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RELaY is a European Network which promotes Reconciliation among Christians, the re-Evangelisation of Europe, the formation of Lay Leaders, And the mobilisation of Youth for the Gospel.
Background History to RELaY
In January 1995 a Christian leadership conference was held in Brussels Belgium under the name of "Missio 95". The purpose of this event, which drew in representatives of Christian communities, youth groups and ministries from around the continent, was to try and examine what God seemed to be saying to the Body of Christ in Europe, particularly to those people working in a Catholic context. One hundred and thirty delegates attended the event.
Directly following the conference, a committee comprised of Missio participants from 8 European nations was formed to explore the possibility some kind of ongoing collaboration between the delegates who attended the Brussels meeting. There was a unanimous decision to continue the Missio initiative, and further meetings of this newly-formed team were held in Augsburg (Germany), Den Haag (Holland) and Cracow (Poland).
During these consultations the format of this venture began to crystallize:
1. RELaY is to become a supportive network of like-minded Christian leaders from around the continent.
2. RELaY serves and supports many of the youth-oriented projects that these leaders were involved in.
3. RELaY has a special commitment to the 4-fold aims that are implied in its name - Reconciliation, the re-Evangelisation of Europe, the formation of Lay-leadership, and mobilisation of Youth for Christian ministry.
In February 1997, a second leaders' conference was held in St. Albans, England. The guest speakers included Cardinal Basil Hume, Fr. Peter Hocken, Jeff Fountain, Ralph Martin, and Charles Whitehead. Among the 150 participants at this event, over 50 were from countries from the former Communist bloc. A third RELaY leaders' conference took place in Helvoirt, Holland in March, 1999.
Our Basis for Working Together
RECONCILIATION AND UNITY
We have a passion to see unity among Christians from all church backgrounds. We see praying for and working towards reconciliation as a primary reason for RELaY’s existence
CATHOLIC FOCUS
We in RELaY have a special commitment to serve and to support Catholics and their ministries
EVANGELISATION
We believe that the call to evangelise has been given to the whole Body of Christ. (2) We are committed to developing both evangelistic lifestyles as well as effective means of sharing the Gospel with others.
YOUTH
We desire to reach young people with the Gospel. We recognize that it will require special effort and a willingness to try new and innovative ways of communicating the Truth of God’s Word to accomplish this task. Furthermore, we are committed to helping young people discover their gifts, providing access to training opportunities where they can develop these gifts, and encouragement to eventually use these gifts to serve the Body of Christ.
EUROPE
We believe that God loves Europe. We also believe that Christians are to be God’s messengers of hope to this continent, serving as a counterbalance to the prevailing sense of hopelessness and pessimism regarding her future. Although we carry responsibility in our respective local groups and parishes, our vision extends to all of Europe. Furthermore, we are committed to seeing our continent re-evangelised, the Body of Christ renewed, European society brought back to a truly Christian foundation, and to seeing European Christians become a blessing to the rest of the world. We are prepared to serve beyond our own local and national borders in order to see this happen.
SERVING THE CHURCHES
We recognize and honour local Christian churches, church communities, and their respective authorities in the areas where we work. Furthermore, we desire to maintain ongoing lines of communications with them and to serve them wherever possible in their efforts to extend the Kingdom of God.
LAY APOSTOLATE
We fully embrace the principles of the lay apostolate outlined in the Second Vatican Council. (3) We desire to encourage and to assist the formation of lay leaders, the emergence of lay renewal communities, and the growth of lay missions.
NETWORKING
We place a high value on building relationships with other Christian groups and movements, both in our respective countries, as well as internationally
HOLY SPIRIT
We recognize that effective evangelisation and Christian service is impossible without the Holy Spirit, the protagonist, the principal agent of the whole of the Church’s mission. (4) We believe that through the Holy Spirit the Gospel of salvation brings people to faith and baptism, making them members of the Body of Christ and sons and daughters of the Father.
THE CREEDS
We affirm the historic Creeds of the Church. We affirm the Father as Origin and Creator, we affirm the Incarnate Son as Lord and Saviour; we affirm the Holy Spirit as Sanctifier and Life Principle of the Church; we affirm the Church as the People of God, the Body of Christ, and the Temple of the Holy Spirit.
[1] Ut Unum Sint: Article 3 & John 13: 34-35
[2] Evangelii Nuntiandi: Article 59 & John 16:15-18
[3] Apostolicam Actuositatem
[4] Catechism of the Catholic Church: Article 852
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