Yr Urdd Goodwill Message The McGee Brothers at the Cytûn Tent Passchendale Service

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1 Cytûn at work 2018 Review of our activities during 2017 Setting the Scene This report has been prepared during Advent 2017 offering both celebration and reflection. As a national ecumenical instrument Cytûn knows what its role is, has a clear well worked out workplan and sets out on a regular basis to deliver a mandated pattern of service within an agreed budget. This brief review of Cytûn s work during 2017 sets out to report on what it has achieved offering a platform of learning for our mission throughout It is also offered prayerfully seeking always to enable Christians to serve Christ together as a Gospel imperative. The work completed in Christ s service during 2017 has been a source of encouragement and joy. Filming ITV s Coast & Country programme Yr Urdd Goodwill Message The McGee Brothers at the Cytûn Tent Passchendale Service This review will show that Cytûn has, whenever it is in its gift to do so, not only delivered most if not all its agreed activities but has also achieved much more. Cytûn has fulfilled its mission by God s grace enabled by its member churches, facilitated by a small staff team and brought about by the generosity of several Christian volunteers throughout Wales. Care is taken to ensure that resources are used well. Cytûn has also factored in a capacity to respond to requests from the churches as circumstances and priorities change. That has given Wales national ecumenical instrument a certain fleetness of foot which has been of great benefit to individual churches and the wider Christian family. This review is therefore offered to the churches and an array of faith community partners, third sector organisations, public bodies and various expressions of government. Cytûn always seeks to work well with outside agencies and endeavours to enhance the good name of its member communities in furtherance of their work and aspirations. Worship Cytûn strives to ensure that its work is furthered and sustained by acts of worship. Cytûn staff crafted a BBC Radio Cymru Sunday Service in January and contributed to S4C s Dechrau Canu Dechrau Canmol Reformation 500 Service later in the year. Working closely with the Welsh Government and the services Cytûn played a key role in assisting Wales to commemorate the passing of a 100 years since the Third Battle of Ypres or Passchendaele. The main bilingual service in Flanders assisted Welsh families to grieve those who were lost and to reflect on the cost of war. Cytûn worked with other partners such as the Football Association of Wales crafting a sports pledge which was offered during the main service by the Welsh coach, Chris Coleman also saw the Police Federation return to Saint David's Hall, Cardiff to mark its national memorial service. Cytûn works closely with the Federation as the service comes to Cytûn: Churches Together in Wales 58 Richmond Road, Cardiff CF24 3UR +44 (0) post@cytun.cymru Registered name: Cytûn: Eglwysi Ynghyd yng Nghymru/Churches Together in Wales Limited Cytûn is a registered charity Number: Cytûn is a registered company in England and Wales Number:

2 11yb, Dydd Mawrth 31 Hydref am, Tuesday October 31 st 2017 Diwygiad500 Reformation500 yng / at the Nghadeirlan Metropolaitan Dewi Sant, Caerdydd Metropolitan Cathedral Church of St. David, Cardiff Denise Abraham-Williams and Professor Densil Morgan at the Reformation500 Lecture that followed the service. Wales every four years. The sermon was given by a senior Welsh Police chaplain, the Reverend Tom Evans. The Home Secretary, Amber Rudd and Welsh political leaders paid tribute to officers who had made the "ultimate sacrifice." In October 2017, Cytûn met in joyous worship and reflection during the Reformation 500 service held in St David s Catholic Cathedral in Cardiff. We set out to assist Wales German speaking congregations to mark the passing of 500 years since the beginning of Luther s Protestant Reformation at Wittenberg in Most of our church leaders met together on that occasion and heard an inspiring lecture by Professor Densil Morgan on the Catholicity of Protestantism. This was the first of our Cytûn sponsored lectures held in memory of the Reverend Gethin Abraham-Williams. It is pleasing to record that extra chairs had to be brought in to the lecture room due to the numbers who wish to hear the lecture. Gethin would have undoubtedly been pleased to see so many gather for a lecture on ecumenism held in his memory. Local Mission In its mission Cytûn has remained in contact with over 70 local groups encouraging occasional ecumenism, specific projects and more advanced Local Ecumenical Projects and Community Pastorates. Advice has been offered concerning constitutional and administrative support. Use has also been made of resources provided by other national instruments in Britain and Ireland. Through newsletters and direct contact, support has been given to local groups in their mission by providing speakers, insurance cover and publicity through social media and denominational periodicals. Through occasional preaching engagements and specific ecumenical events Cytûn staff have supported local congregations of differing denominations throughout Wales. The year ended, for example, with a fruitful exploration of how the Abergavenny and District Council of Churches would articulate its future work. Cytûn is indebted to the Reverend Sally Thomas for much of this work. Pastoral Care Cytûn was actively involved in assisting the nation to grieve during We initiated national vigils outside the Senedd following acts of terrorism. Canon Aled Edwards spent time with Cardiff mosques offering support during times of tension. The memorial event held in the Senedd following the death of the former First Minister, Rhodri Morgan, was humanist in conviction but welcoming of everyone of different faiths and of none. Revd. Canon Aled Edwards tribute at Rhodri Morgan s funeral commemoration Alongside others within Wales' faith communities, Cytûn called upon everyone to allow due process to continue concerning the sad circumstances surrounding the death of Carl Sargeant and to grieve his loss. Carl had worked

