Trinity Church (formerly Peniel Pentecostal Church ) is a church in Pilgrims Hatch in England. The church was founded by Michael Reid , who served as pastor of the church until stepping down in 2008, following various controversies .
20-664: Peniel Church described itself as an independent Pentecostal Christian church. Over the years, it aligned itself with and subsequently distanced itself from a number of Christian organisations, including the Assemblies of God and the International Communion of Charismatic Churches (ICCC). For a time the church was a member of the Evangelical Alliance (EA), but disputes between the EA and the leadership of
40-575: A bishop by the International Communion of Charismatic Churches in Benin City , Nigeria in 1995. The Rev Peter Linnecar, Reid's senior pastor, and long-time business partner for more than 25 years, took over Mr Reid's responsibilities at the church during 2008. A group of eight lay-people act as the leadership team, while a further group of trustees has legal responsibility for the church's charitable status. Controversy has surrounded Reid for many years and both he and Peniel Pentecostal Church have been
60-723: A member of the World Evangelical Alliance . Founded in 1846, the Evangelical Alliance aims to promote evangelical Christian beliefs and advocate for evangelical Christians in politics and society. The Evangelical Alliance is based in London , with offices in Cardiff , Glasgow , Belfast and Stockport . The Evangelical Alliance was founded in 1846 by Ridley Haim Herschell , Edward Steane , John Henderson and Sir Culling Eardley . Eardley became
80-505: A person renounces same-sex sexual relations." The Evangelical Alliance warned the Liz Truss government against a conversion therapy ban, warning that such a ban could end up criminalising church leaders and restrict religious freedom. The Evangelical Alliance calls "for world-leading support, services and legislation that seeks to protect the lives and health of both women and unborn children" through its Both Lives initiative, which
100-467: A relationship of "many years" with Reid, which involved a "possible abuse of his position. Following these events, CCTV disbanded in August 2008, and Global Gospel Fellowship (GGF) appears to have likewise folded. Reid was arrested on 27 August 2009 on suspicion of historical rape. Further to the exposure of the affair, stories of emotional bullying and manipulation by Reid began to emerge from many members of
120-424: Is a membership organisation whose members subscribe to its Basis of Faith and are expected to relate to one another in accordance with its Relational Commitments. As of March 2024 , its website listed over 650 organisations, over 2,300 churches, and two corporations as members. It also has an unspecified number of individual members. Member organisations include Tearfund , an organisation originally established by
140-401: Is now thriving under the new leadership. The church and school were shut down shortly after, and the church building demolished. 51°38′23″N 0°16′15″E / 51.6397°N 0.2708°E / 51.6397; 0.2708 Evangelical Alliance The Evangelical Alliance ( EA ) is a UK organisation of evangelical individuals, organisations, and churches, which is itself
160-860: The Alliance supported the 'Thy Kingdom Come' initiative – an event organised by the Archbishops of York and Canterbury to bring more people to Christianity through a sustained period of prayer from the dates of the Feast of the Ascension to Pentecost annually. In a 2024 report on the results of surveys it conducted in Northern Ireland, the Evangelical Alliance uncritically used the term "Catholic Evangelicals" to describe practising Roman Catholics who are committed to "evangelisation" and "renewal" but whose theological views do not necessarily align with
180-610: The Alliance's basis of faith. According to a 2016 Private Eye report, the Evangelical Alliance is openly opposed to homosexuality and same-sex relationships , preaching sexual abstinence for those with same-sex attractions, with membership for openly lesbian and gay people open only to those who " come to see the need to be transformed " from their same-sex attraction. The Evangelical Alliance's website distinguishes between same-sex attraction and same-sex sexual relations, calling on people who want to live within God's purposes to renounce
200-615: The Christian Voluntary Sector in Wales); and former Conservative MP for Congleton Fiona Bruce , a member of the Alliance. The Evangelical Alliance has historically supported ecumenism – the principle of unity between different church doctrines – with the Roman Catholic Church , an approach criticised by some as in direct contradiction to the beliefs of the Evangelical Alliance's founders. In 2019,
220-570: The Evangelical Alliance as the Evangelical Alliance Relief Fund, and CARE ( Christian Action, Research and Education ). A number of UK Members of Parliament are associated with the Evangelical Alliance, including Labour MP Stephen Timms , a member of the Alliance's Council; Conservative MP and former Conservative Party leadership candidate Stephen Crabb , associated with the Alliance through Gweini (the Council of
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#1732780327918240-635: The church is a cult , and relate experiences of poor treatment prior to and on their departure from the organisation. In 2004, all the other churches in the Brentwood and District Evangelical Fellowship (BADEF) resigned in protest against Peniel, leaving it as the only member. In February 2008 the Advertising Standards Authority upheld a complaint that a mobile advertisement for Christian Congress of Traditional Values (CCTV), an organisation with ties to Peniel Pentecostal Church,
260-462: The church resulted in the church leaving the EA. Under the new leadership, it has now been welcomed back into the EA. Due to the patriarchal values of the church, women in the Peniel Church were obliged to dress in clothes that were seen as 'feminine', such as dresses and skirts. The church's founder, Michael Reid, was a former Metropolitan police officer and insurance salesman, and was made
280-412: The congregation. The church appeared to have weathered the storm caused by Reid's extra-marital affairs, but trouble flared up again in 2009 when head pastor Peter Linnecar's appointment of assistant pastors caused controversy and disagreement amongst a large section of the congregation. Approximately 300 people left the church as a result. The church, now called Trinity Church, subsequently stated that it
300-454: The latter. It states, "We encourage evangelical congregations to welcome and accept sexually active lesbians and gay men. However, they should do so in the expectation that they, like all of us who are living outside God's purposes, will come in due course to see the need to be transformed and live in accordance with biblical revelation and orthodox church teaching. We urge gentleness, patience and ongoing pastoral care during this process and after
320-563: The organisation's first chairperson, leading the Alliance in its various campaigns for religious freedom; in 1852, Eardley campaigned on behalf of the Tuscan prisoners of conscience Francesco Madiai and Rosa Madiai, who had been imprisoned for their Protestant faith. As of 2020 , the leadership of the Evangelical Alliance consisted of Past leaders of the Evangelical Alliance include Clive Calver (1983–1997), Joel Edwards (1997–2009) and Steve Clifford (2009–2019). The Evangelical Alliance
340-485: The subject of many critical media articles. In 2001, the church received national publicity when Martin Bell stood for Parliament for Brentwood and Ongar constituency following allegations that the church were attempting to infiltrate the local Conservative Party . The allegations were investigated by Conservative Central Office who reported that they saw no evidence of entryism . Some former church members have claimed
360-462: Was "likely to cause serious or widespread offence or condone anti-social behaviour". The advertisement bore the slogan "Gay aim: abolish the family", implying that gay people were against the institution of the family and family values. Peniel Church had more lately been publicised as 'Michael Reid Ministries', although the church retained the Peniel name for its college, school and choir. The college
380-406: Was closed in 2009. The church was temporarily thrown into crisis when it came to light that Reid had been having an affair with a member of the choir. On 5 April 2008, Michael Reid tendered his resignation from the church board and stepped down from pastoral duties. At an industrial tribunal where Reid was claiming unfair dismissal it emerged that there was a second woman who also claimed to have had
400-483: Was formerly known as Both Lives Matter . In a 2019 UK government consultation on proposed abortion legislation in Northern Ireland, the Evangelical Alliance responded 'Yes' to the question, "Do you agree that provision should be made for abortion without gestational time limit where: Termination is necessary to prevent grave permanent injury to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman or girl?". Evangelical Too Many Requests If you report this error to
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