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.

Values

Relationship

We believe that, in Jesus, God is revealed locally, and that we should be committed to our local community or relational network and active members of it.

We believe that the gospel works through relationships and that serving God consists largely in building life-giving relationships with others.

We recognise that Christian faith is a journey and we are committed to helping people move forward, wherever they are at present.

We focus on under-churched areas and neglected people, trying to find ways of communicating Jesus appropriately to those most frequently marginalised, condemned and abused by society.

We challenge the trend of some Christians moving out of the cities and encourage Christians to relocate to the inner cities.

We believe in doing things with and not just for communities, sharing our lives with others and learning from others who share their lives with us.

We see teamwork, networking and mutual accountability as vital, recognising that individuals and churches need each other.

Creativity

We recognise the importance of taking risks and the demands of mission in the inner city, and we believe that it is acceptable to fail.

We value courage, creativity and diversity as we try to discover relevant ways of being church in different contexts.

We believe that questions and theological reflection are important as we learn together and so discern the way forward.

We aim to be catalysts, encouraging and releasing creativity in both church and community as we seek and share God in the inner city.

We believe in discouraging dependency and developing indigenous leadership within maturing churches that will have the capacity to sustain and reproduce themselves.

We are excited that God can be discovered in the heart of the city and commit ourselves to explore various forms of prayer and worship that are appropriate here.

We realise that God’s Spirit blows freely and so we will not assume our work should continue indefinitely.

Humility

We acknowledge our dependence on God and affirm our continual need of prayer and God’s empowering Spirit.

We believe that all people are loved by God, regardless of age, gender, education, class, ethnicity, sexuality or physical/mental health and that God works through all believers – and others besides.

We respect others working alongside us in the inner city and are grateful for the foundations laid by the many who have gone before us.

We want to learn from others, seeking to shape what we do in light of the experiences, discoveries, successes and mistakes of fellow-workers.

We are careful not to drain other local churches of their often limited resources, but hope to be an encouragement and support to them.

We realise the importance of living uncluttered lives, holding possessions lightly and recognising that all we have is to be at God’s disposal.

We know we are not indispensable and what we attempt to do is part of a much bigger picture, so will try to keep ourselves in perspective.

Commitments

We are committed to following God on the margins and in the gaps, expecting to discover God at work among powerless people and in places of weakness.

We are committed to being Jesus-centred in our view of the Bible, our understanding of mission and all aspects of discipleship.

We are committed to seeking God’s kingdom in the inner city, both by planting churches and by working in partnership with others in mission.

We are committed to a vision of justice, peace and human flourishing for the city and all its inhabitants.

We are committed to uncluttered church, focused on mission, rooted in local culture and equipping all to develop and use their God-given gifts.

We are committed to unconditional service, holistic ministry, bold proclamation, prioritising the poor and being a voice for the voiceless.

We are committed to respecting and building relationship with other faith communities and averse to all forms of manipulation or erosion of liberty.

Biblical References

Core Convictions with Biblical References

Karen Stallard has produced a version of the core convictions with biblical references. These are not 'proof texts' to justify our convictions but resources for further reflection on the implications of these convictions.

Values

Relationship

We believe that, in Jesus, God is revealed locally, and that we should be committed to our local community or relational network and active members of it.
(John 1:14, 1 John 1:1)

We believe that the gospel works through relationships and that serving God consists largely in building life-giving relationships with others.
(1 Thessalonians 2:8)

We recognise that Christian faith is a journey and we are committed to helping people move forward, wherever they are at present.
(1 Corinthians 3:1-2)

We focus on under-churched areas and neglected people, trying to find ways of communicating Jesus appropriately to those most frequently marginalised, condemned and abused by society.
(James 1:27)

We challenge the trend of some Christians moving out of the cities and encourage Christians to relocate to the inner cities.
(Matthew 9:9-12)

We believe in doing things with and not just for communities, sharing our lives with others and learning from others who share their lives with us.
(1 Thessalonians 1:5-6)

We see teamwork, networking and mutual accountability as vital, recognising that individuals and churches need each other.
(Ephesians 4:11-13; Acts 2:42-46)

Creativity

We recognise the importance of taking risks and the demands of mission in the inner city, and we believe that it is acceptable to fail.
(Hebrews 11:32-40)

We value courage, creativity and diversity as we try to discover relevant ways of being church in different contexts.
(Joshua 1:6-9)

We believe that questions and theological reflection are important as we learn together and so discern the way forward.
(Jude 17-23, 1 Peter 3:15)

We aim to be catalysts, encouraging and releasing creativity in both church and community as we seek and share God in the inner city.
(Mark 4:26-29)

We believe in discouraging dependency and developing indigenous leadership within maturing churches that will have the capacity to sustain and reproduce themselves.
(Acts 14:23)

We are excited that God can be discovered in the heart of the city and commit ourselves to explore various forms of prayer and worship that are appropriate here.
(Hebrews 10:19-25; Revelation 21:1-4)

We realise that God’s Spirit blows freely and so we will not assume our work should continue indefinitely.
(John 3:7-8)

Humility

We acknowledge our dependence on God and affirm our continual need of prayer and God’s empowering Spirit.
(Proverbs 3:5; Mark 10:14-15; Ephesians 5:18)

We believe that all people are loved by God, regardless of age, gender, education, race or class, and that God works through all believers – and others besides.
(Galatians 3:28)

We respect others working alongside us in the inner city and are grateful for the foundations laid by the many who have gone before us.
(1 Corinthians 3:5-9, 1 Corinthians 16:15-18)

We want to learn from others, seeking to shape what we do in light of the experiences, discoveries, successes and mistakes of fellow-workers.
(Ecclesiastes 12:11; Romans 15:14; Colossians 3:16)

We are careful not to drain other local churches of their often limited resources, but hope to be an encouragement and support to them.
(Hebrews 10:25, 1 Corinthians 14:12)

We realise the importance of living uncluttered lives, holding possessions lightly and recognising that all we have is to be at God’s disposal.
(Luke 12:32-34)

We know we are not indispensable and what we attempt to do is part of a much bigger picture, so will try to keep ourselves in perspective.
(Romans 12:3-5)

Commitments

We are committed to following God on the margins and in the gaps, expecting to discover God at work among powerless people and in places of weakness.
(James 2:1-9)

We are committed to being Jesus-centred in our view of the Bible, our understanding of mission and all aspects of discipleship.
(John 13:15; Ephesians 4:15-16)

We are committed to seeking God’s kingdom in the inner city, both by planting churches and by working in partnership with others in mission.
(Matthew 13:45; 1 Corinthians 12:27)

We are committed to a vision of justice, peace and human flourishing for the city and all its inhabitants.
(Amos 5:24; Amos 9:13-15)

We are committed to uncluttered church, focused on mission, rooted in local culture and equipping all to develop and use their God-given gifts.
(1 Corinthians 9:22; Romans 12:6-8)

We are committed to unconditional service, holistic ministry, bold proclamation, prioritising the poor and being a voice for the voiceless.
(Proverbs 19:17; Romans 12:1)

We are committed to respecting and building relationship with other faith communities and averse to all forms of manipulation or erosion of liberty.
(Matthew 22:37-40; Luke 10:30-37)

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.
(Acts 1:8)