L.E.P.s - a formal definition

1. "where there is a formal written agreement affecting the ministry, congregational life, buildings and/or mission projects of more than one denomination; and
2. a recognition of that agreement by the Sponsoring Body (CTK is the Sponsoring Body for those in Kent); and
3. by the appropriate denominational authorities."

1. a formal written agreement by the local churches / chaplains / participants (depending on the type of the Partnership),
2. formal recognition, ongoing liaison, support and review by the appropriate Sponsoring Body, and
3. a formal written authorisation by the appropriate denominational bodies in line with their provisions and procedures.

Types of LEP

1.  SINGLE CONGREGATION PARTNERSHIPS

• This is the most common form of LEP. Two or more congregations join together, usually in a single building, with a single, ecumenical Church Council, and a single purse.
  
  
• Occasionally there may be a Team Ministry drawn from all or some of the partner denominations. Ministers may have pastoral responsibility for other congregations (whether Partnerships or not), and others may serve full time in the LEP. More often, however, there will be one ordained minister provided by one of the partner denominations in an agreed alternating pattern.
  
  
• The mix of denominational partners will have a major influence on the style of the Partnership. Aspects of the life and worship of each tradition should be reflected in the Constitution.
  
  
• The Partnership is a local congregation within the local framework of the denominations involved.
  
  
• There are important implications when the church assessment is being worked out. In the common instance of a Methodist-URC LEP, some members will be Methodist, others from the URC, and some members will have joined with no particular denominational background. The Partnership and its local parent bodies have to be careful when basing assessment on denominational affiliation.
  
  
• In a Single Congregation Partnership, the aim must be to offer a nourishing and varied diet of worship. The opportunity is there for imaginative worship, drawing on the best of the traditions represented.
  
  
• Single Congregation Partnerships may come into being by the formal coming together of two or more congregations. Usually only one building remains in use, although occasionally it is possible to retain two and use them for different purposes. Often, it seems, the original initiative comes when the maintenance of one of the buildings is proving too much of a burden.
  
  
• Partnerships may also take the form of ecumenical church plants, where in a new housing development several denominations combine to 'grow' a congregation. These will often begin in a house, progressing to a school or community centre. In the early stages they may rely heavily on ministry (and some members of the congregation) from outside the immediate area. It was common in the era of New Towns for the denominations to plan ahead for collaboration.
  
  
• In other areas - particularly villages - there may be only one place of worship (usually Church of England) which recognises that among its regular worshippers are many people from sister churches. The ecumenical nature of the congregation can now be recognised and welcomed by means of a "Declaration of Ecumenical Welcome and Commitment". This does not imply the formal status of a Local Ecumenical Partnership.
  
  
• Approval for a Single Congregation Partnership must be sought from the appropriate denominational authorities. The Denominational Ecumenical Officers and the County Ecumenical Officer should be consulted and the documentation (which in time will include a formal Constitution) agreed by the participating denominations and by the Sponsoring Body (in this case, CTK).

2  CHURCHES IN COVENANTED PARTNERSHIPS

with a substantial sharing in worship, church life, mission and ministry

• The local congregations involved in such Partnerships remain as distinct worshipping congregations, with their own government and finances, and usually with ordained ministry from their own denomination.
  
  
• In most respects, the criteria for forming a Local Covenant are the same as those for a Single Congregation Partnership - the same theological understandings regarding the search for unity, the same support and approval from each church and denomination, the same commitment to engage with each other in common ministry and mission.
  
  
• This type of Partnership is one in which many Roman Catholic parishes play a full part. A Local Covenant is a significant mutual commitment under God and between congregations, local churches and parishes in a particular locality for mutually discerned and agreed purposes. To use the language of covenant for anything less than this is to debase a powerful Biblical concept.
  
  
• One of the most challenging situations comes with ministerial changes. Unfortunately, there are too many occasions when those responsible for making ministerial appointments to churches in partnership (of whatever type of LEP) fail to adequately consult with the churches involved. Continuity in ministry is essential to good partnership, and the realities of working in close partnership with other denominations must be made clear in job descriptions.
  
  
• As always, the denominational Ecumenical Officers and the County Ecumenical Officer should be consulted and the documentation agreed by the participating denominations and the Sponsoring Body.

