Faith based jobs

Bible Society believes the Bible is God’s gift for God’s world. We share it because we believe it changes lives for good. We want Christians to be confident in the Bible’s truthfulness and reliability, and we want to change how people talk about it in wider society and invite them to see it as a source of wisdom and joy.

We are seeking a passionate, strategic and relational individual to join our team as we expand our work with generous supporters. In this role, you will lead our engagement with mid-level donors – strengthening retention, increasing income and re-engaging supporters through tailored communications, bespoke resources and opportunities for uplift. You will play a vital role in optimising funding from both established and new supporters, ensuring alignment with Bible Society’s mission priorities.

Alongside this, you will build and nurture key relationships through the management of a portfolio of current and prospective major donors, delivering significant levels of income against agreed targets. You will help donors fulfil their philanthropic ministry by connecting their generosity with the mission of Bible Society.

An enhanced DBS check will be required for this role. 

If this sounds like you and you have the legal right to work and remain in the UK, we’d love to hear from you. Please provide your CV and a 250-word statement that sets out why you’re the best person for this position.

For the purposes of your cover letter, we ask that you do not use AI-generated content. We would like to hear your own thoughts, experiences, and motivations in your own words. 

Bible Society is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value diversity and aspire to reflect this in our workforce. We welcome applications from people representing all sections of the community.

Closing date: Sunday 6 September 2026

Interview date: First round interview date: Monday 14 September 2026 (online)

Second-round interview date: Monday 21 September 2026 (Swindon)

At Stewardship, we are passionate about equipping the Church and Christian charities with the financial tools and guidance they need to thrive. Our specialist services support a wide range of organisations, from small local churches to larger Christian charities, with annual incomes ranging from £25,000 to £1,000,000.

Stewardship is looking for an Accounts Examiner to join our growing Accounts Examination Team, helping clients prepare and review receipts and payments accounts, identify key financial and regulatory matters, and offer practical, thoughtful support that strengthens good financial stewardship.

This is a rewarding opportunity to use your finance skills in a mission-focused Christian charity, supporting a wide range of churches and charities across the UK. You will be highly organised, confident working with financial records and systems, able to communicate clearly, and committed to deadlines and excellent service.

This is full-time role of 35 hours per week, but part-time working would also be considered (minimum of 21 hours per week)

What You’ll Be Doing

• Undertake and oversee the preparation of year end ‘Receipts & Payments’ accounts for our client charities with income up to £500k.
• Undertake, or review, independent examinations of charity ‘Receipts & Payments’ accounts.
• Provide fee quotes to clients and monitor job costs against this budget. Provide explanations for variances from budgeted fees and negotiate additional fees if required.
• Review the information we receive to identify any significant financial and regulatory issues that need to be brought to attention of our client charities.
• Working collaboratively with a team of experienced accountants who share a passion for church and charity finance.
• Contributing to the continuous improvement of our services and resources.
• Provide ad hoc advice to client charities on a whole range of technical issues (which may include advice on bookkeeping, accounting issues and arrangements, internal controls, gift aid, taxation and regulatory compliance) where appropriate

What We’re Looking For

• Bookkeeping experience
• Experience of / a desire to be involved in Christian finance, working with church/charity finance teams, treasurers & trustees.
• Excellent communication skills and a heart for serving Christian organisations.
• Experience working with or within churches or Christian charities is highly desirable.
• A practising Christian, in line with the Occupational Requirement under Schedule 9 of the Equality Act 2010, who is committed to Stewardship’s Christian ethos.

As a result of our Christian ethos, this post is covered by an Occupational Requirement (OR) under Part 1 of Schedule 9 to the Equality Act 2010. The successful applicant will be expected to be a practising Christian and to clearly demonstrate a personal commitment to the mission, principles, values and practices contained in our Ethos Statement, by:

· Active membership of local church congregation.

An understanding of the faith aspects of the work of Christian charities, including the preparedness to pray with colleagues, where appropriate.

Westcott House is seeking to appoint a full-time Finance Director to take up post in October 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter. As a member of Senior Leadership, this is a dynamic role helping to lead the college in its strategic development and implementation, and in its delivery of exceptional theological education.

The Role

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced and capable Finance Director to make a difference in a Christian charity with an open and inclusive ethos.

