Categories of Participation
All Are Welcome
Everyone is invited to participate in the programs and events of Christian Churches Together (CCT), whether you're part of a member communion, organization, or simply interested in our mission. While all are welcome to engage in CCT’s gatherings, only official participant representatives from member communions and organizations take part in the consensus-based decision-making process at our annual Forum (see Bylaw Section 4.1 below for details).
We also welcome observers from denominations or organizations exploring potential membership in CCT. If you're interested, please use the contact form linked above to let us know.
In addition to official observers and participant representatives, CCT also welcomes ecumenical guests who share our mission to “bear witness to the reconciling love of Jesus.”
1. Participant Representative
A “Participant Representative” is a CCT Steering Committee member or another individual who has been officially appointed by their communion or organization to represent them in consensus decision-making.
2. Official Observer
An “Official Observer” is a person representing a communion or organization whose observer status has been approved by the Steering Committee before the relevant meeting or annual Forum.
3. Ecumenical Guest
An “Ecumenical Guest” may be an invited speaker, consultant, representative from another ecumenical organization, or an individual who joins in CCT’s life and mission without formally representing their communion or organization in the consensus decision-making process.
The Rationale for these categories
CCT Bylaws, section 4.1: “Each Participant is entitled to have one representative at the Annual Meeting; provided, however, that each Participant that is a church exceeding five million members shall be entitled to have an additional representative for every five million members or fraction thereof. Each Participant shall designate as their representative(s) an individual who shall have the authority to exercise that Participant’s rights with preference for the Participant’s Chief Executive Officer or other high-ranking official. Participants shall not be limited to their designated number of representatives at meetings of Participants, but may bring additional non-voting representatives.”
If you have any questions about the categories of participation or if your communion or organization would like to become an official observer, please click the contact link above or send your inquiry to: ChristianChurchesTogether@gmail.com.