We are a group of churches working together to give every person in Norfolk a welcoming, Christ-honouring, Bible-teaching church in their community
How? By focusing on three core ministry areas:
We’re not simply a fellowship of people who enjoy each other’s company, but a Partnership of churches who believe it is better, and more effective, to work together for the sake of the gospel
We’re about joining together churches who are absolutely clear that the Bible is the unique and supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct
We want to bring together churches of different denominations, whose leaders and members can get to know each other and, wherever helpful, work together
Convinced that Christ will build his church, we are passionate about working in partnership to grow local churches through Bible-centred ministry, Uniting in prayer, Courageous evangelism, and Authentic gospel unity
Under God we aim:
The basis of the Partnership is that the fundamental truths of Christianity, as revealed in Holy Scripture, should govern the teaching and practice of the church.
NGP unites around our Basis of Faith. This is a statement of key points of the Christian faith that all Steering Committee members and all Partners sign annually.
All NGP Partners affirm the following:
1 The existence of one, eternal immutable God, Creator and Lord of the universe, who in the unity of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit, both governs all things according to his will and is accomplishing his purposes in the world and in the Church
2 The Bible, as originally given, is the inspired, inerrant and infallible word of God. Christians must therefore submit to its supreme authority and sufficiency, both individually and corporately, in every matter of belief and conduct
3 The inherent value of all human beings, made by God in his own likeness, and their sinfulness and guilt since the Fall. This has rendered them subject to God’s wrath and condemnation, and has resulted in their alienation from his life, suppression of his truth, and hostility to his law
4 The Lord Jesus Christ , God’s incarnate Son, is fully God; he was born of a virgin; his humanity is real and sinless; he died on the cross, was raised bodily from death and is now reigning over heaven and earth
5 Salvation from guilt, penalty and all other consequences of sin solely through the work of Jesus Christ — his perfect obedience, penal substitutionary death, bodily resurrection and exaltation as Lord. He alone is truly God and truly man, the only mediator between God and man. There is salvation through no other person, creed, process or power. The entirety of a sinner’s justification, from beginning to end, is only by his grace alone appropriated through faith alone
6 Before the foundation of the world God in his mercy chose a people for himself out of the human race. He did not choose them on the basis of their foreseen faith or works, but solely on the basis of his perfect desire to glorify himself in his Son by their redemption
7 The necessity and sufficiency of the work of the Holy Spirit for the individual’s new birth and growth to maturity, and for the Church’s constant renewal in truth, wisdom, faith, holiness, love, power and mission
8 The only holy universal church is the Body of Christ, to which all true believers belong. The Church’s calling is to worship and serve God in the world, to proclaim and defend his truth, to exhibit his character and to demonstrate the reality of his new order
9 The personal and visible return in glory of the Lord Jesus Christ to raise the dead and bring salvation and judgement to final completion. God will fully establish his kingdom when he creates a new heaven and a new earth from which evil and evildoers, suffering and death will be excluded, and in which he will be glorified for ever
Two other documents help to guide our activities, the UK Gospel Partnerships Doctrinal Basis and the UK Gospel Partnerships Working Basis. Both these documents have been approved by the Steering Committee, and so indicate the position of the NGP on a number of issues not covered by the Basis of Faith and set out the way in which the NGP will conduct our ministry. They also provide a form of unity with the other UK Gospel Partnerships.