Welcome to the WYEC Website
Thank you for visiting the website of West Yorkshire Ecumenical Council (WYEC). WYEC brings together the churches of West Yorkshire and much of North Yorkshire in common witness and mission.
West Yorkshire Ecumenical Council consists of church leaders and ecumenical officers from: |
|
The Anglican Diocese of Bradford |
The Yorkshire Baptist Association |
The Anglican Diocese of Ripon and Leeds |
The Yorkshire Synod of the United Reformed Church |
The Anglican Diocese of Wakefield |
The Yorkshire Division of the Salvation Army |
The Catholic Diocese of Leeds |
The Lutheran Church in Yorkshire |
The Leeds District of the Methodist Church |
The Yorkshire District of the Moravian Church |
The West Yorkshire District of the Methodist Church |
West Yorkshire African Caribbean Council of Churches |
The Yorkshire General Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) |
|
Together, we are committed:
|
|
NEWS
WYEC Church Leaders speak up for destitute asylum seekers
A delegation of WYEC church leaders has visited the Home Office in London to present the case for the hundreds of asylum seekers who are being supported by churches across our region. On 22 June, the Rt. Revd. Stephen Platten, Bishop of Wakefield, met with Phil Woolas, Home Office minister. On the following day, Stephen was joined by the Revd. Dr. Liz Smith (Chair of Leeds Methodist District), Pastor Gloria Hanley (Chair of WYEC) and the Revd. Dr. Clive Barrett in a visit to senior officials at the Home Office. A range of issues was explored, including the need for asylum seekers to be allowed to work, the difficulties faced by successful asylum seekers in the immediate aftermath of being given leave to stay in the UK, community bereavement at the time of deportation, and the particular needs of those who are converted to Christianity. All parties were keen to continue the conversation.
 |
Gloria Hanley, Liz Smith and Stephen Platten at the Home Office in London. |
Read the WYEC report handed in to the Home Office (long version or short version) |
WYEC SUMMER 2009 NEWSLETTER OUT NOW!
WYEC Church Leaders' Statement on the BNP
Meeting at Fulneck Moravian Settlement on 22 April, West Yorkshire Church Leaders issued a powerful statement about the British National Party. Read the statement and the associated press release.
 |
Church leaders with the WYEC statement on political extremism, April 2009. |
WYEC has also issued a draft church magazine article, Bible notes and other resources to encourage churches to stand up against the BNP in the forthcoming European elections. Click on Election Resources. |
Historic Assembly in Wakefield
There has been an historic joint assembly of the Wakefield Diocesan Synod and representatives of the Catholic Dioceses of Leeds and Hallam. Read an account of this marvellous initiative at building relationships across churches.
Church Leaders' Public Statement on Debt in Society
The West Yorkshire Church Leaders' focus for 2009 is on debt. The church leaders issued a major public statement at Oxford Place Methodist Church, Leeds, on 25 February 2009 (Ash Wednesday). Find out more.They expressed their concern for the plight of each person facing financial hardship. They warned of the activity of illegal loan sharks, whilst commending the work of credit unions; and they looked to local churches to uphold compassion and justice, providing practical support for people in debt.
The Rt. Revd. Arthur Roche, Catholic Bishop of Leeds, watches as the Rt. Revd. John Packer, Bishop of Ripon & Leeds, reads the Church Leaders' joint statement on debt. |
|
Read the text of the Church Leaders' public statement on Debt in Society.Read the associated background material. |
