Mission Partnership unites 4 Norfolk churches 

Four United Reformed Churches in the Norwich area have formed the first ‘Mission Partnership’ in the Eastern Region, to work together to focus on mission.

The Eastern Synod of the United Reformed Church has, for several years, faced a challenging situation of how to resource a range of congregations with ordained ministry within an overall context of a reducing number of ministers and membership. This reality initiated a period of exploration and reflection which has resulted in the creation of Mission Partnerships. These partnerships are aimed at sharing ministry resources equitably and seek to help congregations work well together with a renewed emphasis on mission.
 
Over the next four years the Synod is seeking to establish 19 Mission Partnerships across the Synod. The Synod covers all of Norfolk, Suffolk and most of Essex, Cambridgeshire and parts of Hertfordshire. The first such Mission Partnership was established in July 2024 and this linked together four congregations: namely Wymondham (Fairlands), Wroxham & Hoveton, St Peters LEP and Ipswich Road, Norwich.
 
These four congregations are now able to begin the process of calling a new minister and will also be seeking to build a mission team which will hopefully include the future resourcing of a children’s and family staff worker. 
 
Rev Alex Jacob, Synod Transitional Minister (Mission Partnerships), said, “There are several Biblical principles which help shape these emerging Mission Partnerships, namely an emphasis on mission and discipleship, teamwork and sharing and releasing resources together. Please do pray for these four congregations and for these plans.”
 
As Mission Partnerships emerge across the Synod each partnership will have its own distinctive characteristics (often shaped by geography, local tradition, theology and culture) and each will face specific challenges and opportunities. No ‘one-size fits all’ approach will be in place, but there will be core principles and agreements which will help these partnerships flourish.
 
“As with any strategic, financial, administrative and structure changes there are tough key decisions and initiatives we need to make as individuals, congregations and denomination networks but above all we seek the LORD and ask for His renewal of the ministry and mission of the Church, both in this generation and for the future” Rev Jacobs explained.
 
If anyone would like to know more about the process and principles of Mission Partnerships, they can contact Rev Jacob at stm@urceastern.org . Also, in reflecting on new structures and mission he has written a brief book on discipleship. This book is titled Discipleship, Biblical, Contemporary and Personal Reflections on Christian Discipleship. This book has been used in a number of study groups in congregations across the Synod and copies are available via the URC online bookshop urcshop.co.uk .
 
The photo above is of the United Reformed Church on Ipswich Road in Norwich, and is courtesy of that church’s facebook page.