The Finance Director is a member of the Senior Leadership of the college and has a pivotal role in ensuring its success. The Finance Director supports the Principal and Trustees in developing and implementing the strategy of the college, oversees and ensures excellent delivery of all financial operations, ensures compliance with all legal and regulatory structures applicable to the college, and ensures clear processes and robust controls are in place and adhered to consistently.

Theological education in the Church of England has faced challenges in recent years, with a drop in numbers training for ministry. We are looking for a senior colleague who will be inspired by the opportunity to help us navigate the coming years on a secure financial footing, so we continue to deliver exceptional theological education for the Church. 

This is a permanent, full-time role. The post holder will be expected to work on site, subject to any reasonable adjustments required under the Equality Act 2010. The salary for this position is currently £62,500 per annum. The 2026 pay review is underway, and any increase would apply from 1 September 2026.

Benefits include:

• 38 days annual leave (including public holidays)
• Generous non-contributory pension scheme
• Free meals on site during working hours in term
• On-site parking
• A rewarding work environment within a friendly, welcoming team

About Us

Situated in central Cambridge, Westcott House is a theological college that prepares people for public ministry in the Church of England and offers theological education, training and research opportunities to clergy and lay people.

Training people for ministry in the Church of England has been our core work over many years and continues to shape our life as a community. More recently we have been joined by increasing numbers of lay and ordained independent students, typically studying at a distance, who now make up around half of our student body.

Application Process

The closing deadline for applications is 12 noon, Wednesday 9 September 2026.

The successful candidate will be required to demonstrate their right to work in the UK before employment commences. Westcott House is an equal opportunities employer and will select candidates against the criteria in the job description and person specification. Applications are particularly encouraged from candidates of UKME and global majority heritage. Reasonable adjustments will be made for disabled applicants throughout the recruitment process where required.

Westcott House is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. All post holders are expected to share this commitment.

Interviews will be held in September at Westcott House, Cambridge. Reasonable UK travel expenses will be paid. 

Further particulars, including how to apply, are available on our website.

The Diocese of Chester is seeking to recruit a Flourish Co-ordinator who will oversee the next phase of this exciting project.

The successful candidate will have demonstrable experience of working with children and young people, together with an appreciation of the missional task facing the church, particularly in regard to engaging missionally with a more diverse demographic.

This is a part-time position for 2 days (14 hours) per week.  The role offers hybrid working that includes working from Church House at Daresbury Park, Warrington, and travel around the Diocese.

For informal conversation, contact Rev Peter Froggatt, Director of Outreach - contact details in the attached documents or via the apply/redirect to recruiter button. 

The job description, person specification and application form can be downloaded from the Diocesan website: please see website address in the attached documents or via the apply/redirect to recruiter button.

Completed application forms should be returned by email - contact details in the attached documents or via the apply/redirect to recruiter button. 

Closing date: 13th September 2026

Interviews: 23rd September 2026

The Diocese of Chester is fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.

An Enhanced DBS Disclosure will be required for the successful candidate.

An Occupational Requirement exists for the postholder to be a practising Christian, in accordance with the Equality Act, 2010.

Applications from all under-represented groups are particularly welcomed.

The roles we are seeking volunteers for within the NSP are as follows

The National Safeguarding Panel (NSP) is seeking to appoint TWO representatives from a survivor's organisation that works with individuals affected by faith-based abuse to join its independent scrutiny and advisory body.

This is a unique opportunity to contribute to the safeguarding work of the Church of England by offering strategic insight, scrutiny, and challenge from the perspective of survivors. The NSP plays a vital role in shaping safeguarding policy and practice, ensuring that the voices of victims and survivors are heard and meaningfully integrated into decision-making.

Role Expectation
Time Commitment: Approx. 6-8 meetings per year, plus preparation
Term: 3 years, renewable for 2 years
Location: Meetings held in London and across dioceses (hybrid attendance available)

Remuneration and Expenses
A fee of £25 per hour will be paid for attendance at meetings, along with reimbursement for travel expenses. Members are expected to attend six meetings per year and undertake one hour of reading in preparation for each panel meeting. Additional reasonable expenses will be reimbursed in accordance with the Church of England's NCI expenses policy, subject to approval by the Chair.

