3rd December 2025
Gather BCP Mini Summit
More than 40 leaders and changemakers from 15 churches and 7 charities gathered for the Gather BCP Mini Summit – a day hosted by Faithworks’ Church Partnerships in collaboration with the Gather Movement and Moorlands College.
The event built on last year’s Mission and Community Conversation and strengthened Faithworks’ vision to empower local churches, to help them deliver practical support, genuine connection, and spiritual Hope in their communities.
A major theme running throughout the summit was the call for church leaders to see themselves not as separate congregations, but as one Church across BCP, united in purpose and compassion for local communities.
Guest speaker Andy Mulcock shared inspiring stories from across the UK of churches joining forces to transform their towns in practical ways. His message was clear: God calls His people to a place, not to isolated patches. When churches act together, deep and lasting community transformation becomes possible.
The message resonated strongly in BCP. The Faithworks’ Church Partnerships team facilitated honest conversation about…poverty and everyday struggles in local neighbourhoods – and, crucially, what united churches can do about it.
Andy highlighted successful collaborations elsewhere, such as Manchester’s 10 boroughs working jointly on family hubs and York’s united approach to tackling poverty. His challenge to leaders was simple and memorable:
“Find one thing you can join together in.”
Participants didn’t leave with inspiration alone; the day also equipped leaders with practical tools, including the 1414 Planning Tool for discerning vision and mapping clear, shared steps toward change.
Moorlands College Principal Andy De Feu reflected on the significance of the gathering:
“We love partnering with Gather… These are those moments where we can encourage each other. We realise we’re not alone toiling in our own little patch – we’re part of a much bigger move of God.”
Looking ahead, Faithworks’ Church Partnerships team will continue to nurture this growing sense of unity and shared mission. As Andy Mulcock summed up:
“God’s heart is for the whole community. Partnerships between God’s people are the essential ingredient – leaders loving their place, their communities, but also one another and working with others, to see kingdom transformation be that spiritual, social or cultural.”
The summit closed with a renewed commitment from leaders across BCP: to pray, plan and act not as many churches, but as one Church – and to identify the one thing they can do together to transform their local communities.
