What is the Leeds United Reformed Church Partnership?
The Leeds United Reformed Church Partnership officially came into being, (after several years of discussions), on 7th May 2022, when eight churches of the Leeds Mission and Care Group were inaugurated into the Partnership and members of the Ministry Team were inducted into it during a special service.
The Partnership churches are:
- Beeston Hill United Free Church (LEP: Baptist, Methodist, URC)
- Christ Church Halton (LEP: Methodist, URC)
- Headingley St Columba URC
- St Andrew’s Roundhay URC
- Stainbeck URC
- The URC in South Leeds
- West Park URC
- Wigton Moor URC
The ministry team currently comprises:
- Revd Geoff Ellis — Non-stipendiary Minister
- Revd Angela Hughes — Non-stipendiary Minister
- Revd Tim Lowe — Stipendiary Minister
- Revd Dr Nicola Robinson — Stipendiary Minister
- Mr Alex Walker — Elder in Local leadership (unpaid)
The vision
The vision and opportunity of the Leeds URC Partnership is to enable each member church to fulfil God’s vision and mission within its own local community, enabled by the ministry team. Although some activities may involve some or all of the member churches, many will be for churches on their own. Through the Partnership, the churches will continue to co-operate, encourage each other and make the best use of limited resources.
How it works
All Partnership churches have a named minister as their first point of contact. Currently, the pairings are as given below but this is subject to change (with the approval of ministers and churches) as the Partnership develops and/or ministers leave or retire:
- Beeston Hill United Free Church: Revd Peter Brazier (Methodist)
- Christ Church Halton: Revd Edward Sakwe (Methodist) & Revd Dr Nicola Robinson
- Headingley St Columba URC: Revd Dr Nicola Robinson
- St Andrew’s Roundhay URC: Revd Tim Lowe
- Stainbeck URC: Revd Dr Nicola Robinson
- The URC in South Leeds: Mr Alex Walker, Elder in Local Leadership
- West Park URC: Revd Geoff Ellis
- Wigton Moor URC: Revd Tim Lowe
Revd Angela Hughes is a member of the team but not the named minister for a church.
The ministers work collaboratively in a way that best utilises their skills and abilities and enables elders and members to work for the benefit of all the churches in the Partnership.