3  SHARED BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS

with a Sharing Agreement under The Sharing of Church Buildings Act, 1969

• The intention behind the Act was to enable one building to be used by two or more local congregations, following their own styles and practice. Commonly, each of the sharing will work out the timing of their worship and other activities, to mutual satisfaction.
  
  
• The fact that in many cases the sharing churches have decided to integrate much of their life and worship is a bonus. If a conflict is perceived between the terms of the Sharing Agreement and the Constitution of the Partnership, the Sharing Agreement has precedence.
  
  
• This type covers those cases where there is at least one shared building, covered by a legal Sharing Agreement. Thus the Shared Building Partnership type embraces both those Partnerships where there is the minimum of integration of worship, congregational life and ministerial oversight and also those Partnerships where integration is most highly developed.
  
  
• In the case of a type 3 Partnership, where each of the churches is sharing only space, there is no need for a Declaration of Intent or Constitution: the Sharing Agreement is sufficient.

4  CHAPLAINCY PARTNERSHIPS

e.g. Higher and Further Education, Prisons, Health Care

• The formation of Local Ecumenical Partnerships within these institutional settings is likely to be either at the initiative of the institution itself, when seeking to provide appropriate chaplaincy, for example to a College of Further Education, or, most usually, arising from the strong desire of the chaplains themselves to work and be seen to work increasingly closely.
  
  
• It will be necessary for there to be an agreed Declaration of Intent, solemnly attested at a service to inaugurate the Partnership. Signatories to the document should be leaders of the church bodies to which the chaplains belong, senior members of the institution in which they serve, and the chaplains themselves. There may be two distinct but complementary documents, one signed by the chaplains themselves and the other by Church Leaders and usually also by representatives of the institution.
  
  
• In major universities there are usually chaplains for the Church of England, Roman Catholic Church and the Free Churches, though not all may be full time. In many cases the chaplains desire to cement their relationship by forming a chaplaincy partnership. From the point of view of the institution, it is preferable to have a single body to relate to, rather than individual chaplains.
  
  
• Areas of chaplaincy opportunity include the Further Education sector, the Prison Chaplaincy Service and Health Care Chaplaincy. In these sectors it is customary to have chaplaincy teams, and forming a formal Partnership to which all parties - Churches, Institution and Chaplains - subscribe and commit can help to preserve continuity of the work.

5  MISSION PARTNERSHIPS

e.g. Industry, Commerce, Broadcasting

• These Partnerships are usually initiated by the Intermediate Body (in the South-East, Churches Together in Kent) in seeking to set up or strengthen ways of ecumenical involvement in particular areas of society. They may take a great variety of forms, but the commonest ones are indicated below.
  
  
  • Industrial Mission, from its beginnings, has been ecumenical in nature. Those appointed on a full time or part time basis represent 'the church' rather than a single denomination and this has been experienced as a great strength and a strong message. Kent Workplace Mission is now formally constituted as a Local Ecumenical Partnership, with a Declaration of Intent and a Constitution. The KWM Council includes representatives both of the industrial and commercial sector and also of the denominations at regional level, and this is essential so that the work is "owned" at every level. The national Industrial Mission Association has its own website.
    
    
  • Local Broadcasting is another area where the churches have managed to act ecumenically from the first. This is a constantly changing field, and it is important that each Intermediate Body develops a way of relating to local radio stations, which may or may not include a formal Partnership. Advice can be sought from The Churches' Media Council.
    
    
  • Overseas Church Twinning. In some counties a 'twinning' arrangement with an overseas church or churches has received full backing from the decision-making bodies of several denominations. This has then been registered as a form of Mission Partnership LEP. This seems particularly appropriate when a relationship is formed with a diocese or a unit of a United Church. Examples include LEPs under the Meissen Agreement between the Anglican Churches of Britain and the Evangelische Kirche in Deutchland (EKD) and between various regional associations and dioceses of the Church of North India or the Church of South India.

6  EDUCATION PARTNERSHIPS

e.g. Lay Training, Ministerial Training, Joint Schools

• This type of partnership is appropriate where the nature of the institution is to be ecumenical and is to be acknowledged as a resource for at least two different church constituencies. The Queen's College, Birmingham, is the only formally ecumenical ministerial training college in England (Church of England/Methodist/United Reformed Church). In some respects this is like a type 1 Partnership. Its relationship with the Roman Catholic Oscott College is more like a type 2 Partnership. In Cambridge the Federation of Theological Colleges shares much of the nature of a type 2 Partnership.