A unique summit of European church network leaders was held in London from 5-7 May. On the first day of the Strategic Leadership Consultation, leaders of charismatic church networks and ministries from ten European nations gathered and discussed the theme: ‘Extending the Church’s Influence in Government and Civic Leadership.’
Two of the many questions asked throughout the summit were:
How can the church influence politics without becoming political?
How can the church’s voice be heard on major social issues – in a positive way?
Among the keynote speakers were Steve Chalke (MBE), founder of Faithworks, Gerald Coates of the Pioneer church network and Mal Fletcher, director of Next Wave International.
The summit focused on developing a consensus on where major church networks might connect most with community needs in Europe as a whole.
"All government is about being pragmatic," said Steve Chalke. His promotion on social inclusion as a Baptist minister has gained the respect across the major political parties in Britain.
"Access and influence are based on whether we can help community leaders to get results. Real trust begins in small places and is built on trustworthiness," said Mal Fletcher, who hosted the event.
"The church is often better known in a community for what it stands against, than what is stands for! We want to reverse that – to become more inclusive, engaging the future in a positive way."
He continued, "At this summit, we’ve looked at ways of taking responsibility not just for building better churches, but developing a better society. I think the central question for every Christian leader is this: what kind of city and nation do we want to be living in ten years from now, and what will you do to set that in motion?"
Fletcher concluded, "As I move around Europe speaking with church leaders, I find a growing passion to combine intimacy with God with positive and inclusive engagement within the community."
Pastor McCauley, leader of Rhema Church, a 32,000 member-strong congregation in South Africa, was also interviewed via the phone. His church has had a strong social impact on helping to shape South Africa’s social landscape in the post-apartheid era.
"We must ask one question," said McCauley. "If my church wasn’t there, would the community miss it?"
A ‘Statement of Intent’ was published by the Strategic Leadership Consultation which features fourteen principles which Europe church leaders have agreed to employ in bridging the community with political leaders.
Among the principles, it included a promise for greater support for people within churches who are called to work among the political field.
"This event has a truly prophetic nature," reported Stuart Bell, leader of the Ground Level network of churches in the UK. "There are very few conferences which address the full spectrum of the European scene, or offer this consultative approach so that we hear different points of view."
A follow up summit will be held in Spain in May 2006, hosted by Next Wave International. It will focus on ‘Europe 2020’, to develop an in-depth study of the social, cultural and spiritual future of Europe.
