Gerald Coates
Encyclopedia
Gerald Coates is the founder of Pioneer, a Christian
community established to "develop new churches across the UK and engage in mission globally." The Pioneer network is a neocharismatic group of evangelical
churches. It is part of the British New Church Movement and can also be described as Restorationist. Coates himself was responsible for coining the term "new church" to replace the more confusing former name "House Church Movement," of which he was also a founding member. Along with Roger T Forster of Ichthus Christian Fellowship
and Lynn Green of Youth with a Mission
, he was one of the founders of March for Jesus
. He and his wife Anona have been married since 1966 and have three sons and two grand daughters. Gerald and Anona live in Bookham, Surrey.
(the British government's Office of Communication) and CRAC (the Central Religious Advisory Council). He has also been executive editor for Library of Lives, the Pioneer Journal.
Gerald has now handed over the leadership of the Pioneer movement to Billy and Caroline Kennedy of New Community, Southampton.
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
community established to "develop new churches across the UK and engage in mission globally." The Pioneer network is a neocharismatic group of evangelical
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
churches. It is part of the British New Church Movement and can also be described as Restorationist. Coates himself was responsible for coining the term "new church" to replace the more confusing former name "House Church Movement," of which he was also a founding member. Along with Roger T Forster of Ichthus Christian Fellowship
Ichthus Christian Fellowship
Ichthus Christian Fellowship is a neocharismatic Christian church movement and Apostolic network based in London, United Kingdom. It is part of the British New Church Movement and has links with other BNCM leaders and movements, especially Gerald Coates of Pioneer Network.-History:Ichthus...
and Lynn Green of Youth with a Mission
Youth With A Mission
Youth With A Mission is an international, inter-denominational, non-profit Christian missionary organization...
, he was one of the founders of March for Jesus
March for Jesus
March for Jesus is an annual interdenominational event in which Christians march through towns and cities.March for Jesus began as City March in London in 1987. It emerged out of the friendship of three church groups: Pioneer, led by Gerald Coates; Ichthus led by Roger Forster; and Youth with a...
. He and his wife Anona have been married since 1966 and have three sons and two grand daughters. Gerald and Anona live in Bookham, Surrey.
Current work
Coates is an author and a broadcaster, in both secular and religious media. He leads a church in Leatherhead called Engage which was planted in the former Thorndike Theatre but now meets in Park House - a Mole Valley District Council building. He founded and ran a series of training courses called Insight, which is, in charismatic idiom, a "school of prophecy." He is the chair of the charismatic evangelical Round Table. He is involved with Pioneer's National Churches Forum, OFCOMOfcom
Ofcom is the government-approved regulatory authority for the broadcasting and telecommunications industries in the United Kingdom. Ofcom was initially established by the Office of Communications Act 2002. It received its full authority from the Communications Act 2003...
(the British government's Office of Communication) and CRAC (the Central Religious Advisory Council). He has also been executive editor for Library of Lives, the Pioneer Journal.
Gerald has now handed over the leadership of the Pioneer movement to Billy and Caroline Kennedy of New Community, Southampton.