the churches in each borough on matters of social concern e.g. homelessness and other community projects, regeneration and local strategic partnerships and community strategies.

• To encourage general ecumenical and interfaith co-operation including forging links with local Churches Together or similar groups and with representatives of other faiths.

Their focus is on issues of social justice and community cohesion, values which are rooted in the Christian faith and teaching.

Faith Communities Capacity Building Fund supported a project in 2006/07 to help us develop the capacity of the Ecumenical Borough Deans network across London and to produce a HANDBOOK for Ecumenical Borough Deans to help them work more effectively.

History

A network of ecumenical borough deans was first established by the Greater London Churches Council (GLCC) in 1976. Anglican and Roman Catholic area deans already existed in each of the London Boroughs and Free Churches were asked to appoint someone in each borough to serve in this capacity as well. The GLCC co-ordinated this network and the deans held an annual meeting.  In 1987 the London Churches Group (LCG), the successor body to GLCC, undertook to revive the network. A general consultation was held and guidelines were agreed regarding membership, role and meetings. In 2006 the London Churches Group received a grant from the Faith Communities Capacity Building Fund to employ consultants to review and develop the Borough Dean network.

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Copyright © 2006 London Churches Group
Last modified: 02/05/07