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298 results found in Pages & ResourcesWe want to start an LEP
LEPs come in a variety of forms, but each is a situation where more than one Christian denomination is working together under a formal agreement. These formal agreements are 'sponsored' by an Intermediate Body which has responsibility for supporting, encouraging and monitoring them. LEPs include places where...
Writing an Ecumenical Vision Statement
Each local gathering of Christ’s people is unique and will need to discover the particular mission to which it is called. An Ecumenical Vision Statement, locally produced, is an expression of that mission and a framework against which future developments can...
Constitutional Guidelines for LEPs
Please note that these constitutional guidelines are specifically for LEPs, ie formal, legal partnerships between Dioceses, Synods, Districts, Baptist Associations etc. If you're trying to write a constitution for something else, some of this advice may be helpful but much...
Charity Registration and Trustee Liability
Registering as a charity Many churches operate as unregistered charities as permitted by the Exception Order. The current Exception Order 2007 makes it clear that this includes partnerships of those Churches, including LEPs. However, those with a regular annual income...
Safeguarding
CTE used to make available a safeguarding checklist but as this area is constantly evolving, the advice we have now been given is that we should have as little as possible here, not least because policies are always evolving and...
Reviewing LEPs
Do we still need to review LEPs? Is a review still mandatory if an existing constitution requires them? The jury is still out on that question! As Church Leaders and Denominational Ecumenical Officer (DEOs) grapple with that issue, the following...
The LEP Register
The register of LEPs is held by Churches Together in England on the basis of information supplied by Intermediate Bodies. If you think some information is inaccurate or missing, please contact the appropriate County Ecumenical Officer in the first instance as they supply...
Different Types of LEP
First, decide if you really need a Local Ecumenical Partnership, which is a formal, legal arrangement, or if something else will better meet your needs. Essential reading here is A New Framework for Local Unity in Mission. If, having read that, you...
Ending an LEP
Sometimes, for good or for ill, it's time to recognise that a Local Ecumenical Partnership has come to an end. When this happens, the following points should be noted: An LEP is a formal arrangement between Churches, not between congregations....
LEP Literature
Local Ecumenical Partnerships (LEPs) have been places of experiment: they are now formally recognised arrangements with agreed principles and patterns of management recognised by the partner Churches. Below you will find books and papers about LEPs - in both the...
Sponsoring Bodies and do we have to have one?
When Local Ecumenical Partnerships (LEPs) were first established (as Areas of Ecumenical Experiment), they each had a sponsoring body consisting of representatives of all the Churches in their area, not just of the participating denominations. The thinking then was that...
Who can join my local Churches Together group?
The Christian church in England is continually changing and developing. When new congregations come along, you may wish to invite them to join your Churches Together group – or the request to join may come from them. What's your best way forward? In brief, good relationships...
Agreements/Constitutions for local groups
As well as encouraging the building of good relationships, we recommend that all local Churches Together groups have their own written Agreement – what in the past was described as a constitution. Good paperwork describes how you operate and does not require you to...
Formal Declaration of Ecumenical Welcome and Commitment
In many villages and in some inner-city areas there is only one church building, which is often a focus for the community. In these places, Christians of different traditions will want to combine faithfulness to their own denomination with a desire to worship and...
Sharing church buildings
Many churches share buildings with other churches. Buildings can be: shared on an informal basis subject to a Sharing Agreement under the Sharing of Church Buildings Act (1969) and/or can be a Shared Building Local Ecumenical Partnership. Whichever option is relevant for you, we recommend that you read the short resource Sharers,...