The Seventh-day Adventist Church was one of more than 40 denominations that met recently at the triennial Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI) Assembly in Derbyshire, England. Some 300 delegates from across the four nations of Wales, Ireland, Scotland and England attended the event, entitled “Pilgrims Progress?”.

For nearly 18 years the group has encouraged these churches to work together where possible, while maintaining their own identity. At the meeting it was decided that the size and frequency of the assemblies will be reduced. Final decisions will not be made until next year, but the way the Seventh-day Adventist Church relates to the CTBI may change somewhat, according to Pastor John Surridge, communication director for the Adventist Church in Britain. Adventists are currently associate members of CTBI, effectively, observers, but in the future they may relate only to the national bodies.

“We can certainly learn a great deal about, and from, our fellow Christians in other denominations,” said Pastor Cecil Perry, president of the church in Britain. “And I believe that we have a lot to offer them from our own theological and historical perspective. Already the family ministries team at the [church in] South England works together with Churches Together in England in producing Christian family resources, and it would be good if we could expand on that good example.” However, he added, “It is important that we retain our own distinctive doctrines and are not sidetracked from our unique eschatological emphases.”