Planting Churches. Reaching Nations.
New Ground Churches Together
We are a growing family of churches on mission together.
There is a combination and interplay between spiritual oversight – apostolic ministry that is invited in – and the various charitable and legal frameworks in which our churches are based and operate. A tension therefore exists between the ‘spiritual/family’ and the ‘legal/formal’ aspects of how we work together.
This document seeks to address aspects of both – to provide a backdrop to our relationships, and outline understandings and expectations so there is clarity before, during and after a church joins the New Ground family.
We value relationships very highly and a church becoming part of the New Ground family occurs through a combination or new and established relationships with church leaders and the New Ground Core Team.
Purpose of New Ground
We believe that God has called New Ground to four key areas: raising leaders, impacting communities, planting churches and reaching nations. These are expanded below.
As well as these four areas, we have two foundations that we are continually building on. These are that we hold prayer as a highest priority, the second is that, along with the Newfrontiers family, we are a Word and Spirit people. By this we mean that within our churches; the Bible (the Word of God) holds a primary role and final authority, and that we are to be filled with and led by the Holy Spirit, exercising spiritual gifts in all areas of life.
Raising Leaders
As New Ground, we hold a high value on equipping and raising up leaders. We believe that in order to follow the call of Jesus to “make disciples of all nations”, we need to invest well in people who will lead, plant and shape churches. We believe that in doing so, we will see individuals, teams and churches reaching deeper into the communities where they are, and also into cities and nations where we have not yet arrived. Raising leaders is the ‘how’ to our vision to see communities, towns, cities and nations transformed with the love and power of Jesus through His church.
Impacting Communities
New Ground churches are those that actively pray for and serve the community to see transformation that brings about Kingdom advance. We have a great desire to plant new churches and shape existing churches to make a difference to the communities in which God has called them to live. We want to see communities positively impacted through signs and wonders, social action, and thoughtful cultural engagement by local Christians. We believe that everyone in a community should be blessed by the fact that our churches are there.
Planting Churches
We have a vision to see local churches at work on a global mission; achieved by seeing churches planted in towns and cities around the world. We believe that the gospel is supposed to reach those who are not yet followers of Christ and bring them to life in Him and into a joyful community - the Church. We are committed to equipping leaders and churches to see the Kingdom of God grow and spread. We take seriously the command in Mark 16 to ‘go into all the world and preach the gospel’. As Spirit-filled believers we have a high call to take the message of Jesus to our neighbours, local communities, nation and to the ends of the earth.
Reaching Nations
When Jesus told the small group of Christian believers, before the Day of Pentecost, that He was sending them to preach the gospel to the world, the goal sounded laughably oversized. But, through the power of the Spirit, they did exactly as He commanded. We believe that we are heirs to this commission to see every nation, tribe and tongue obedient to the Lord Jesus Christ, and that He has promised us all we need to achieve His goal. Our desire in reaching nations is not that we plant churches that look like those already established, but rather to love the nations, with their unique cultures and history and to plant churches that will authentically engage with the people living there. We want to make every effort to adapt to a local culture in order to build bridges, but this will never be to the extent of changing the message of the gospel. We love belonging to a wider family of church planters, with much wisdom and experience in seeing Kingdom advance across the world.
Values
Naturally these values will be expressed in different practices according to a church’s situation and cultural context.
Mission
Our churches need to be driven by the desire to grow through reaching unchurched people. Churches must be outward looking, finding ways to reach out to their local communities and having various means of demonstrating the gospel. Ministering to the poor, feeding people, counselling people, etc. – whatever it takes to reach people with the gospel.
Grace
The threat of legalism never leaves the church and we must ensure that not only do we have a doctrine of grace but that it is outworked in everything that we do. No attempts at law-based righteousness, no competitiveness or judgemental spirit. Barnabas went to Antioch to see if the church there was the real deal, and part of his testimony was this: I saw the evidence of the grace of God amongst them (Acts 11:22).
We love the Word of God and love the Holy Spirit
We can’t have one without the other: our expression of the Spirit is based on what God’s Word says, and the Word show us our need to be filled with the Spirit and go on being filled with the Spirit. Our expectation is that all our churches would regularly be seeking and experiencing the gifts of the Holy Spirit, not just giving theological assent to the idea of this but encouraging this in practice on a regular basis.
Having a heart for the nations
Jesus directed the apostles in Acts 1:8 to have a global vision and this needs to be in the DNA of all New Ground churches: it can’t be that we have some churches who are very motivated about going to the nations and others who don’t care about it. One of the great joys and benefits of being in a family of churches is that you’re constantly being provoked by what God’s doing throughout the earth. Local elders need to really think and pray about this and catch it – and then their people will catch it from them. The nations are not too far away from any church, and a bigger vision is not an interruption to what is happening locally.
Independence of local church led by elders/trustees
New Ground is not a denomination but is a family of churches who choose to be in ongoing relationship with one another. No aspect of becoming a New Ground church takes away the legal responsibilities and authority from the local elders and trustees for their local church. In joining, a church is becoming a family member, which is stronger than affiliation to an organisation, in that it is relational and so two-way, but this in no way compromises or affects the independence of the local church or the legal responsibilities they may have under the laws in their nation.
