Mission Statement

Urban Expression is an urban mission agency that recruits, equips, deploys and networks self-financing teams pioneering creative and relevant expressions of the Christian church in under-churched areas of the inner city.

Urban Expression:
• Is a pioneering mission agency
• Works only in the inner city
• Is concerned with under-churched areas
• Aims to plant new churches
• Operates through self-funding teams
• Encourages creativity and experimenting
• Is not interested in imposing models of church
• Provides pastoral support and training

Urban Expression is a pioneering mission agency. Our purpose is to call Christians into mission activities in areas that are recognised as frontiers of mission work today, and to operate in an innovative way.

Urban Expression works only in the inner city. There are many mission opportunities in other places, but this is our focus. Inner city Britain represents one of the most diverse, challenging and exciting environments for mission today.

Urban Expression is concerned with under-churched areas. We do not wish to compete with others or to work in areas that already have strong churches. We are interested in the gaps, where churches are weak or non-existent.

Urban Expression aims to plant new churches. Although we engage in various forms of mission, our primary purpose is to establish new communities of faith that will proclaim and demonstrate the gospel.

Urban Expression operates through self-funding teams. We recruit and work through teams but we do not provide financial support for these teams. Each team is responsible for its own support.

Urban Expression encourages creativity and experimentation. In many inner city areas established forms of church are not working. Teams are expected to think in fresh ways, to dare and dream, to explore new ways of being church.

Urban Expression is not interested in imposing models of church. There is no one model of church that we advocate. Teams are expected to listen very carefully to the local community and to discover ways of being church that are rooted in this culture.

Urban Expression provides pastoral support and training. We recognise that inner city work is demanding and that this mission approach is high-risk and long-term. We provide strategic and pastoral support, and a programme of ongoing training.

Become a church planter

We are looking for new team members in various locations - to join existing teams or to help form new teams. We are also looking for people to lead new teams.

We are currently operating in London, Manchester, Glasgow, Stoke-on-Trent, Bristol and Birmingham. We are looking for team members for new teams in London, Stoke, Birmingham and Bristol.

Immediate opportunities also exist for new team members to join the team in·Newton Heath (Manchester) - especially those with skills as evangelists or youth workers.

Team members commit to an initial period of three years.

What we can offer:

* No salary or expenses
* No housing
* No guarantee of success
* Some induction and ongoing training
* Some pastoral support
* An opportunity to be creative
* An opportunity to make a difference
* An opportunity to get involved in church planting

Interested? Please contact us for a conversation or an information pack.

We are also open to applications from people interested in becoming mission partners - to work alongside existing teams for shorter periods.

Theology

Urban Expression does not have a statement of faith. As a non-denominational mission agency that recruits team members from many different contexts and does not require commitment to a statement of faith, we recognise that there will be some theological diversity among us – and we welcome this.

Many people involved in Urban Expression – as team members, trustees or members of steering groups – would probably identify with the evangelical tradition. Several would acknowledge the influence of the Anabaptist tradition (see the attached document below for further details). Some would draw more on other traditions. But all of us embrace the Urban Expression values and commitments. We acknowledge that these values and commitments have theological implications, although (as with statements of faith) these can be interpreted in different ways.

We recognise that our church planting teams may have different denominational and theological allegiances. As a mission agency that is not attempting to start or oversee a new denomination, we are relaxed about this. Indeed, we encourage teams to forge links with existing denominations or networks during the planting phase and when the church is planted. If particular teams wish to adopt a statement of faith, they are free to do this.

As and when theological, ethical or other issues arise within Urban Expression, we look for guidance – both about the issues themselves and about how to engage in conversation around these issues – to Scripture, the experience of Christians elsewhere and to our own values and commitments. We consult with each another and, with the help of the trustees, seek consensus (not necessarily unanimity but agreement to continue to work together on the basis of mutual respect, even if we do not fully agree with the decision reached).

Governance

Urban Expression is a charitable trust, registered in England (no. 1090734) and in Scotland (no. SC039100)).

