The first week of November saw over 460 delegates meeting on the Norfolk coast for what is fast-becoming a key gathering for gospel-focused leaders in the free churches. It was this year’s FIEC Leaders’ Conference. Julian Hardyman (Eden Baptist, Cambridge) described it as ‘unmissable’ and ‘one of the highlights of my year’!
By any standards it was an outstanding time with spiritually nourishing, expository preaching, excellent seminars, encouraging reports of developments within the FIEC family of churches, well-led corporate worship and many informal opportunities to encourage one another in ministry. In the final session, John Stevens (FIEC national director) said simply: ‘I think we met the Lord Jesus together’. It would be hard to find a better or truer description of the week.
‘In_dependence’
The theme was ‘In Dependence’ – a deliberate echo of the FIEC’s commitment to be a Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches. The programme included a stimulating overview of the theology and history of Independency, from Robert Strivens (London Theological Seminary), who argued that Scripture uses the word ‘church’ only to describe ‘the church universal in every age’ and the ‘individual local congregation’. Nonetheless, he emphasised that independent churches should cultivate healthy, appropriate relationships with the state, other churches and their local community.
Aware of the dangers of isolationism, the conference cast a missional vision for independent churches as inter-dependent on each other and deeply dependent on God. Andy Hunter began by urging dependence on Christ whose authority, command, teaching and presence define the church’s mission (Matthew 28.16-20). Richard Underwood called us movingly to committed prayer for mission and Trevor Archer challenged us to gospel generosity. The conference finished with a powerful call from Andy Paterson to resist the inward focus of Pharisaic religion and to open our hearts to the lost (Luke 14).
After the revolution
The participation of Tope Koleoso (lead pastor of the Newfrontiers Jubilee Church, Enfield) was a particular highlight. His challenge to feed the flock with good ‘fresh’ food and his encouragement to nurture a deep and joyful awareness of our identity as children of God, will stay with many of us for a long time. Another highpoint for me was the world-class seminars from Professor Glynn Harrison on ‘Sex after the Revolution’, aiming to resource us for ministry in an ethical landscape formed by the earthquake of the 1960s.
I confess that I went to the conference feeling that a working week in a windswept holiday park on the far edge of Norfolk didn’t sound like a promising recipe for ministry refreshment! I was wrong.
