Seeking partners to promote broader and deeper church unity

The Affinity Advisory Council, a group of church and organisation leaders, have agreed to champion the formation of The Gospel Coalition UK. They are now in the process of consulting with gospel partners outside Affinity about how to create a broader fellowship of churches and Christian organisations to serve the cause of Christ and his church. The purpose is to establish a UK-based organisation that is unique but also benefits from the resources and knowledge of The Gospel Coalition worldwide.

The organisation will be based on TGC’s clear confession of faith, fervent prayer, strong fellowship, and practical expressions of unity. It will provide events, resources, and public advocacy to bear witness to Jesus Christ as the one Lord and Saviour.

Speaking on this decision, Graham Nicholls, Director of Affinity Gospel Churches in Partnership said:

Affinity began as the British Evangelical Council in 1952 for mutual encouragement, public witness and advocacy, and to build uncompromised but generous partnerships with all those who serve the risen Christ and proclaim the true gospel. We continue to do that as Affinity today, but we have a heart to broaden and deepen our unity with other evangelical believers across the UK and strengthen our witness together.

We trust, by God’s grace, that this coalition of gospel ministers and ministries, united by a clear declaration of the truth such as we find in The Gospel Coalition confession of faith will further the cause of the gospel in the United Kingdom by equipping and encouraging Christians, showing the world we are one body as we hold out Christ – the UK’s greatest need and the UK’s brightest hope.

Please join me in praying that this new initiative would honour the name of Christ as we work together in a broad coalition reflecting the expansive grace of God to all tribes and nations.

No final decision has been reached about exactly what this extended partnership might look like, and it is all subject to agreement by all those involved including TGC-USA, but Affinity is working with the International Director of The Gospel Coalition, Tim Savage, and seeking the Lord’s guidance to do something new that will encourage the church and speak words of life to the world.

If you think you could be part of this new initiative Affinity would love to hear from you.