The Inner London Gospel Partnership is a group of churches and church leaders serving Inner London (ie zones 1 & 2) in order to reach, build and send.

Values

Convinced that Christ will build his church, we are passionate about working in partnership to grow local churches through:

·         Bible-centred ministry

·         Uniting in prayer

·         Courageous evangelism

·         Authentic gospel unity

Aims

Under God and working together we aim:

·         to recruit and deploy church leaders

·         to encourage and organise evangelistic initiatives

·         to encourage gospel growth in existing churches

·         to encourage and initiate the strategic planting of new churches

·         to work together for the preservation and advance of the gospel in our different denominations or affiliations

Activities

As a first priority, our goal is to achieve some of the following in the next 12 months:

·        A consultation for church leaders to be held on  Friday 20 March 2009

·        Two further Partnership Meetings for church leaders (held at a central location) for mutual encouragement and to further the work of the Partnership

 Evangelism

·        The active promotion of co-operation in evangelistic initiatives especially for A Passion for Life in March 2010.

 ·        We are committed to reaching all of Inner London and so encourage one another to cross boundaries to reach different cultural and ethnic groups.

Training

·        Advertising training sessions at various locations to support those involved in ministries such as preaching, leading home groups, children’s and youth work and music.

 ·        We are committed to see more and more people devoting their whole lives to the work of the gospel.  The Partnership will work to develop both the quality and quantity of Ministry Training Placements in churches across the city including a half-day’s training on ministry training for ministers. 

 ·        Establishing ongoing training for ministers in preaching and in further theological study with opportunities to discuss and pray.

 ·        Encouraging women in ministry to get together for a Saturday of training and fellowship.

 Church Planting and Support

We want to see the multiplication of local, gospel-centred, Bible-teaching congregations through which the Lord Jesus is proclaimed and men, women and children are converted and discipled.  We will endeavour to identify the needs and opportunities for church-planting across Inner London, and work to promote and enable strategic church planting initiatives.  We will also endeavour to promote the support of existing, but struggling, congregations that would welcome help from Partner Churches.

Membership

The strength of the Partnership lies in it being primarily a partnership between churches.  Two sorts of membership are possible:

·         Church Membership, where a church enters the Partnership in accordance with its own decision-making procedures

·         Individual Membership, for ministers where the church they serve is not yet in a position to become a member

Church membership and individual membership are open to churches and ministers who are clearly in sympathy with the values and aims of the Gospel Partnership, who subscribe to the basis of faith, and are willing to fulfil the membership commitment.

Membership of the Partnership is subject to agreement by the Partnership Steering Group.  It is usual for the church leadership team or minister to be visited by one or more members of the Steering Group before formally applying to join the Partnership.