Responsibilities

• Represent the experiences and perspectives of survivors of faith-based abuse.
• Participate in scrutiny sessions and fact-finding meetings, helping to shape recommendations to the Church's National Safeguarding Steering Group.
• Provide independent advice on safeguarding policy and practice.
• Engage with other panel members from diverse backgrounds, including survivors, safeguarding professionals, and faith representatives.
• Contribute to the development of a proactive and constructive safeguarding culture across the Church.

About You

Work directly with survivors of abuse within any faith-based context

• * Have experience in scrutiny, advocacy, or policy development.
• * Are committed to survivor-led approaches and trauma-informed practice.
• * Can nominate a representative with lived or professional experience relevant to the NSP's remit.

The nominated representative should be able to

• Attend up to six panel meetings per year (some in-person, some online).
• Contribute to written submissions and discussions.
• Collaborate respectfully with a multiagency, multidenominational panel.

Support and Induction
New members will receive a full induction programme, including meetings with key panel and safeguarding team members, and access to relevant resources.

How to apply
To apply, please submit your CV along with a personal statement of no more than 500 words outlining your relevant skills and experience, and explaining why you are interested in the role.

Job Title: Church Engagement and Events Officer 

Responsible to: Senior Fundraising Manager 

Salary: £29,706 – £31,908 

Location: USPG, 5 Trinity Street, London, SE1 1DB 
 

Hours of work: Full time – 35 hours per week (Minimum two days per week in the London office). Occasional weekend and evening work with time off in lieu. The post involves up to 20% travel within Britain and Ireland.Permanent contract. 

The package also includes 

• 8% employer contribution to a pension 

• 25 days annual leave, plus bank holidays and additional discretionary leave during the Christmas week 

• Season Ticket Loan 

USPG is the Anglican mission agency that partners with churches and communities worldwide in God’s mission to enliven faith, strengthen relationships, unlock potential and champion justice. You can find out more about our work by visiting our website.

The Job 

Reporting to the Senior Fundraising Manager, this role sits within the Communications, Engagement and Fundraising team. The Church Engagement and Events Officer will play a key role in building relationships with churches, supporters and volunteers across Britain, Ireland and Europe, helping them engage more deeply with USPG's vision and mission. 

You will lead the planning and delivery of USPG's events programme, including the USPG Conference, Founder's Day, In Conversation Dinners and the annual Carol Service, as well as supporting the organisation's presence at festivals, synods and other national events. Working closely with colleagues across the organisation, you will help create inspiring and engaging experiences that raise awareness of USPG's global mission. 

As the first point of contact for many church supporters, you will provide excellent stewardship, support and resources that inspire churches and communities to engage through prayer, giving and action. You will also contribute to the development of USPG's church engagement activity, helping to strengthen supporter relationships and increase engagement across the church year. 

About You  

You are a confident and proactive relationship builder with experience in planning events and working with churches, supporters, volunteers or Christian organisations. You are passionate about helping people engage with mission, justice and the global Church. 

An organised and effective communicator, you can manage multiple projects and events, build strong stakeholder relationships and work independently while contributing to a collaborative team. You are comfortable engaging with clergy, church leaders, volunteers and supporters, and are motivated by USPG's mission and Christian ethos. 

This is an exciting opportunity for someone looking to develop a career in church engagement, events and supporter relations within a respected international mission agency. If you have the skills, enthusiasm and commitment to help churches connect with God's mission around the world, we'd love to hear from you. 

How to apply 

Please download and complete the attached application form and email it to HR as indicated on the document.

If you would like to discuss the role, please feel free to contact Natasha Bourne, HR Manager. 

Closing Date: 31st August 2026 

Provisional Interview Date: 8th September 2026 

Main responsibilities include (but not limited to):

- Oversee the property portfolio of church buildings and manses

- Undertake transactions related to the properties as required

- Advise local church premises management teams on their responsibilities for the buildings in their care and Trust on major repair works required to church buildings

We are looking for someone who:

- Is educated to degree level and/or holds relevant professional qualifications

- Understands the legal requirements involved in property transactions

- Has experience of the charity sector

- Has empathy with the Church

- Has experience of managing a portfolio of properties

Join our Youth Ministry Team!

