Sevenoaks Road 

Orpington 

Kent 

BR6 9JH 

Churches Together in Orpington

Orpington Methodist Church is a member of Churches Together in Orpington (CTO), the local branch of a national organisation to promote Christian unity.  It initiates ecumenical services and activities which demonstrate the existence of a Christian presence in Orpington.  All church clergy are members, plus one or two lay members from each of the 20 churches involved.  Throughout the year CTO come together to worship and pray.

CHURCHES TOGETHER PRAYER MEETINGS
Meetings start at 9am unless otherwise stated 
2 June - Holy Innocents Catholic Church (Bank Holiday weekend)
7 July - Orpington Methodist Church (TBC)
No prayer meeting in August
8 September - Green Street Green Baptist Church (might be swapped....)
6 October - St John's United Reformed Church
3 November - Orpington Baptist Church
1 December - Hope Church - 8.00am (TBC)

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STREET PASTORS - THE CHURCH IN ACTION ON THE STREETSMAKING A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF YOUNG PEOPLE

Street Pastors is an inter-denominational Church response to urban problems, engaging with people on the streets to care, listen and dialogue.   It was pioneered in London in January 2003 by Rev Les Isaac, Director of the Ascension Trust, and has seen some remarkable results, including drops in crime in areas where teams have been working. There are now over 100 teams around the United Kingdom.

Each city project is set up by Ascension Trust and run by a local co-ordinator with support from Ascension Trust and local churches and community groups, in partnership with Police, Council and other statutory agencies.

A Street Pastor is a Church leader/minister or member with a concern for society - in particular young people who feel themselves to be excluded and marginalised - and who is willing to engage people where they are, in terms of their thinking (i.e. their perspective of life) and location (i.e. where they hang out - be it on the streets, in the pubs and clubs or at parties etc).

Street Pastors will also be willing to work with fellow activists, church and community leaders, and with agencies and projects, both statutory and voluntary, to look at collaborative ways of working on issues affecting youth, and initiatives that will build trust between them and the Street Pastors.

As the Street Pastor gets to know people in the community he/she will find out their needs are and what can be done to help. A presence of Street Pastors will earn credibility in the community, so that people know that the Church is there for them in a practical way.  The role is not about preaching heaven and hell, but one of listening, caring and helping - working in an unconditional way.

To be a Street Pastor you need to be over 18 (no upper age limit), a church member, and able to commit to our training programme.
Each Street Pastor team consists of at least three groups of four, each of which will work a minimum of one night a month.
In Orpington, teams currently work on Friday evenings from 8.45pm - 12.15am approx.

Orpington Street Pastors launched in September 2006. Since then they have maintained a patrol each Friday evening.  In 2008, the co-ordinator Revd. Ray Bell received a Saferbromley Partnership award in recognition of his contribution to local community.  In 2010, Orpington Street Pastors won the community category in the “Orpington’s Finest” competition, decided by public vote.