19 April 2024
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An affiliated network of independent Pentecostal churches, leaders and ministries

 

  elim.org.uk/network

Together

For more than a century, Elim has been a Pentecostal Movement committed to the mission of Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit, growing and developing churches across the UK and the Republic of Ireland.

Increasingly since its launch in 1926, the Elim Network has drawn together as a dynamic movement of movements, made up of local churches, ministers and ministries who are partnering together to see communities, cities and nations transformed.

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What

A relational network

Elim Network is a relational network of autonomous Pentecostal churches, ministries, and leaders who share the Elim Pentecostal Church’s vision, values, and mission whilst retaining their own historical and independent status. 

This network provides an opportunity to find more significant levels of connection and support from a well-established movement like the Elim Pentecostal Church.

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Together

What is the Elim Network?

The heart and vision of the Elim Network is to be a movement of Pentecostal churches, leaders and ministries that offer the potential for partnership without control, that is rooted in a shared passion for mission.

In this way, the Elim Network is a Spirit-empowered network that finds connection through a strong mutual relationship, looking at how we can resource, support and stand with each other without dominating each other’s local agenda, focus or vision. This kind of network is held together by valuable relationships and meaningful participation.

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Elim's Vision

Elim, as one movement with many churches, is as committed as ever to move together in mission. With over a 100-year history,  our desire is for every Elim leader and church to advance into a new season of fresh mission, extending their influence, impact and outreach, reaching and serving the local community and beyond.

Our vision is captured in one key word and big idea: Advance. This seeks to challenge Elim’s leaders to consider what’s next in advancing mission through their local church, as well as how they can help other churches and leaders advance in their journey into accelerated and radical mission.

And our focus remains on our four strategic priorities...

MakingDisciples1280
DevelopingLeaders
GrowingChurches
ReachingNations

Elim is a movement and is much broader than the 430 Alliance¹ churches across the UK and Republic of Ireland. Elim Global partners with many movements, churches and ministries in over 50 nations of the world and the Elim Network² engages with churches, ministries and ministers across the UK enabling relationship and partnership in this great mission together.

¹This term refers a centrally governed Elim Church that is part of the Elim Foursquare Gospel Alliance (the legal identity of the Elim Pentecostal Church).
²Elim Church Incorporated is the legal identity of the Elim Network.

The history of ECI and the Elim Network

The Elim Church Incorporated (now known as the Elim Network) was founded in 1926 and officially incorporated in 1927 as a fellowship of Pentecostal churches, each having its own form of government.

Those responsible for its founding were the leaders of the Elim Pentecostal Church. They recognised that many independent Pentecostal churches were coming into existence and saw the wisdom of providing a facility for such churches to be united in fellowship with others of like mind while retaining their independent status.

Today, we see this as a prophetic statement that continues to enable churches across the nations to partner together for the Kingdom.

The Elim Pentecostal Church, whose legal name is the Elim Foursquare Gospel Alliance, became a constituent member, and its unique place is enshrined within its Constitution. It is usual practice for all those holding credentials with the Elim Pentecostal Church (the Alliance) to hold these credentials through the Elim Church Incorporated.

The basis upon which fellowship is established is the acceptance of the foundational truths, and the terms of membership set out in the ECI Constitution. 

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The Elim Network is open to churches and ministries

The Elim Network is open to accepting into membership those churches and ministries which can accept its Foundational Truths as a basis of faith, and who are Pentecostal in belief, experience and practice. There is no requirement to replace any existing doctrinal statement with the Elim Network one, but the Network Leadership Team does require that the statement of faith of the local church or ministry is in harmony with that of the Network.

For some churches in the British Isles, the Elim Network membership has become a stepping stone into the Alliance. It has afforded churches the opportunity to become familiar with the Elim movement before making the kind of commitment needed to become an Alliance Church, which is seen by Elim to be a positive trajectory in the relationship. However, this is not mandatory and churches can remain Network churches whilst continuing to be a positive and meaningful part of the Elim movement.

