Introduction

Sharing our Faith
The church is active wherever the people are to be found, seeking in the power of God’s Spirit to bring to birth the signs of God’s kingdom launched decisively by Jesus in his death and resurrection. Some of our people are doing heroic work in areas that have been hit hard by industrial decline and urban blight. Others are forging ahead with new youth ministries and other ‘fresh expressions’ of what it means to be Christian. We have developed innovative training programmes for lay people as well as clergy, and many parishes have authorized ministerial teams taking forward the multiple ministries of God’s kingdom. We are trying to bring the worlds of the arts more directly into the forefront, believing that music, painting, poetry, drama and the other arts can often provide swift routes to the heart of the gospel. In education, we work closely with the various local authorities covered by the Diocese to deliver first-rate schooling. Underneath it all is the solid tradition of worship and prayer, scripture and sacrament through which the Holy Spirit continues to refresh, redirect and re-energise our corporate and individual lives as followers of the crucified and risen Jesus.

A blessing I have often used since coming to the Diocese can be turned into a prayer, and it’s one I pray for all who visit this site. May Almighty God make you faithful to his calling, cheerful in his service, and fruitful for his kingdom. And all in the name of Jesus.
                                                                                                   Tom, Bishop of Durham - The Christian Faith


The Christian Faith - What does it mean to be a Christian?
Christians believe that it is possible to have a relationship with God through his son Jesus Christ. We seek to deepen that relationship by following the teachings of Jesus, and to enjoy the encouragement with other Christians through the life of the Church.

For Christians God is understood and known as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Father – God, the Creator, who is love, caring for creation and for every human being as his beloved child.
Son - God chose to show us himself in the historical person of Jesus Christ. Jesus, through his life, death and resurrection holds the key to knowing and loving God, and to making sense of life, before and after death.
Holy Spirit - God is alive, loving and active today, inspiring faith, justice and truth, sustaining the life of the world, giving spiritual gifts to the church and bearing his spiritual fruit in the world - changed lives and a transformed society.

Find Out More
To find out more about Jesus online, why not visit www.rejesus.co.uk or www.christianity.org.uk? There also some stories about faith on the Church of England website www.cofe.anglican.org

But because Christianity is about relationship and community, the best way to find out about faith and prayer, to raise questions and to get help, is to meet some Christians. The Church of England is just one of the Christian churches in this country. We seek to work alongside other Christian churches and denominations as closely as we can. Why not visit your local Anglican church?

For details of your parish, visit Find Your Church or A Church Near You.

There is also a special course called Faith & Life. Faith and Life runs from September to June at a variety of venues through the two dioceses of Durham and Newcastle. During 2008-09 there are 11 groups from Stockton to Berwick upon Tweed. Three times during the year members of the groups come together for an away day. Faith and Life aims to help us grow in faith and understanding, and apply our faith in practical everyday ways. For more information contact Revd Alastair Macnaughton macnaughton@btinternet.com

Weddings, Baptisms and Funerals
The Church of England helps to celebrate and commemorate many of the milestones on the journey through life; these include weddings, funerals, baptism and confirmation services.

For more information see prayer and worship, weddings, funerals, baptism and confirmation.