As a charitable trust Urban Expression is legally the responsibility of a group of trustees, who meet twice a year to oversee its activities.

As the work of Urban Expression has grown and diversified, we have found it helpful to set up regional steering groups in London, Manchester and Glasgow to guide the development of initiatives in these cities. Further such groups may be formed as work starts elsewhere.

But Urban Expression is essentially a grass-roots organisation that depends on initiatives taken by the church planting teams that are at the forefront of its work.

View the steering groups

Annual Reports

Annual Report 2005
Annual Report 2006
Annual Report 2007
Annual Report 2008
Annual Report 2009

Child Protection

Urban Expression regards child protection and good working practice as a priority. In the interests of the safety and well being of all children and young people, it has developed and operates a formal child protection policy, which is registered with the Churches’ Child Protection Advisory Service (policy number 07/679).

The agency is committed to ensuring that everyone working with children or young people:

● has undergone a Criminal Records Bureau check at enhanced level,
● is adequately trained and supervised,
● understands and follows the agency’s child protection policy.

The child protection policy may be viewed and/or a copy obtained from the agency on application to Urban Expression: PO Box 35238, London E1 0YZ.

As part of this agency’s commitment to children and young people it has appointed·Jim Kilpin as Child Protection Co-ordinator and·Stuart Murray Williams as Deputy Child Protection Co-ordinator.
Should the agency have any child protection concerns, it will seek the advice of the Churches’ Child Protection Advisory Service and if appropriate contact the statutory authorities.

Urban Expression

• Recognises that child protection is everyone’s responsibility.
• Is committed to supporting parents and families.
• Recognises the unique and individual worth of each child.
• Is committed to nurturing, protecting and safeguarding children and young people.
• Exercises care in the appointment of all those working with children and young people in the church, working to ‘Safe from Harm’ principles.
• Is committed to following statutory and specialist guidelines in working with children and young people.
• Seeks to support all those affected by abuse.
• Is committed to supporting, training and resourcing those who work with children and young people and provide regular supervision.
• Will review its child protection policy annually and register it with CCPAS.

If you have any concerns for a child or in relation to any child protection matter then please contact one of the Child Protection Co-ordinators.

Vulnerable adults

Urban Expression regards the safeguarding of vulnerable adults and good working practice as a priority. In the interests of the safety and well being of all vulnerable adults, it has developed and operates a formal safeguarding vulnerable adults protection policy, which is registered with the Churches’ Child Protection Advisory Service (policy number 07/689)

The agency is committed to ensuring that everyone working with vulnerable adults:

● has undergone a Criminal Records Bureau check at enhanced level,
● is adequately trained and supervised,
● understands and follows the agency’s safeguarding vulnerable adults
protection policy.

The safeguarding vulnerable adults protection policy may be viewed and/or a copy obtained from the agency on application to Urban Expression: PO Box 35238, London E1 0YZ.

As part of this agency’s commitment to children and young people it has appointed·Jim Kilpin as Safeguarding Adults Co-ordinator and·Stuart Murray Williams as Deputy Safeguarding Adults Co-ordinator.

Should the agency have any safeguarding vulnerable adults concerns, it will seek the advice of the Churches’ Child Protection Advisory Service and if appropriate contact the statutory authorities.

Urban Expression

• Recognises that safeguarding vulnerable adults is everyone’s responsibility.
• Recognises the unique and individual worth of person and is committed to nurturing, protecting and safeguarding vulnerable adults.
• Exercises care in the appointment of all those working with vulnerable adults, working to ‘No Secrets’ principles and the Safeguarding Adults National Framework of good practice and outcomes in adult protection work.
• Is committed to following statutory and specialist guidelines in working with vulnerable adults.
• Seeks to support all those affected by abuse.
• Is committed to supporting, training and resourcing those who work with vulnerable adults and providing regular supervision.
• Will review its safeguarding vulnerable adults policy annually and register it with CCPAS.

If you have any concerns for a vulnerable adult or in relation to any safeguarding vulnerable adults protection matter then please contact one of the Safeguarding Adults Co-ordinators.