The Woodlands Church Family (WCF) is a vibrant, growing family of churches with eight sites located across the city of Bristol. Our vision is to transform Bristol through the love and power of God as we create spirit-filled, visible communities of faith in neighbourhoods across the city. 

Each congregation is distinct in their style, but we all share the same vision, mission and values to be communities which are welcoming of everyone, authentic in our faith, empowered by the Holy Spirit and expectant of all that God will do in us and through us.

Central to our plans to reach this city for Jesus are young people! In Bristol, there are 90,000 young people who don’t have regular contact with church or faith. We would love to see this change! 

At both our Woodlands Central and Highgrove Church congregations, we have an exciting opportunity for someone to join our team as a Youth Minister reporting to the Senior Youth Director and Congregational Leaders.

About the Roles

Candidates applying for a Youth Minister role should be highly motivated, enthusiastic, able to take initiative, work well in a team and be committed to see the church community grow in their faith and reach the city for Jesus.  

What you'll be working on:

1.Outreach to the City

2. Develop & Deliver Youth Programmes

3. Youth Discipleship & Development

4. Champion & Grow Youth Ministry

Benefits

•  Health and wellbeing programme

• Team events

• In-house training and support of personal and professional development 

• Cycle to Work Scheme

• Holiday Buy Back Scheme (up to one week's additional leave per year, pro rata) 

Relocation
If relocating to Bristol Woodlands Church Family will reimburse reasonable relocation expenses.

Terms

• Permanent full and part-time contract positions for on the basis of 5 days (37h 30m) or 2.5 days (18h 45m) per week.

• Hours on a Friday evening and Sunday morning will be required.

• The salary band is £26,300 - £27,000 pro rata, depending on experience.

• The annual holiday entitlement is 25 days pro rata plus 8 days bank holiday pro rata.

• The roles are based at Woodlands Central in Clifton and Highgrove Church in Sea Mills, Bristol.

The detailed terms and conditions will be contained in the post-holder’s Contract of Employment and the staff handbook. 

There will be a three-month probationary period with a review point after six weeks. An appraisal will take place to confirm completion of the probationary period and appraisals will take place annually thereafter.

The post is subject to satisfactory references. 

Right to Work in the UK 
We have a legal responsibility to ensure that all our employees have the legal right to live and work in the UK. Therefore, please only apply if you are eligible to work in the UK as we will have to verify this before you can start work.

Reporting and Line management
Accountable to local Congregational Leaders and Senior Youth Director as line manager.  

Occupational Requirement
The role has an occupational requirement that the post holder be a follower of Jesus and to be a worshipping member of the Woodlands Church Family, Woodlands Central/Highgrove Church (if not already) to ensureprotection of our strong Christian ethos and values, and our charitable objective of advancing the Christian faith. We also want to ensure all team members thrive and flourish in this environment.

The closing date for applications is midnight on Sunday 6th September 2026.

If shortlisted, the first interviews will take place online on Tuesday 15th September 2026.

If you are taken through to the second stage in the interview process, in-person interviews will take place on Friday 18th September and Sunday 20th September 2026 (we hope successful candidates will attend on both dates). We will consider other interview dates for candidates not able to make either of those.

Are you passionate about seeing young people come to know Jesus and grow in relationship with him? We’re looking for a Youth Pastor to support the work we’re doing and innovate in new spaces, including taking a lead on outreach and pioneering the youth ministry at a new HT congregation in northeast Cambridge

This role has been created as part of a restructure of our youth team and will sit under the current youth pastor. Under their leadership, the postholder will take point on developing a youth ministry at a new HT congregation in northeast Cambridge, which is due to be launched in 2027. They will also assist the current Youth Pastor in facilitating our growing ministry at our city centre site.

HT has a brilliant bunch of young people, many of whom are eager to get stuck into learning, growing, and following Jesus! There are currently about 100 youth connected to HT, of whom about 60 make up a committed core. The youth are a real mix from a range of schools and areas around Cambridge and beyond.

The main event of the week is on Sunday evenings during the 5.30pm service, when the youth are usually split into younger and older youth for a combination of games, worship, a talk, small group time, and prayer. Alongside Sunday evenings, there are lots of socials, weekends away, an annual trip to DTI festival, spaces to go deeper in faith, 1–1 meetups, and more.There are so many opportunities with youth throughout the year and plenty of space to add, innovate, and change things around. 

