In Good Faith
An update from Revd Dr Chris Swift, Director of Leeds Church Institute
It is good practice for all organisations to review their mission and vision. This is no less true for LCI and, during 2025, we have been thinking afresh about our purpose and priorities. We have been assisted in this by David Saint from the organisation Action Planning. David has worked with both staff and Trustees to keep us focused on what matters and where LCI should be heading. When it has been needed, David has also been gently determined in pushing us off the fence!
The results have been received and agreed by the LCI Trustees in a meeting held on 12 November. The following summarises the expression of our current commitments:
Vision
Our vision is that the churches of Leeds will be increasingly confident and courageous in their ministry and mission, contributing to a just and compassionate city.
Mission
Our mission is to provide theological support and resources, working in dialogue and partnership with churches, to embolden their people to live out faith in a thoughtful and effective way.
Values
Dignity
In everything we do, we seek to honour the diverse expressions of God’s image in everyone
Service
We work in partnership with churches and in dialogue with the needs of the city
Justice
We seek the common good and work towards a city where all can flourish
Faith
All our work is inspired by the God of justice who creates us, calls us, and sustains us
The new vision and mission reflect our founding purpose and the ways in which LCI was tasked to provide its services. This year in particular, on the 150th anniversary of his death, we have revisited the legacy of Walter Hook, who took seriously the call of his faith to advocate for social reform and to build a city where all could thrive in a rapidly changing world.
The new strategy will draw on models of practice linked to liberation theology. LCI will walk beside different churches and seek to understand how best our resources can be used to develop theologies that lead to a more just and compassionate society. By building stronger relationships with church communities, we hope to ensure that LCI is more closely aware of the needs and concerns of Christians in the city.
This work of supporting churches in Leeds will require a new way of operating – now that the Trustees have agreed this mission and its associated values, a strategy is being created to use LCI’s resources effectively in delivering the Trustees’ vision.
While it isn’t possible to go into all the details of this ahead of the Trustees’ decision, the planned outcomes will be an LCI more directly connected to churches; resources shaped and shared through our parish links; and different churches meeting together to discuss and debate issues of common concern.
We are placing the churches of Leeds at the centre of our approach. We hope that this approach to partnership working will maintain the vision of our founder and enable opportunities for learning and development to be available for Christians across the city.