|TOP|The broadest Christian unity organisation in US history has been established this week as leaders from 34 separate Church groups set aside any differences in theology and other issues they have had previously prevented them from coming together.

‘Christian Churches Together in the USA’ will consist of members of the Roman Catholic Church, Evangelical Church, Pentecostal Church, mainline Protestants, as well as historically black Churches and Orthodox Churches.

Following a passionate meeting in Atlanta, USA at the end of last month, the leaders explained that the new body's mission goal was to “strengthen our Christian witness in the world,” according to AP.

One of the main focuses of the opening year of the ecumenical body will be to fight poverty in the US.|AD|

In addition to the already broad list of member organisations, representatives of Christian Churches Together have stated that at least eight other Church groups are considering joining, and many other interested denominations have also been asked to join.

However, the Southern Baptist Convention, which has more than 16 million members, and is America’s largest Protestant group, has decided not to affiliate with the group.

Current members also include: the historically black National Baptist Convention, U.S.A.; the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops; the Salvation Army; the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America; the International Pentecostal Holiness Church and the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.