Network churches or ministries do not come under the governance of the Alliance but under the terms of the ECI Constitution. They are expected to make a financial contribution to Elim which is seen as a positive statement about the commitment to partner with the Elim movement regionally and nationally and recognise the benefits that come from the partnership with the Elim movement. These financial contributions are listed in the downloadable Elim Network brochure.

Applications by interested churches or ministries are made to the General Secretary, who presents them for consideration to the Network Leadership Team of The Elim Church Incorporated, who meet concurrently with Elim National Leadership Team meetings, usually five times per year. Along with the completion of the necessary forms and the submission of other required documentation as outlined in the Elim Network brochure.

The benefits of being part of the Elim Network

Expectations of member churches or ministries

A mutual relationship involves understanding what it means to belong. Although the Elim Network does not aim to control any local agenda, focus or vision, the integrity of the network is dependent upon each constituent part engaging meaningfully.

The following list outlines the expectations that the Elim Network has of those who have committed to being part of the network:

 

Commitment to the same priorities and core values as outlined in Elim’s vision statement
 

 

The local minister(s) attendance at Elim’s annual leader's summit and business conference
 

 

Maintaining a positive relationship with the Elim Regional Leader
 
 

 

Creating local awareness and engagement with Elim both regionally & nationally
 

 

Regular statistical reporting to enable a clearer understanding of the reach and impact of the network
 

 

Ongoing legal compliance to national standards including safeguarding, GDPR, charity law, health and safety
 

 

Involvement in Elim Regional events
 

 

Annual financial contribution

 

 

Covenant Relationship

Each church or ministry that applies to join the Elim Network will be asked to enter into a covenant relationship with Elim based on the expectations outlined above. It is our conviction that at the heart of this covenant agreement is a meaningful and mutually committed relationship, which will be expressed in completing a covenant form.

Every five years the leadership of the Elim Network will seek a recommitment to this covenant thereby allowing a moment of mutual reflection and recommitment to the relationship together as part of the Network.

The Elim Network is open to leaders and ministers

Those who have already been ordained as ministers in other denominations and who wish to be accepted as Elim Network ministers will follow a process of application appropriate to their experience and previous training.

It is possible for those who may be engaged in the pastoral ministry but who are not ordained, to apply to be accepted as a Network Minister in Training working towards ordination.

Elim Ministers holding Elim Network credentials are subject to the same professional ministerial guidelines and disciplinary processes as those holding an EFGA credential (other than access to the EFGA Arbitration Board which is only available to full EFGA ministers) and will also be expected to have a valid enhanced DBS certificate.

It is standard practice for Network ministers and representatives of Network churches to be invited to participate in their local region, where they are afforded voting rights and can hold office though not that of National Leaders.

The Alliance National and Regional Leaders make themselves available for ministry and consultation to all Network churches and ministers as they do for Alliance churches.

Relationship is what makes this great partnership work,  requiring both parties to be committed and connected to each other. The following are ways in which a Network minister can ensure that this relationship can be fostered and given the opportunity to flourish:

 

Seek to meet regularly and build relationship with other Elim ministers within the area

 

Attend Regional Meetings arranged by his/her Regional Leader

 

Attend the annual Elim Leadership Summit & Conference and other national events arranged by the National Leadership Team

 

Encourage awareness of Elim within the local church or ministry

 

Support the leadership of Elim both regionally and nationally

 

 

Apply to join the Elim Network

Download the Elim Network brochure to find out more.

Any churches or ministries interested in either more information or applying to join the Network should contact the Elim Network General Secretary.

  Download brochure
  Stuart Blount, General Secretary
  elimnetwork@elim.org.uk
  0345 302 6750
The Elim Church Incorporated (known as Elim Network). A company limited by guarantee. Registered in England & Wales No. 225219
Registered Office: Elim International Centre, De Walden Road, West Malvern, WR14 4DF