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SALT AND LIGHT NETWORK.
Just as churches have individual character, so groups of churches of similar focus tend to gather together to benefit from regional and national connections and resources. Salt and Light Ministries is a family of churches and leaders who work together, including 60 churches in the UK, and many more in North America, Africa, Australasia and India.
The churches have distinctive common values including; modern forms of worship, modern ministry and church government, and theology that is progressive, but firmly based on biblical Christian truths and values. Leaders do not have elevated status, and all church members participate in the work of the church, and study to inform their own personal faith and life decisions. Being good is not so much about things we can’t do, as bad habits and motivations we are freed from. Services are informal and do not use liturgy. Faith is for life not just for Sunday. Churches in the network are autonomous, and link together with others through the natural development of leadership relationships. There is minimal central administration, the emphasis being on releasing the activities of local churches, rather than building regional or central teams or centres. But leaders also share their expertise and giftings across the network where they can be released by their home churches and it can benefit others. The network originally developed from a group of churches who shared these values who gathered around the leadership of Barney Coombs in Basingstoke, UK.
The network organises church camps in the summer, leadership conferences, national training structures for worship teams, pastoral, mission and other ministry areas. There is a full time UK bible college at Oxford which also offers part time courses.
Westbourne Grove Church have a leadership link to Phil Norris atBasingstoke Community Church and other leaders in Basingstoke and Oxfordshire churches. This arrangement offers Westbourne Grove Church spiritual and practical advice and expertise, and adjudication of any disputes which require formal appeals procedures outside the church. The church retains its independence and has the final say in all decisions other than formal appeals as detailled in the church rules.
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