Norwich Council in new dialogue with churches

More than 30 representatives of Norwich Christian churches and organisations met with Norwich City Council on November 1 as part of a new initiative for greater partnership between the church and the city.

 

Initiated by Transforming Norwich, the ‘City/Church Dialogue’ has been in existence for three years. However, this is the first time that churches have been invited to appoint representatives to attend.

 

“It was very fruitful”, said Nicholas Vesey who chaired the meeting alongside Bridget Buttinger, the City Council’s deputy chief executive. “There are many areas where we can be working more closely with the City Council, and we are beginning to identify them.

 

“We feel that churches could be commissioned, and paid, to do work that we are naturally good at, such as community building.  At our next session that will be on the agenda. We are also looking at how we can help more with schools and colleges”.

 

The meeting was originally to be chaired by the council chief executive Laura McGillivray, however she was unwell.

 

Bridget Buttinger, in her place, presented the council’s vision for the future, and Nicholas Vesey presented ideas for a new initiative to care for those in need.

 

Over 3,000 people from different churches were represented at the meeting.