Incarnate Network works with Urban Expression which is a pioneering church planting agency. Their 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.
Realtionship of Urban Expression and Incarnate Network
Incarnate runs events in partnership with Urban Expression from time to time. From the end of 2008 Incarnate came under the auspices of the Urban Expression charity and will remain so until ready to constitute as a charity in our own right. We are greatful to our friends at Urban Expression for providing this home, allowing us to employ staff and focus energies on resourcing and networking church planting rather than sorting out a constitution! The expectation is that Incarnate will constitute in her own righ in due course.
A summary of Urban Expression:
- works only in the inner city/outer estates. 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 program of ongoing training.
Download their brochure here or visit www.urbanexpression.org.uk