3 closely with faith leaders through the Welsh Government's Faith Communities Forum and will be missed by its members. Cytûn also worked with him at the Welsh Government's Race Forum. We continue to extend our sympathies to his family, friends and colleagues. Cytûn has tried to ensure that Welsh Christian activities, priorities and perspectives have been shared with the wider Christian family throughout Britain and Ireland and beyond in the wider European church scene. It is a great source of encouragement that newer ethnic minority churches are seeking membership of Cytûn. and other occasional liturgical resources. The chairs of these agencies now meet together to set out strategic priorities for the future. It is hoped, during 2018, that Cytûn, the Commission of the Covenanted Churches and CTBI will be able to proceed with a shared appointment focusing on faith, order and witnessing. Focolare, Rome. Europe In the wake of Brexit, Wales' links with European partners has taken on a new significance. The general secretaries of the national ecumenical councils of Europe meet every year to discuss the significant issues of our age and how they impact on church life. This year s gathering met in Cardiff at a crucial time to discuss in particular how churches in Wales have responded to Brexit. We were pleased to enjoy the company of the First Minister who met with the general secretaries the day before the UK General Election. Ecumenical Partners in Wales Cytûn has continued to work closely with the Commission of the Covenanted Churches and the Free Church Council of Wales offering administrative support in the holding of meetings and facilitating research, theological reflection and joint work in the public square. Plans have been initiated which will hopefully lead to new research in 2018 and the opening up of new faith and order conversations between our member churches. Britain and Ireland Regular contact is maintained with colleagues in the other Great Britain and Ireland national instruments as well as Churches Together in Britain and Ireland. The instruments work closely with each other in producing materials for the Week for Prayer and Christian Unity During 2017 Cytûn engaged with the Focolare Movement during one of their major conferences in Rome. The movement promotes the ideals of unity and universal brotherhood. Churches throughout Britain and Ireland may engage further with the movement during A link to CTBI s Week of Prayer for Christian Unity resources can be found on the Cytûn website. The discussions also touched upon other significant issues: secularisation, international immigration and the changes brought about in contemporary interfaith dialogue. The valuable lessons learnt from the Cardiff meeting will be built upon in Vienna during Cytûn looks forward to working closely with the Conference of European Churches throughout 2018 and especially during its General Assembly Meeting to be held in Novi Sad, Serbia.

