Membership Covenant and Application

Transcription

1 Membership Covenant and Application On behalf of the Elders, Thank you for taking the time to prayerfully consider membership at Redemption Church (RC)! In this document we have attempted to briefly outline what we understand membership in a local church community to involve, the biblical basis for it, and the various mutual commitments membership asks of both you and the Elders & Leaders of the church. Purpose When we come to Christ by faith, we enter into two covenant relationships, both of which are foundational to our discipleship. The first is with God, as we journey with Him in relationship for the rest of our lives. The other is with the faithful community of God s people - the body of Christ. In this covenant, God places us in relationship with one another as members of God's family. Membership is not simply about signing on a dotted line of beliefs, but rather joining a family that is seeking to share Christ with the world, and committing to support each other in this task. The RC Membership Covenant is a stated commitment that we are living in community together, and seeking to embody the values of our church in active expressions of love and service. Often membership in covenant community is seen as limiting and exclusive, but we see it as just the opposite. It is in fact a way of creating more room to include people; it provides stability in the community to help people grow in their faith, and it stretches us to be a diverse community: to love and serve those who are not like us. It provides the leadership with accountability to the people that they serve, and it provides accountability for the people toward God. It also resists the western idol of the autonomous self and the practice of an individualised and private faith, which we see as utterly contrary to New Testament teaching - a private faith is not a Biblical faith. Through the power of the Spirit, we enter into relationship with God and also with the church, as members of God s family. This community relationship is reciprocal in that the leadership of the church commits to you, as you commit to them. This is the pattern we see in the book of Acts: servant leadership that worked to equip the people for a life of witness and fruitfulness to the glory of God. Thus, in our membership covenant at RC, we make mutual commitments to one another, for this is what a biblical 'covenant relationship' entails. The Elders Commitment The Elders recognize that they have final responsibility before God for the leadership and spiritual life of the whole community. This responsibility includes prayer, ministry of the Word (the faithful teaching of Scripture and guarding of doctrine), the sacraments (baptism and communion), the faithful administration of the church s resources, and shepherding the community in fellowship, discipleship, and discipline. In addition, the Elders are responsible to ensure that the church is equipped to witness to Jesus and proclaim the gospel in our culture, to set out an appropriate vision and strategy for this to happen, and under the guidance of the Spirit, to organise the community appropriately for the task. By these commitments, the Elders fulfil their duty to Christ and the covenant community of believers.

2 The Member s Covenant The member s covenant involves a public recognition of belonging and commitment to RC. As a member, you are proclaiming that you believe in the Gospel, you confess the Lordship of Christ, are saved from sin through Christ s work on the cross, desire to grow into maturity in Christ, and you are willing to be baptised (if you are not already). You have read the doctrinal statement of RC. You commit to not being divisive in the church, to refrain from gossip and slander, and to warn others away from these. Instead, you will seek to preserve the unity and peace of our community; you will build up and encourage others in the Lord; you will seek to love and worship God in all you do, to study and grow in God s word, pursuing a life that reflects the life of Jesus, to the glory of God. You agree to support and serve the vision of the church, to participate in the life of the community, and to pray for the church and its various leaders. You agree to submit to the leadership of the elders, take an active role in influencing the life of the church through participation, prayer, and attendance at important decision-making meetings, in particular, the Annual General Meeting. This relational covenant will also have bearing upon your finances. As brothers and sisters in Christ, we are family. Family members take care of and provide for one another (James 2:15-17). Moreover, we must all seek to give in a way that reflects the generosity and self-sacrifice that God Himself demonstrates in His own gift of grace through His Son (2 Corinthians 9:5-15). As a matter of faithfulness to these principles, we expect our members to be actively engaged in regular, sacrificial giving of time and resources for the needs of the body of Christ (Philippians 4:14-19). Regardless of the amount given, the importance lies in the fact that all giving should be done generously, sacrificially, and with joy. We will all strive to live in such a way that demonstrates that every area of our lives is submitted to the Lordship of Jesus. This will certainly be evident in how we use our time, resources, and gifts. A Word About Our Governance and Leadership The leadership of RC is comprised of a team of Elders who carry the spiritual authority and covenant responsibility for the community, a larger team of ministry leaders (of which the Elders are a part), some of whom are paid employees of the church, and a Board, who are the legal trustees/directors of the society. The Board is comprised of representatives from the eldership, plus three officers: the Secretary, the Treasurer, and the Chair. The Senior Pastor serves as both the Lead Elder and the Chair of the Board. Finally, as a member, you are invited to participate and vote the Annual General Meeting, and other meetings such as may be called from time to time according to our constitution and by-laws. RC is a member of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada (PAOC). Please sign and return this form with your membership application. Please keep a copy of this covenant for your reference. Once you have submitted your application, the Elders will review it and contact you. Please contact us if you have any further questions about membership at RC. Name: Signature: Date:

3 Membership Application Please complete a separate form for each applicant. Name: Address: Phone: PART A: YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS 1. When and how did you become a follower of Jesus? 2. When and where were you baptised as a believer? 3. Have you been baptised in the Holy Spirit? When and how did this happen? 4. Can you affirm that you are seeking to live with Jesus as Lord of every part of your life?

4 PART B: YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THIS CHURCH 1. Why do you want to become a member of our church? 2. Are you fully committed to keeping covenant with us, as outlined in the accompanying document? 3. Are you willing to abide by our Statement of Faith and Church Constitution and Bylaws? 4. Are you willing to give realistically and sacrificially to this church to support its ministry? If not, please explain why. 6. Are you willing to serve in the church, as God gives opportunity? If there are any particular areas in which you feel you may be called to serve, please note them. 7. Are you willing to be part of our home group structure which we see as foundational to our shared life? If you are already part of a small group, please state which one. 8. Are you willing to submit to the leadership of the Elders of the church as long as you are a member?

5 9. Are you willing to be included in the Church Directory and receive the Newsletter (if you are not already)? PART C: YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHER CHURCHES 10. Have you been/are you currently a member of another church? If so, please give the church name and address: Are you happy for us to contact the leaders of that church? If not, please state why. 8. Have you ever been asked to leave a church? If so, please give details Signature: Date Signed: Please return this membership application form, and the covenant commitment, to one of the Elders or to the church office (3512 West 7th Ave., Vancouver, BC, V6R 1W3). If you would like to speak with an Elder before completing it, please ask and we would be more than happy to discuss this with you. T: F: E: info@redemptionvancouver.ca W: All information collected on this form will be used in accordance with the privacy policy of Redemption Church.