Values Statement

We value:

And affirm the ‘Evangelical Alliance’s Basis of Faith Statement’

• Our relationship with Jesus Christ as Supreme governor, commander of all, and intimate friend. He is the source of life and truth, and the giver of authentic wisdom for life
• Knowing Jesus as The Word of God – hearing from Him – through the written Word, prompting of the Holy Spirit, Divinely ordered circumstances, and supernatural events.
• God’s order for society based on the family – the human family, and the family of the Church, His Household. The family is the basis for moral life, and sets the example for collective community. We therefore also value the gathering of people, as well as a balanced life of family, work and rest.
• God’s order for economic growth – businesses creating wealth for the nation, in doing so providing needed goods and services for the community and gainful employment for all, at fair market prices and wages.
• Variety – of tastes and style as expressions of the breadth of the Kingdom; Variety of opinions as helpful to seeking the truth. Argument and discussion is healthy in the pursuit of truth.
• Connecting people. Unity of purpose is powerful, effective and attracts God’s favour.
• Purity of behaviour, intentions and relationships. Christian ethics are far deeper than ‘keeping the rules’ – but we are led by the Spirit of God.

A Vision Statement for NWCBF

Background

The current global economic crisis comes not from the collapse of financial and social systems. It is a spiritual and moral crisis, one in which our society has utterly lost its sense of the way forward.

In the marketplace of wealth creation we have abandoned our business models based on righteous values and replaced them with models driven by individual greed and short term goals.

At this time of unprecedented change in economic and social conditions around the globe Christians are being challenged to examine and declare their Biblically based values as the standard needed to operate and succeed in the marketplace.

The changed economic landscape before us requires new approaches and solutions to economic development and the provision of services to our communities. Government, nationally, regionally and locally, is now encouraging new partnerships to help them develop a more sustainable economic model for the UK and its regions.

This creates an unprecedented opportunity for Christians today in the marketplace to provide a prophetic voice, a call to examine and adopt standards which are based on the values of the Kingdom as opposed to a continuing dependence on a failing economic system based on unrighteous worldly values.

From this prophetic call can come specific proposals for action, to be led and implemented by those who, through their own experience and success, have the authority and standing to do so.

The Forum Proposal

Today in the North West Region of England, Business Christian are emerging from all sectors, seeking to use their skills and resources in the service of the region and their local communities. God is stirring up His entrepreneurs and leaders at this time to activate His Kingdom, His Voice, in the marketplace.

However, there is a barrier to seeing the Kingdom unleashed. Business Christians are operating, in the main, on their own, unconnected and unsupported in the marketplace. Some, a few, belong to local groupings who can meet regularly and provide fellowship and teaching. Some belong in churches who provide a measure of support. But these are the exceptions. Most operate alone.

Even where groups and supportive churches exist, these are largely unaware of, and unconnected with, other Kingdom groupings in their own immediate area, let alone across the region.

This Forum creates a dynamic association of Business Christians who live and work in the North West. By connecting together as an online community of individuals and as a consortium of local groupings, the Forum gathers together a collective, corporate strength that has not been seen before, indeed, has not been possible before – it is unprecedented.

From this corporate connecting comes an empowering of the individual, practical programmes to create new wealth and a campaigning voice to influence the nation and proclaim the truths of the Gospel. A truly living and dynamic network of Christian Business leaders with hearts and minds for the Kingdom.

Relational Structures

The Forum is, first and foremost, a community of individual Business Christians. Membership is based on the individual, not the business or organisation to which they belong. This community births and has an identity through its online connectivity across the region.

However, the Forum encourages all its members to belong to a local grouping of Business Christians. This will be the primary place of fellowship for teaching, nurturing and practical outworking to create and expand business in the immediate geographical area. Where such groups exist the Forum will partner and support. Where they do not the Forum will endeavour to encourage their creation.

The Forum will be responsible for calling its members together for Regional Gatherings on a regular basis. These will be opportunities to pray for the regional and national economy, to teach on Kingdom practice in business and to convey the collective Forum voice to Government and Business leaders.

The Forum will create strategic alliances with a range of partners. Within the Region with the NWDA, local authorities and development agencies. With MP’s and MEP’s and business organisations. Within the Kingdom with the likes of The London Institute for Contemporary Christianity, A Call to Business, The Evangelical Alliance, United Christian Broadcasting and Trans World Radio.

Through these alliances will come resources to empower members, channels of communication and opportunities to influence.

Forum Goals

Recruiting members, mapping local groups and establishing a meetings structure are the first priorities, ensuring that the Forum can function as a representative body as soon as possible. The web platform enables a “light touch” secretariat with a range of communication applications.

Over time The Forum will undertake a range of activities to support regional economic development. For example:

• Relational support through prayer, mentoring, teaching and sharing best practice.
• Innovative business start up models supported by members and local community networks.
• Development of micro financing programmes and venture capital funds.
• Engagement with regional and city leaderships to support and challenge.
• National and international networking with similar groups and associations.
• Development of further local groupings to widen the remit and expertise of the Forum.

Our Kingdom Attitude

It is our mission to influence and enable major change in the marketplace. To influence strategic secular leaders and gatekeepers we will need to deliver at the highest quality and with cutting edge innovation. If we are to provide solutions to economic and social issues, for example, we want to ensure that what we offer is innovative and creative, having to do with “root” change and not “symptom” management. We will be competing with secular associations and large private corporations who already work with such leaders.

Our emphasis is to work together to promote the values of the Kingdom of God.

Who can join the Forum?

The Forum is an association of Business Christians working in the North West Region of the United Kingdom. It is a requirement of membership that you have an active Christian faith and can affirm the Forum’s statement of Values.

A Business Christian can be defined as someone who makes a contribution to economic value creation in the economy, generating financial profits, job creation and the general growth of business activity through expansion and start ups.

Some members will represent very small companies or sole traders but this does not preclude membership as long as you see yourself contributing to growth.

Forum members will normally hold positions of responsibility within their organisations and be influential across their operating environments. They should be able to relate their work to the growth of the regional economy, even if they themselves are not directly involved in entrepreneurial activity.

A necessary part of value creation is the provision of services in support of business, whether professional skills or public administration. An influential and senior post holder in the Health or Education sectors, for example, would clearly have such a link and therefore be appropriate for membership.

Where membership is not considered appropriate the individual can be retained on a mailing list. They will receive regular communications and invitations to certain events but will not be part of the online community or the local business support group structures.