Local Ecumenical Partnerships (LEPs)
Local Ecumenical Partnerships (LEPs) are created when Christian denominations work together under a formal agreement and in Norfolk and Waveney there are over a dozen. One kind of agreement is easy to identify – when denominations come into partnership by setting up a single congregation. Others can be when they share a church building, or when they co-operate in chaplaincy.
In the case of a single congregation LEP, standard documents should be used to draw up the Constitution. They can be found here. These have been agreed by the Charity Commission, which makes it relatively easy to register the LEP as a charity.
Pastoral responsibility for LEPs always remains with the churches; that is, with the relevant authorities of the denominations which form the partnership. Churches Together in Norfolk and Waveney (NWCT), as an intermediate body of Churches Together in England, is the sponsoring body for all LEPs in Norfolk and Waveney. Alongside Denominational Ecumenical Officers, NWCT is responsible for reviewing LEPs as required.
For more information and to access useful resources for either setting up or running an effective LEP please follow this link.
In Norfolk and Waveney we have over a dozen LEPs, they are situated in all parts of the county and come in all shapes and sizes.
Local Churches/ Christians Together Groups
Over 30 local Churches Together groups meet across Norfolk and Waveney. We celebrate, support, and encourage these groups as part of their ecumenical journey.
Each group is autonomous, and has its own history, shaped by the place and people who form it. Some are called "Churches Together," others "Christians Together," and still others go by unique names to their area; for example “Connect Norwich”.
Common activities include services and discussion groups, conferences and events, and a wide variety of ways in which service is offered to the local community (e.g., food banks, street pastors, youth work, lunch clubs, festivals, night shelters, chaplaincy, etc).
Your local community can inspire others, so please share your good news stories with our County Ecumenical Officer
Starting a Local Churches Together Group
Maybe you want to start, or restart, a group in your community. The key is to start small – you do not need an elaborate structure with lots of bureaucracy! What you need are relationships. At the end of the day ecumenism is all about people and relationships not endless paperwork or elaborate and complex structures.
You can start by simply inviting people from another church for tea and conversation. Pray together and share your hopes and wishes for the community you wish to serve.
You can learn more about starting a group through this excellent resource provided by Churches Together in England, which provides
Tips and Advice for How to Get Started Locally.
You may also want to check out their
Flexible Framework for Local Unity in Mission, which will help you to determine the level of structure that you need for your endeavour:
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Working agreement (the “back of an envelope” plans)
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Partnership agreement (for more extensive sharing of resources)
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Constitutional agreement (for the most formal or legal structure)
While the LEPs all use constitutions, emerging partnerships will mostly find it beneficial to have a "Working Agreement" or "Partnership Agreement." The goal is to have the least-burdensome structure for achieving the goals of the partnership.
If you would like help working through A Flexible Framework, please contact the County Ecumenical Officer or one of your Denominational Ecumenical Officers.
Here are just some examples of local groups/ LEPs from across Norfolk and Waveney, click the logos to find out more.
