Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches
Encyclopedia
The Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches (FIEC) is a network of over 500 independent, evangelical
churches mainly in the United Kingdom
that preach an evangelical faith.
From 1 September 2010, the work of the Fellowship will be directed by a team of church leaders including John Stevens, FIEC Director, Trevor Archer, Training Director and Richard Underwood, Churches' and Pastors' Support Director.
The FIEC is in the Independent/Congregationalist tradition, which traces its roots back to separatists, such as Robert Browne in the time of Elizabeth I and James I of England. For example Westminster Chapel, a leading church in the Independent/Congregationalist tradition, joined the FIEC when the Congregational Union merged with the English Presbyterian Church to form the United Reformed Church
denomination (URC). A number of Baptist churches are also represented in the FIEC.
Former Presidents include Rev. Theodore Harold Bendor-Samuel (1967, 1978).
Learn2Lead is a church-based leadership training course which is being extensively used in our congregations. It is suitable for those already serving as elders, deacons, youth leaders, children’s workers or those aspiring to serve the local church in any kind of leadership capacity. Developed by FIEC, this excellent resource is now available from The Good Book Company.
Corporate trusteeship avoids the inconvenience and expense of periodically updating a Trust Deed. The company also keeps track of new developments affecting churches at a time when the charity sector is being subjected to increasing regulation.
FIEC works in partnership with several other evangelical organisations and recognises it has a responsibility to promote gospel unity and combine resources where this can be used to best effect for the glory of God and the extension of His Kingdom.
Individual evangelical Christians can support this vital ministry to Bible churches by joining the Partners' Scheme. Partners receive a church directory and at least three mailings a year from the FIEC office with news, views and research as well as a twice-yearly Together magazine and monthly e-mail of items for prayer.
Liberal Churches and the Roman Catholic church are not welcome.
, which was previously called the British Evangelical Council.
They also believe that Ecumenism in the form of Churches Together is not a positive move, citing various reasons including the liberal stance of other churches. The Trust Board has recently affirmed that formal membership of Churches Together (CT) is inconsistent with the FIEC Statement on Ecumenism . However a number of fellowships publicly profess their affiliation to CT.
Allegations of engagement in ecumenism by a missionary to Poland of Carey Baptist Church
have also been made in articles in the July 2009 and January 2010 issues of the Bible League Quarterly, a journal once edited by the Fellowship's own founder, Rev E. J. Poole-Connor. This is regarded as controversial as it is alleged to be a violation of the Fellowship's own statement in 1996 opposing ecumenism. As an association of autonomous churches, the FIEC has defended the responsibility of Carey's elders to examine the allegations, but declined to examine them independently. The concerns were first raised in November 2008.
Other church denominations may take a different view as to the role of women as leaders.
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
churches mainly in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
that preach an evangelical faith.
From 1 September 2010, the work of the Fellowship will be directed by a team of church leaders including John Stevens, FIEC Director, Trevor Archer, Training Director and Richard Underwood, Churches' and Pastors' Support Director.
History
The FIEC was formed in 1922 under the name A Fellowship of Undenominational and Unattached Churches and Missions, but was later renamed The Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches. The Fellowship brought together many independent churches and mission halls, which had been somewhat isolated.The FIEC is in the Independent/Congregationalist tradition, which traces its roots back to separatists, such as Robert Browne in the time of Elizabeth I and James I of England. For example Westminster Chapel, a leading church in the Independent/Congregationalist tradition, joined the FIEC when the Congregational Union merged with the English Presbyterian Church to form the United Reformed Church
United Reformed Church
The United Reformed Church is a Christian church in the United Kingdom. It has approximately 68,000 members in 1,500 congregations with some 700 ministers.-Origins and history:...
denomination (URC). A number of Baptist churches are also represented in the FIEC.
Former Presidents include Rev. Theodore Harold Bendor-Samuel (1967, 1978).
Training
Prepared for Service, a two-year part-time training course, has been running in Reading since 1994. The course focuses on Bible Overview, Systematic Theology, Text to Message, Church History and Applied Theology. It is for trainee pastors, church apprentices, pastoral workers.Learn2Lead is a church-based leadership training course which is being extensively used in our congregations. It is suitable for those already serving as elders, deacons, youth leaders, children’s workers or those aspiring to serve the local church in any kind of leadership capacity. Developed by FIEC, this excellent resource is now available from The Good Book Company.
