Urban Expression Annual Report 2006

Urban Expression was 10 years' old in February 2007. During the past twelve months we have been facing the exciting but very demanding challenge of growth and diversification.

Here is a summary of the main developments:

Teams in London and Manchester

• We have deployed 7 teams in London so far, 2 of which have developed into churches that are now operating independently of Urban Expression.
• The Wapping team is involved in a major community project - the Geoff Ashcroft Community house for people struggling with mental health issues.
• The emerging churches in Shadwell, Stepney and Wapping are exploring an integrated model of church, sharing skills and resources as they serve their local communities.
• The Kidbrooke team is looking to recruit some new team members as their work moves into a new phase.
• The Ocean team has found unexpected opportunities with a group of about 30 Chinese students.
• The Newton Heath team in Manchester is completing a community audit and is now welcoming new people to their meetings.

Further Teams

• Gary Serra di Migni has joined Urban Expression with a view to forming a new team to work in an unchurched urban community (exact location not yet decided).
• Paul & Esther Ede have been appointed to lead and recruit the first of what we hope will be several teams in Glasgow.
• Conversations are ongoing with a group in South Manchester who want to plant a new church under the auspices of Urban Expression.

Other Developments

• We are in discussion with a number of people about the formation of Rural Expression as a response to rural poverty and marginalisation.
• We are exploring the possibility of recruiting and deploying an intentionally multi-cultural team to plant a multi-cultural church.
• The Crucible course (www.cruciblecourse.net) has commenced its second year with just under 30 participants involved in the first weekend.
• The Associates' network has continued to expand with 124 Associates in 10 nations. We have appointed a North American representative to coordinate the Associates there and we have growing links with church planters in Holland.
• Urban Expression has had a much higher profile in the past 12 months than before, placing additional demands on us but opening up new possibilities.
• Grove Books have commissioned a booklet on urban church planting that will draw on the experience of Urban Expression.

Resources

• Urban Expression provides a monthly email update to all team members and Associates, and three times a year a newsletter to a larger group of people.
• The website (www.urbanexpression.org.uk) contains extensive resources, some of these accessible only by team members and Associates.
• The Crucible course (jointly sponsored with Workshop and Alove) is open to anyone interested in training in church planting and urban mission.
• The annual Associates' day is open to all team members and Associates.
• Open learning modules in CD-Rom format on church planting, urban mission and emerging church are available.
• A new resource, Praying our Values, will shortly be available - a 28-day cycle of prayers and readings based on the Urban Expression core values.

Structure and Wider Links

• Urban Expression employs nobody but 3 people work in a paid or voluntary capacity: Juliet Kilpin, Lisa Young and Stuart Murray Williams.
• Urban Expression has a board of trustees and regional steering groups in London, Glasgow and (soon) Manchester).
• Urban Expression is funded by individuals and charitable trusts. Its current annual budget can be met by 100 donors giving £10 per month.
• Sarah Warburton represents Urban Expression in the Root & Branch network (www.rootandbranch.org.uk), a consortium of about 15 groups with similar values involved in different areas of ministry.
• Urban Expression will be represented at the fifth Jesus in the City congress (www.jitc.org.uk) in Bristol in June 2007.
• Some Associates are involved in a new Baptist church planters' network, Incarnate, which is emerging (www.incarnate-network.eu).
• We continue to value strong links with CURBS (Children in Urban Situations) and the NEO initiative of the Salvation Army.

These are exciting developments, but many of them are also time-consuming. We are enthusiastic about the potential of what we sense is emerging, but we are concerned not to over-stretch ourselves. We have seen what can happen to small organisations as they expand, and we do not want to lose the organic, relational and values-oriented approach that is so important to us. Nevertheless, we will need further resources of personnel and finance if we are to seize the opportunities and respond to the various challenges ahead.

The attached file contains a sample of reports and stories from Urban Expression teams and Associates.