Synergy is:

  • a fellowship of like-minded ministers who desire inspirational relationships and growth in their leadership, ministries and lives, independent of what type or style of church they are.

Synergy is not:

  • a denomination; we have no governmental authority in or over any of the churches involved. Synergy is a network of relationships. Each ministry remains autonomous in the leadership of its own church/ministry.
  • a platform for ministry opportunities. No church within the network is obliged to have any other network minister speak at anytime; but equally, any network church is welcome to invite other network ministers whenever they want. Synergy is not designed to be an environment where people feel they have to have others come preach, but rather feel free to grow their relationships naturally with other network ministers.
  • an exclusive network: people are free to be a part of other networks and denominations and still enjoy all the benefits that Synergy has to offer.

Synergy Network Leadership

Synergy is led by Andy Elmes, under the covering of Family Church. The advisory team is made up of Derek Smith (Kings Church, Bolton) and Tim Lockwood (New Hope Community Church, Southampton).

Cultural values of Synergy network

  • Everyone is a VIP: we do not want to build Synergy with any degree of “them and us”, so there will be no ‘VIP lounges’ or ‘VIP badges’, but rather ministers of different levels of experience rubbing shoulders with each other. We see all involved as very important people independent of the size of their ministry.
  • Free from obligation: no one is obliged to have others speak, yet at the same time you are free to invite any other network pastor/ministry if you wish.
  • Synergy is not built around any one style of doing church, but around the desire to build the kingdom of God in our generation, and the celebration of the uniqueness of the different types of church represented.
  • Church planting: we share a common desire to see effective, relevant churches planted in the UK and worldwide.

Financial Commitments

  • Annual administration fee of £100.
  • Freewill offerings at network events.

We wanted to try something a little different with Synergy, so there is a small annual administration fee to cover admin costs for the year, then we plan to have a “bowl on the table” way of doing things. When we meet together for network events, whether nationally or regionally, a freewill offering bowl will be present where we can all sow from our ministries and churches as we feel we want and are able to. Everything given in Synergy offerings will go towards building the network, so that in the future we can do projects and events that empower the churches/ministries involved. We want to build the financial side of Synergy on a common desire to give, rather than any obligation.

Network meetings/events

Empower Conference
This is our Annual conference, held in the early part of the year. It is a great event to bring your leadership teams to. During the course of the conference, time will be given for the network pastors to come together for inspiration and fellowship. Put this event in your annual calendar as a “not to be missed” event. Network pastors receive special discounts to this event.

Pastors’ Breakfasts
Pastors’ Breakfasts are held throughout the year on a Saturday morning. These are great opportunities to hear an empowering message, and also to hang out and get to know other like-minded ministers and learn from each other’s journeys.

Network days/weekends
These are special days/weekend that we put on every now and then, to enable people to pull away and look at the bigger picture. At different times guest speakers will be invited to empower you in specific areas of life and ministry. These events may also occur in two geographical locations, in the northern area of the UK and the southern area, allowing for greater ease of travel.

Synergise – the newsletter
We will send out a bi-monthly network newsletter, called Synergise. This newsletter will keep you up-to-date with upcoming events, profiles of other network pastors, and leadership thoughts written by a selection of different leaders. It will be a great read and keep you “in the know”.

Missions Department

Synergy partners with Overland Missions, a cutting-edge missionary organisation offering great missions opportunities while at the same time changing nations. Phil and Sharon Smethurst are the directors of Overland Missions, and are a very inspirational, highly missions-motivating couple.

Right-click or Ctrl-click below to download the application form, and the above info in PDF format:

[Download: Synergy_Info_Sheet_May08.pdf]