4 Supporting Chaplaincies One of Cytûn s key objectives throughout 2017 has been to support chaplaincies in Welsh public life. Encouragement has been offered to the work of police, hospital and university chaplains ensuring public support and a sense of how political cultures view chaplaincies and are supportive of them. Annually at the Royal Welsh Agricultural Show Cytûn supports the work of the rural chaplains. Cytûn hopes to offer the churches a new memorandum of understanding which will hopefully place the work of the rural chaplains on a much surer administrative footing. ITV s Coast and Country and BBC s Songs of Praise filmed items at the Cytûn-Churches Together tent this summer. Organ Donation Event Cytûn supported a research project by Bangor University looking at the effect of the first 18 months of soft opt-out for organ donation decisions in Wales. We advised on the varying religious, and especially Christian perspectives, on this, and how to interpret families account of their religious motivations. The research came to an end with a special event in September 2017 and will be published during Celebration at Hindu Temple, Cardiff Training Although Cytûn had to change the venue of its 2017 "Welcome to Wales" course to Cardiff Bay the provision was well received. It was encouraging to assist so many ministers from outside Wales to have a better understanding of our nation's history, cultures and language. The course is prepared by Sasha Perriam within the staff team. Interreligious Work Cytûn has continued to provide secretarial support to the Interfaith Council for Wales and sought, with others, to uphold the Christian faith in that engagement. It has done so at significant national events such as Holocaust Memorial Day and the unveiling of a statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Cardiff Bay in October. Staff work closely with colleagues from the Evangelical Alliance. We have also enabled Christian leaders to participate fully in the Welsh Government's Faith Communities Forum which meets at least twice a year. Preparations are well in hand to enable Cytûn member churches to prepare more effectively and strategically for Forum meetings with the First Minister. Following a very well received presentation by the Children s Society on missing children at the meeting in October 2017, a priority for 2018 will be the anti poverty work of the churches. Bilingualism Cytûn works fully in both Welsh and English. Frequently during 2017 Cytûn staff found themselves highlighting the needs of Welsh speakers in the context of broadcasting, devolved policies, immigration policies and civil freedoms. The role of the Welsh language Book of Common Prayer and the Bible in preserving the Welsh language was highlighted at the National Eisteddfod in Anglesey and at the Senedd during a meeting of the world s language commissioners. Education Cytûn represents the Christian churches, as part of wider faith representation, at the Strategic Stakeholder Forum for the development of the new curriculum for schools in Wales. We have been instrumental in clarifying the Welsh Government s intention to incorporate the current legal security for Religious Education within the new curriculum, and have contributed to wide-ranging discussions with other stakeholders about the whole range of subjects. The Forum also shares insights on the well-being of children in schools and on children with additional learning needs.

5 Displaced People [L-R]: Dr Christian Williams, Co-ordinator for the Baptist Union of Wales Trust; Revd. Judith Morris, General Secretary, Baptist Union of Wales; Mr Alex Glanville, Head of Property Services, Church in Wales; Gethin Rhys, Cytûn National Assembly Policy Officer. Historic Churches and Chapels Cytûn works with its member churches and other groups in supporting the work of Cadw through the Historic Places of Worship Forum. This provides an opportunity to discuss the opportunities and challenges of the 3,000 listed places of worship in Wales (the vast majority owned by Cytûn member churches). Cytûn co-ordinated the presentation of evidence on this matter to the Culture, Welsh Language and Communications Committee of the National Assembly in November Cytûn has acquired a reputation in the world wide ecumenical scene for its pioneering work in the arena of immigration. As Cytûn's Chief Officer, Aled Edwards gave the opening reflection at the World Council of Churches' European Conference into statelessness held in Berlin. He was also invited to speak at the Home Office's conference on its community sponsorship scheme for Syrian refugees held in Aberystwyth. Wales Strategic Migration Partnership Wales and Europe Working Party Cytûn s working party monitored and responded to the many developments during the year as the UK prepares to leave the European Union. We focused on the Christian values of integrity and truth-telling; keeping promises; concern for the powerless; and ensuring all voices are heard. We were especially concerned to argue that citizens should be clear both before and after Brexit where decisions are made and to which level of government they should turn to influence those decisions. We met several elected representatives to discuss these matters in detail including Ben Lake MP and the First Minister, Carwyn Jones AM. All the Working Party s publications can be found on the Wales & Europe page on the website: During 2018, the Working Party is arranging a series of public meetings around Wales to listen to the views of church members and those from wider society about the changes that Brexit will bring to Wales, and how they can be shaped and influenced by the grass roots. We welcome invitations from ecumenical groups across Wales to host a meeting of this kind. Aled serves as a member of the Home Office sponsored Wales Strategic Migration Partnership and is also a member of the Welsh Government s Syrian Resettlement Taskforce. Every effort is made to ensure that the voice of faith Communities is heard by key decision makers working in this arena. Throughout 2017 feedback has been offered to interested church structures and committees. This work continues to be strategic insisting, for example, that while the press and media are focused on the Syrian Resettlement Programme the need continues to be focused on the spontaneous arrivals in the traditional dispersal areas of Swansea, Cardiff, Newport and Wrexham. Cytûn continues to work closely with local authorities

