1,000 church leaders consider: ‘What is justice?’

Nearly 1,000 church leaders from more than 500 churches across Britain have met at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool for FIEC’s annual Leaders’ Conference.

The theme for the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches’ 2023 conference was the justice of God: what it means to follow and love the God of justice as He ultimately brings all things under Christ, the just and righteous ruler.

Plenary talks and main-session seminars covered justice in God, justice in God’s people, and justice in God’s world: what do we learn about these things in God’s word and how should they be applied in the context of local churches.

Speakers included Ray Brown, pastor at East London Tabernacle Baptist Church, Colin Adams, pastor at Greenview Church in Glasgow, and Jason Roach, Director of Ministries at London City Mission,

Seminar sessions, led by gospel workers in FIEC churches and partner organisations, included theological reflections on the theme and other areas connected to church life, including equality, welcome, the environment, and more.

A significant part of the conference aims to help church leaders connect and support one another in ministry. Mealtimes seating 1,000, long refreshment breaks, and an evening prayer gathering, helped men and women attending to love and encourage one another.

Adrian Reynolds, FIEC Head of National Ministries, said: ‘It has been stirring to hear what the Lord is doing across our family of churches, and reflect together on how we embody God’s justice in our lives and churches. It is a mark of God’s goodness that most FIEC churches are reporting conversions and growth and we enjoyed praying for gospel work across our nation, both in FIEC churches and beyond.’

Joel Murray, FIEC

Video of the plenary talks and main session seminars, and audio of the other seminars, will be available to watch or listen to on the FIEC website.

• The Evangelical Fellowship of Congregational Churches (EFCC) – a network of around 100 churches – has also just held its Ministers’ Conference at The Hayes. Speakers included Matthew Roberts and Peter Sanlon on ‘Serving with the Spirit of Holiness’.

en staff