“Areas of Ecumenical Experiment” were set up in the late 1960s.  The name “Local Ecumenical Project” (or L.E.P.) began to be used in the 1970s and towards the end of that decade the term “Local Covenant” was introduced to describe a particular form of local commitment which might also include Roman Catholics as full partners.

Since the mid 1990s we have referred to “Local Ecumenical Partnerships,” this change of name affirming the fact that L.E.P.s are now an accepted and valued part of this country’s ecumenical life.

A Local Ecumenical Partnership is defined as existing where there is

· a formal written agreement by the local churches/chaplains/participants (depending on the category of  the Partnership) affecting the ministry, congregational life, buildings and/or mission projects of more than one denomination

· formal written authorisation by the appropriate denominational bodies in line with their provisions and  procedures

· formal recognition, ongoing liaison, support and review by the appropriate Sponsoring Body, in our case Churches Together in Derbyshire.

L.E.P. stands for Local Ecumenical Partnership