6 offering advice and a considerable experience of working in this arena. During 2017, support was given to groups in Aberystwyth and Haverfordwest. Wales national ecumenical instrument has been particularly mindful of the needs of persecuted Christians seeking sanctuary in Wales. In this regard, Cytûn s work is frequently hands on and offers some support, where possible, to vulnerable individuals. Refugee children and young people played a pivotal part in Cytûn's Reformation 500 service lighting five candles of reconciliation and hope for the future. Press and Media Cytûn has Twitter account providing regular updates and a sense of what the member bodies are profiling in their work. On an annual basis Cytûn staff now make some media interviews on a range of faith related issues. Almost on a weekly basis, journalists are signposted to the appropriate sources within the churches or bodies in association for comments on matters of public interest. (above) Cytûn CEO Revd. Aled Edwards at the 10th Anniversary of the Equality and Human Rights Comission conference (below) photos taken by Cytûn CEO Revd. Canon Aled Edwards Equality and Human Rights Cytûn has a standing Racial Justice Network which meets regularly to discuss the care of displaced people, social cohesion, hate crime and the needs of Wales newer ethnic minority congregations. Regularly, advice is given to Welsh Government and third sector partners on faith and equality issues. Cytûn took part in conversations at the Pride Cymru event in Cardiff conveying the breadth of the views on sexual orientation held between and within its member churches. Staff gave some support to the late Jo Cox MP Great Get Together project focusing very much on social cohesion. Amongst the many highlights of our working year... Our AGM with the Cytûn Staff, Board Members and Associates, with the General Secretaries of the European Council of Churches

7 Supporting Bodies in Association Through Cytûn and sometimes direct contact, Welsh churches support a growing number of bodies in association. Friends from the Bible Society, the Welsh Sunday School Council and Christian Aid were welcomed at the Cytûn tents at national events. Cytûn is a member of the Steering Group for Housing Justice Cymru. Cytûn continues to support our sister agency, Christian Aid, in its work with the poorest people in the world. Christian Aid Week 2017 focussed on the continuing refugee crisis, and during the Royal Welsh Show Cytûn joined Christian Aid representatives in calling on the large clearing banks to help tackle climate change by stopping their investment in fossil fuels. Cytûn staff have sought to be supportive of the work of Christian Aid offering input at its Wales Committee meeting and highlighting its work at the Reformation 500 event in Cardiff. Welcome to Wales/Croeso i Gymru Welcome to Wales is a residential training course, run by Cytûn, for ministers of religion who are transferring into Wales from other parts of the UK or further afield. Held this year (2017) between the 4th and the 6th of October, the course included an insight to the ecumenical and political context of Wales, the contemporary and historical cultural context and the place of the Welsh language amongst other religious issues and Interfaith work in Wales. The next course will be held between the 3rd to the 5th of October An application form to book a place on the course is available on the Cytûn website. Please contact Sasha Perriam for more information: post@cytun.cymru The course was really good and prepared with care and attention to detail.... a brilliant job! I am very grateful for a splendid course. Excellent introduction to Wales! The course was well put together and I m very grateful for all that has been done for us. Enjoyed staying at the retreat and talking to staff and students. Meeting other people on the course, fellowship and friendship - very well organised.

8 Witnessing Our work of witness at the three major national festivals is constantly rooted in worship and fellowship. The responsibility for this work for the past few years has been in the hands of Ynyr Roberts. Ynyr has now moved on from Cytûn s witnessing work. We will continue to pray for him with gratitude. Thankfully, he has agreed to continue designing our publications. The Urdd Eisteddfod was also busy providing a platform for the work of partners such as the Welsh Sunday School Council and Scripture Union. The launch of the Welsh language version of the interactive Guardians of Ancora was one of the highlights of the Urdd Eisteddfod. Aled Edwards continues to serve as Chair of the Urdd s Humanitarian Committee helping to craft the annual goodwill message to the world and also help shape their Urdd Sunday materials. Cytûn worked closely with the rural chaplains and others to ensure that the churches had a strong presence at the Royal Agricultural Show. Once again, Cytûn helped to profile the work of the churches in the context of rurality. Policy Bulletin Cytûn continue actively to monitor the National Assembly and Welsh Government and co-ordinate the responses of our member churches and organisations to legislation, consultations and debates. A regular Policy Bulletin is published with updates on all the devolved policy areas, and Westminster matters of particular relevance to Wales. This can be read on the Cytûn website, or can be sent free of charge direct to your Inbox by ing: gethin@cytun.cymru