The Congregational Federation is a voluntary association of some 300 independent churches throughout England, Wales and Scotland. The Federation is divided into 10 areas within the United Kingdom, two of which are nation states themselves i.e. the Congregational Federation in Wales and in Scotland. Areas organise themselves differently but they are a means of support, encouragement and enabling to the local churches that make up the Area Associations.
The Congregational Federation affirms the “scriptural right of every separate Church to maintain perfect independence in the government and administration of its own particular affairs.” This independence means that we join together in areas of common concern to pool our resources, skills and enthusiasm as we co-operate together in the service of the kingdom of God. Whilst stressing the importance of independence we recognise that we are inter-dependent on each other, hence the need to work in a federation which allows freedom but mutuality. This is reflected in the structure of the Congregational Federation, which is served by a Council of Area representatives and other elected individuals. The work of Council is taken forward by three committees; Mission and Society, Christian Ministries and Finance and Support Services. The Congregational Federation has wide range of churches within its Areas, some are rural and others urban, many are small and in need of the initiatives outlined in this application.
Youth & Children’s Work
Under the support of a Director for Youth & Children’s Work Stephen Haward the Federation offers a range of support, resources and opportunities to its churches. The Youth & Children’s Group is a structure through which the work is overseen.
CF Youth and Gofrit are two of our organisations who each have their own characteristics. There has been a growing realisation that we have many churches with groups of young people, yet only a few are involved in what we offer through our current youth programmes. Currently we are working at seeking to unify our youth programme to better enable participation and support for more of our youngsters.
Pilots is a children’s and young people’s organisation we share with the United Reformed Church. A number of opportunities for young people are arranged each year including in 2010 an international team visit to Zambia. A new scheme of supporting young adults with a calling to full-time Christian service is also available. A year’s worth of funding in a local church project linked to training seeks to enable our young people to find experience and employment within our churches. The CF ‘Child Friendly Church’ award scheme is the latest one aimed at encouraging excellence of children actively participating in our churches.
Mission Priorities
The unexpected can, and will happen. Don’t be afraid of the unexpected, or hurry to reject it, for it is often through the unexpected that God acts. Prophetic words given to CF Council November 2009.
Under an overarching theme of GROWING DISCIPLES CF seeks currently to develop four significant areas of operation within the wider framework of our support to churches.
- Local training for all members: Growing Disciples is a course of study for individual church use providing a tool for personal growth of every member of every CF church as a disciple of Christ.
- Mission development for all churches: Appointment of a Mission Development officer encouraging and engaging with churches via a network over a range of support and programmes to stimulate church development. Initiatives include ‘Wake up Call’ a call to get evangelism back on every church’s agenda.
- Congregational identity and its contribution to the U.K. church of the 21st Century: The encouragement and promotion of this identity and confidence of our existing churches to appreciate and catch this time of opportunity in their community. The development and promotion of the identity of the Federation itself as being a home for the new emerging congregations as well as dissatisfied congregations of established denominations.
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