Apostolic involvement is by invitation from local church
New Ground is an apostolic sphere within the wider apostolic family of Newfrontiers. Becoming part of New Ground inevitably requires acceptance that apostolic ministry is biblical and necessary for the growth and development of local churches. Apostolic ministry is a two-way relationship that begins with the local church. Even the process of joining New Ground does not open a door to apostolic ministry unless it is invited by the local elders/leaders. There is an expectation of openness to apostolic ministry by the very nature of wishing to be part of the New Ground family; however, it’s important that local leaders appreciate this involvement is their choice.
The New Ground sphere is led by an apostle with a Core Team of church leaders. Depending on existing or developing relationships, any of these plus other New Ground church leaders may serve as apostolic delegates to provide assistance, encouragement and input upon invitation from the local church elders under the direction of the New Ground Core Team.
Working in relationship together
In the same way that Paul in 1 Corinthians 14 has an expectation that believers have a unique contribution to make within the local church, so every New Ground church impacts who we are by their involvement. A line from a prophetic contribution in the early days of Newfrontiers that became a foundation phrase at the time and since is, ‘we are more together than we are apart’. This is not just about numbers but the ability to be more, create more and achieve more than could ever be possible as one local church.
This is reflected in many ways, such as gathering together for prayer, specialised conferences or convocation-style events. The difference can be seen in both input and outcome: being able to create large events by working together, and then seeing the impact on individuals and churches from the one-to-one and platform ministry.
Finance
Finance is another important aspect of working together. In sharing resources we are able to generate greater impact and support that would not be possible at a local level.
Churches are encouraged to contribute towards the activities and ongoing work of New Ground, both on a regular basis and in support of our annual offering. For many years the income has been directed to the UK with support emanating from there to different countries where activities and resource is needed. More recently we have started developing towards nation or non-UK area specific giving to provide greater apostolic freedom and avoid cost.
Use of name/logo
We recognise and value the importance of good communication and so encourage churches that are part of the New Ground family to acknowledge their involvement by use of the name and logo. Equally important is that both are presented correctly so that clarity is maintained. To achieve this we have prepared a media pack that is available to all New Ground churches that provides files and instructions to assist media and communications teams.
We often describe ourselves as ‘New Ground, part of Newfrontiers’, reflecting our part in the wider Newfrontiers family. We encourage New Ground churches to do the same, remembering that our leadership and conduct have a bearing on both these families.
New Ground Churches is a separate legal entity based in England. It is structured as a company limited by guarantee and registered as a charity. This brings appropriate and helpful restrictions in order that good administration is maintained. However, it can also limit the extent to which policies, procedures and practices can be applied in different legal contexts. For example, in providing a grant to another church or charity, we are required to ensure certain financial and safeguarding procedures are in place before releasing finance. When this is to a different country with different laws and practices we have to be understanding of local policy.
Consequently, in the same way that a local church maintains its independence when part of New Ground, so they must be mindful of local laws and regulations appropriate to their jurisdiction.
We are increasingly starting to function and outwork our mission and objectives in ‘hubs’. These are smaller groups of churches or church plants working together with input from different members of the New Ground Core Team. The hubs vary in scale and how developed and well established they are. Some of these hubs are already constituted as separate legal entities, appropriate to where they are based. Going forward we anticipate that more of the hubs may need to set up and operate this way.
When things go wrong
Whilst it may seem negative to address when things go wrong, in light of recent issues within the wider Christian community that has impact into secular society, we feel it is important to be clear on this.
We as the New Ground Churches charity need to ensure that we abide by UK charity and employment law and the first step is always to work out which group of trustees is responsible.
We also recognise that local churches and other New Ground hubs will need to abide by their local regulations which may be different to those in the UK.
In a local church
Any pastoral, legal, financial or safeguarding issues in a church should be addressed by the local elders/trustees (or equivalent in non-UK jurisdictions) and action taken in accordance with the relevant laws, statutes and ‘responsible agencies’ in that nation. In the UK the ‘responsible agencies’ would include the Police, Social Services and the Charity Commission.
The New Ground Core Team, or their delegate, will be available for input or assistance but only by invitation. Such input or assistance will be limited by the knowledge of the individual involved and therefore suitable professional help should be sought by the local elders/trustees before decisions are taken.
The New Ground trustees would ask to be informed by local trustees if necessary and appropriate.
People who perform duties on behalf of New Ground, not employed by New Ground
There are numerous people who work on New Ground’s behalf but who are not employed by the New Ground Churches UK-based charity.
As mentioned above, the first step is to work out which group of trustees is responsible for looking into or dealing with the issue or complaint. Sometime this will require discussion between trustees of the local church and the New Ground trustees.
Having ascertained who is responsible, they should consider whether they have a responsibility to inform any other trustee boards.
The New Ground Churches trustees would ask to be informed by local trustees if necessary and appropriate and would agree to do the same. You can make contact with the trustees by emailing admin@newgroundchurches.org.
New Ground staff
If the issue or complaint relates to staff employed by the New Ground UK-based charity, the New Ground Operations Director or Chief Operating Officer should be informed, or if it relates to them, the New Ground Churches chair of trustees. Their contact details can be obtained by emailing admin@newgroundchurches.org.
Planting Churches. Reaching Nations.