New Convenor for Churches Together in Norfolk and Waveney

Rev Helen Hollands, Chair of the East Anglia Methodist District, has taken on the role of Convenor of NWCT – Dr Ian Watson, County Ecumenical Officer for Norfolk and Waveney, reports

Churches Together in Norfolk and Waveney (NWCT) has welcomed Rev Helen Hollands as the new Convenor of its Church Leaders’ Group, bringing considerable experience of both church leadership and ecumenical engagement to the role.

Helen has been Chair of the East Anglia District of the Methodist Church since September 2024. Before coming to East Anglia, she was Superintendent Minister of the South Kent Circuit and Assistant Chair of the Methodist South East District. Her background also includes teaching law at the University of Kent, and she holds a Master’s degree in Systematic Theology.

Ecumenism has long formed part of Helen’s ministry. Before moving to East Anglia she served as an Ecumenical Officer for the Methodist South East District and as Co-Chair of the Kent Church Leaders Group. Since arriving in East Anglia, she has been actively involved in the ecumenical life of the region.

In November 2024, Helen joined senior leaders from the Anglican, Baptist, Catholic, Quaker, Salvation Army and United Reformed traditions at Norwich Cathedral to sign NWCT’s Declaration of Commitment for Christian Unity. Under the declaration, the churches committed themselves afresh to working together in their shared mission and witness under the words: Together in Christ, Bound by Love, Serving as One

NWCT brings together the major Christian traditions across Norfolk and Waveney, encouraging churches to deepen their relationships, share their gifts and resources, and seek opportunities for common witness and mission. Alongside the Church Leaders’ Group, its ecumenical life includes the work of Denominational Ecumenical Officers, the County Ecumenical Officer and, importantly, the many local Churches Together and other ecumenical groups through which Christian unity is lived out in communities across the county.

As Helen takes on the role of Convenor, I asked what the role means to her and where she hopes NWCT might go next.

Helen, you already have considerable experience of ecumenical work. What has shaped your own commitment to Christian unity, and what does ecumenism mean to you personally?

“I trained for ministry in an ecumenical setting alongside Anglican and Baptist colleagues with just a few other Methodists. This experience enriched my understanding of the broader Church, both the imperative to unity as well as aspects of our denominations that make us distinctive. In my first appointment the Churches Together group shaped my ministry thereafter, we were Methodists, Baptists, URC, Catholic, Free Church and Anglicans, worshipping, meeting for fellowship, engaging in social projects and being present for the town where we lived. This closeness is a treasure I remember and hope to build on throughout my ministry. We have much to learn from one another.”

What does taking on the role of Convenor of Churches Together in Norfolk and Waveney involve, and how do you see your particular contribution to NWCT?

“It involves working alongside the other Church Leaders and Denominational Ecumenical Officers to create further opportunities for engagement, learning, worship and friendship as we ask together what God is doing in our county and wonder about how we might join in. This is partly about bringing the Church Leaders together regularly such that we might share with one another, pray together and discern what God is asking from us all.” 

Norfolk and Waveney has a strong history of churches working together, from relationships between senior church leaders to local Churches Together groups and shared mission in our communities. Where do you see the particular opportunities for ecumenism here today?

“I believe that ecumenism begins from the ground up. It begins with local churches working and worshipping together, including both church leaders and their congregations. For example, this might be to run a Community Pantry or Street Pastors, or to gather for worship at times of Remembrance or during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. It might involve being part of an LEP and working hard at recognising the distinctiveness of both (or more) congregations whilst holding a united Christian witness together. There are so many opportunities for local people to engage ecumenically. It doesn’t mean that we all believe quite the same things, but it does mean that we hold one another in prayer, intentionally offering loving friendship beyond our differences. In the current political climate that might feel counter-cultural and perhaps even more powerful as a result.” 
 
What would you most like NWCT to achieve during your time as Convenor? Are there particular areas of Christian unity, common witness or mission that you hope we can strengthen?

“I hope that we can continue to work together and speak together as Church Leaders and more locally, particularly about the love that is the heartbeat of our faith and continues to transform lives and communities. I hope that we can continue to strengthen the bonds that we share, discovering more about what we have in common and building on the strength of those relationships. Our faith has inspired so many in the past to goodness, kindness, tolerance, justice and togetherness, I hope that by working even more readily together we can build on that rich history and be continually encouraged by God who is forever shaping and remaking us.”

Finally, what would you say to Christians in our churches who may support the idea of Christian unity but wonder what ecumenism has to do with the everyday?

“I think that I may have covered this already. In the times we live in there is much talk about difference, about division, and much of this is built on fear and uncertainty. I would encourage local Christians in our churches to look outward when they can, to build bridges with others, to embrace the diversity of the church and beyond. This sends a powerful message that God’s love always moves beyond human boundaries and continually inspires us to be agents of God’s love working together where we can.”

Helen’s appointment comes at an important point in the continuing ecumenical journey of Norfolk and Waveney. The renewed Declaration of Commitment gives us a clear foundation, but declarations become meaningful through the relationships and common life that grow from them. As NWCT begins this next stage under Helen’s convenorship, its purpose remains to help Christians across our different traditions know one another better, learn from one another and find ways of witnessing and serving together.

Note: The convenor role for Churches Together in Norfolk and Waveney (NWCT) rotates between denominations every two years. Helen takes over from Liz Hoffbauer who remains the quaker representative on the Church Leaders’ Group.

Photo by Rev Helen Hollands
Article by Dr Ian Watson