Many people feel an impulse to find deeper meaning to the challenges of life, to search for common ground, common values and ways of living that respect tradition and honour the integrity of all knowledge. CANA is a loose-knit community of explorers who have Christian roots and share different experiences and insights for living out the teachings of Jesus in holistic and integrated ways.

How we developed

In 1991 there was the first of two well attended conferences entitled ‘Christians Awakening to a New Age’. Exposure to teaching from other faiths and learning to meditate had caused people to re-examine their Christian beliefs. Later, the name was changed to ‘Christians Awakening to a New Awareness’. Many experienced a great relief in finding others who were similarly expanding their understanding of Christianity and CANA was formed.

In subsequent years of conferences, retreats and sharing groups were held around the country and our numbers grew.

In 1999 a group of members created a study paper entitled, Exploring Ways Forward for Christians in the Twenty-First Century.

Later we published a book, A New Framework for Christian Belief. These have been followed by a number of study papers and a further book Awakening to a New Awareness: Stories of Contemporary Christians.

CANA today

Numbers continue to grow, attracting both laity and clergy who are refreshed by being amongst people who are exploring faith in an open way. CANA is more of a web-like organism than an organisation and is run by a Core Group of volunteers.
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CANA runs a variety of events, local, regional and national. These include: Conferences, Retreats, Local groups. Click here for current events.

A newsletter is produced and circulated to members three times a year, with articles, news and views. Click here for a previous newsletter.