UCB is looking for a creative and enthusiastic Spots Producer & Presenter to help shape the sound of UCB 1 and UCB 2. This varied role combines creative audio production with on-air presentation, producing engaging promotional spots, station imaging and other audio content, while presenting radio programmes that connect with listeners and reflect UCB's Christian mission and values.

Working closely with colleagues across the Broadcasting and Communications teams, you will develop creative ideas, write compelling copy, and produce high-quality audio to support programming, appeals and campaigns. You will also prepare and present an agreed number of tracked and/or live programmes for UCB 1, ensuring all output is engaging, technically excellent, and compliant with the Ofcom Broadcasting Code.

The successful candidate will be a creative and confident communicator with a passion for Christian radio, a good ear for audio production, and a strong knowledge of contemporary Christian music. You will be organised, adaptable, and eager to develop new skills while contributing to the ongoing sound and success of UCB 1 and UCB 2. Above all, you will be committed to UCB's vision of Changing Lives for Good by the Power of God's Word, with an active Christian faith and involvement in a local Bible-believing church.

If you believe this role is for you, please read the detailed Job Description on the UCB website, carefully complete the Application Form and submit it, together with a brief recording that illustrates how you would sound on radio, to our HR team - contact details can be found in the advert on our website.

This position is currently based at our Broadcast Centre, Hanchurch Lane, Hanchurch, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 8RY. On completion of our new Broadcast Centre (Autumn 2026), the position will be relocated to Westport Road, Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, ST6 4FJ.

Closing date for applications: Friday 21st August 2026 - noon

Zoom pre-interview: Thursday 3rd September 2026

Onsite interviews: Thursday 10th September 2026

Salary: £28,000 - £31,500 per annum depending on skill and experience. Plus, staff benefits that include life assurance of 4x salary, healthcare cash plan, and matched pension contributions up to 6%

For an application form and job description please visit our website

Don’t forget to visit our privacy page  

UCB is a Christian Charity.  Schedule 9 Part 1 (3a) and (3b) of the Equality Act 2010 apply to this vacancy

We are hiring a Global Marketing Manager to take incredibly powerful, true stories from the Persecuted Church and turn them into world-class campaigns and marketing assets that fundraising offices around the world can use to grow.

Join a global ministry and use your marketing expertise to amplify the voices of persecuted Christians and bring the stories of the Persecuted Church to life for audiences around the world. You will shape campaigns that inspire prayer, advocacy and support, influence a worldwide network across cultures, and lead marketing at a global level.

WHAT THE GLOBAL MARKETING MANAGER ROLE INVOLVES

• Leading the development and delivery of core fundraising and marketing resources – social media, web, email, film, magazine, direct mail appeals, major donor proposals, and church and volunteer resources – providing creative direction, project management and quality assurance throughout.

• Overseeing the creative concept development process for global fundraising and marketing campaigns, providing strategic input and creative direction.

• Line managing a team of two Marketing Project Managers, and building relationships with marketing and communications leads across our 25 global offices.

• Managing corporate brand guidelines and giving guidance to our fundraising offices and international specialists on brand execution.

• Managing the marketing budget, monitoring expenditure and ensuring cost-effective delivery of marketing activities.

• Planning and managing the end-to-end delivery of marketing projects, including schedules, creative briefs and stakeholder engagement, and evaluating performance through usage and campaign response data

• Staying at the forefront of strategic brand and marketing thinking, and bringing best practice in from the wider charity sector.

• Supporting new markets development, with a particular focus on effective digital communications, plus ad-hoc support for major donor relationships.

WHAT YOU WILL BRING

• Significant experience in integrated marketing communications environment; a charity background is highly desirable.
• A track record of delivering complex projects and programmes with significant outcomes, ideally in church or supporter engagement.
• Experience applying brand strategy, positioning and execution to grow engagement , and of working with agencies and freelance specialists. 
• Good working knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite (particularly InDesign , Photoshop and Premier Pro), with the ability to review and edit creative assets for quality and accuracy.
• Strong organisational skills, able to run multiple projects at once without losing quality or pace.
• A collaborative, cross -cultural communicator, equally comfortable leading a team and building relationships across a global network.
• You have excellent written and verbal English communication skills and can engage effectively with diverse audiences.
• A genuine, active Christian faith and a real passion for the persecuted church — this is not incidental to the role, it is central to it.