Outreach
Resources from over 500 churches and many personal Partner Members enable the Fellowship to do what none of us could accomplish alone.Fellowship Trust
FIEC Limited is a registered charity and trust corporation working under the title Fellowship Trust. It manages the trusts of some 230 evangelical churches. The company’s function is to safeguard a church’s doctrinal position and any other conditions of its Trust Deed.Corporate trusteeship avoids the inconvenience and expense of periodically updating a Trust Deed. The company also keeps track of new developments affecting churches at a time when the charity sector is being subjected to increasing regulation.
Belonging
For churches wanting to join with FIEC, a comprehensive information pack is available from the FIEC office. The procedure for affiliation is explained and FIEC ministries are outlined in greater detail, together with samples of some of our publications and resources.FIEC works in partnership with several other evangelical organisations and recognises it has a responsibility to promote gospel unity and combine resources where this can be used to best effect for the glory of God and the extension of His Kingdom.
Individual evangelical Christians can support this vital ministry to Bible churches by joining the Partners' Scheme. Partners receive a church directory and at least three mailings a year from the FIEC office with news, views and research as well as a twice-yearly Together magazine and monthly e-mail of items for prayer.
Liberal Churches and the Roman Catholic church are not welcome.
Relations with other churches
FIEC is the largest corporate partner of AffinityAffinity (Christian organisation)
Affinity describes itself as "a growing network of many hundreds of Bible-centred churches and Christian agencies throughout Britain and Ireland". It was founded in 1953 as the British Evangelical Council and in 1981 numbered over 2,000 churches. The organization stagnated in the 1980s following...
, which was previously called the British Evangelical Council.
They also believe that Ecumenism in the form of Churches Together is not a positive move, citing various reasons including the liberal stance of other churches. The Trust Board has recently affirmed that formal membership of Churches Together (CT) is inconsistent with the FIEC Statement on Ecumenism . However a number of fellowships publicly profess their affiliation to CT.
Allegations of engagement in ecumenism by a missionary to Poland of Carey Baptist Church
Carey Baptist Church
Carey Baptist Church is an independent evangelical/baptist church in Reading, England.-History:The church was founded in 1867 and was named after William Carey, a famous missionary from Northamptonshire, who went to India in 1793, and never returned to his homeland.Notable past pastors include Rev...
have also been made in articles in the July 2009 and January 2010 issues of the Bible League Quarterly, a journal once edited by the Fellowship's own founder, Rev E. J. Poole-Connor. This is regarded as controversial as it is alleged to be a violation of the Fellowship's own statement in 1996 opposing ecumenism. As an association of autonomous churches, the FIEC has defended the responsibility of Carey's elders to examine the allegations, but declined to examine them independently. The concerns were first raised in November 2008.
Pastors
The FIEC believes the classical Complementarian view which recognises that the distinctive calling to be a pastor or elder in the local church, and to be the head of the home, is a calling for men. It also recognises and encourages a wide calling of ministries within the church for women and men.Other church denominations may take a different view as to the role of women as leaders.
Notable member churches
- Carey Baptist ChurchCarey Baptist ChurchCarey Baptist Church is an independent evangelical/baptist church in Reading, England.-History:The church was founded in 1867 and was named after William Carey, a famous missionary from Northamptonshire, who went to India in 1793, and never returned to his homeland.Notable past pastors include Rev...
, Reading - Oadby Evangelical Free ChurchOadby Evangelical Free ChurchOadby Evangelical Free Church is an independent evangelical church in Oadby, Leicestershire, UK.-History:It was formed mainly by members of Knighton Evangelical Free Church, also in Leicester in 1973, and was officially inaugurated on Friday 24 January 1975. In September the following year the Rev...
, Leicestershire - City Evangelical Church, LeedsCity Evangelical Church, LeedsCity Evangelical Church is an independent evangelical church in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England.The church is affiliated to the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches.-History:...
- Worthing TabernacleWorthing TabernacleWorthing Tabernacle is an independent Evangelical Christian church in the town and borough of Worthing, one of seven local government districts in the English county of West Sussex...
- Woodstock Road Baptist ChurchWoodstock Road Baptist ChurchWoodstock Road Baptist Church, located in Summertown, Oxford, UK is an evangelical church and is a member of the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches.- History :...
, Oxford