OUR OFFER

• Working at Open Doors means that you are actively involved in serving the worldwide Persecuted Church. We offer you a permanent, full -time position within a supportive, professional team. You will report to the Global Head of Marketing & Campaigns and line -manage two Marketing Project Managers. 
• The role is remote friendly and open to candidates worldwide. As you will work with colleagues across continents, being in a Central European time zone helps bridge Asia and the Americas, but it is not essential.
• Salary will depend on experience and location .

Head of Research and Policy
£45,000–£50,000
London (office-based with UK travel)
Full-time, Permanent

Our client is a UK-registered charity dedicated to tackling anti-Muslim hate and supporting those affected by it. Through victim support, research, community engagement and policy influence, the work to challenge Islamophobia and create lasting change.

As the Trust expands its national reach, they are strengthening the senior leadership team to increase its impact, deepen the evidence base and ensure the voices and experiences of Muslim communities are reflected in public policy and practice.

Prospectus is pleased to be working with our client to recruit a Head of Research & Policy to join the team based in

The Role
The Head of Research and Policy will lead the trust's research, evidence and advocacy work.

Reporting to the CEO, you will develop and deliver the trust's research agenda, including flagship reports on the scale and impact of anti-Muslim hate. You will turn evidence into influential policy positions, lead engagement with government, parliament, statutory agencies and the media, and ensure that the lived experiences of those the Trust support informs policy and practice.

Working closely with the CEO and COO, you will strengthen the trust's reputation as a trusted voice on anti-Muslim hate, producing high-quality research, policy briefings and consultation responses while supporting organisational growth and impact. As a member of the senior leadership team, you will also contribute to strategic planning, managing budgets and overseeing the development of the research and policy function.

This person will work closely with a Research and Campaigns Officer to deliver on overall objectives.

The Person
The successful candidate will bring significant experience in research, policy, public affairs and advocacy, ideally within the charity, equality, human rights or community sectors. You will have a strong understanding of the issues facing Muslim communities in the UK and a proven ability to use evidence to influence policy and decision-makers.

An outstanding communicator and analytical thinker, you will be confident interpreting complex data, engaging senior stakeholders and producing compelling written outputs for a wide range of audiences. A confident public speaker, you will be comfortable presenting to government officials, parliamentarians and the media whilst also able to mobilise others to advocate and campaign. You will possess sound judgement, integrity and sensitivity when dealing with confidential information, delicate issues and vulnerable individuals. Most importantly, you will share the trust's commitment to compassion, integrity, inclusion, courage and collaboration, and will be passionate about advancing equality and tackling anti-Muslim hate.

The organisation & Prospectus are both committed to creating a diverse, inclusive and equitable workplace. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds and particularly encourage applications from individuals with lived experience of the issues affecting the communities the trust serves. Recruitment decisions are made solely on merit, and reasonable adjustments will be provided throughout the recruitment process where needed.

 

Durham Diocese is looking to recruit an individual who is passionate about enabling fruitful churches in our region.

The Growing Mission team helps churches think, plan, dream and prepare for the future.  We come alongside churches and deaneries to prepare the ground for what could come next, particularly in seasons of change.  We are looking for a new team member with an analytic skillset and missional vision as part of our nationally funded transformation programme.  Full and part time working will be considered.

Are you able to bring the best out of people, and come alongside them through change?  Can you summarise and articulate data and facilitate challenging? Do you want to see fruitful, missional churches reaching out to their communities?  Whether your background is working in the church, charity or another sector, we are interested to hear from you as we recruit a Growing Mission Enabler.

Durham Diocese is looking to recruit a Church Planting Enabler passionate about seeing the church multiply across our region, reaching out to the 99% of people who are not yet in church.

The Growing Churches team work with churches across our Diocese to help raise disciples, develop missional confidence, and multiply ministry through establishing new worshipping communities and engaging in church revitalisation.

We are looking for an experienced missional leader who, with creativity and passion, is able to inspire and coach churches to identify opportunities, develop leaders, and plan strategically for new expressions of church.