PROSPECTUS Welcome to the Grace City Church prospectus. We re a new church plant in Green Square that will launch publicly in March 2015. www.gracecity.com.au
OUR VISION To see thousands of disciples throughout Sydney and beyond who are radically committed to the cause of Christ. By God s grace they will worship God passionately, love their church deeply, and serve their city boldly. OUR MISSION To make disciples of Jesus to the glory of God by: Proclaiming the gospel Planting churches, and Producing resources. 2
Welcome! Welcome to the Grace City Church prospectus. If you want to get what Grace City is on about, our vision and mission on the previous page are a great place to start. But if you want some more details, the following information in this document will help to flesh this out more for you. What is a disciple? At Grace City, we want to make disciples of Jesus. In order to do that, however, it s important that you know what a made disciple actually looks like. We believe there are five key things that characterise a made disciple. To help you remember them, they all start with the letter M. Magnification Disciples of Jesus are growing in their love for God and seeking to magnify Him in everything that they do. Membership Disciples of Jesus are members of the body of Christ who seek to connect with, care for & participate in the community of the church. Maturity Disciples of Jesus are seeking to grow in Christ-like maturity as they devote themselves to the Word of God in community with others. Ministry Disciples of Jesus are gifted for the common good and seeking to sacrificially use those gifts to minister to others. Mission Disciples of Jesus are on mission for Jesus and prayerfully seeking to proclaim the gospel as they lovingly serve a lost world. Perhaps you are wondering, Where did they come from? While we believe that all of these things are consistently taught throughout the New Testament, if you re looking for a place where they all appear together you might like to check out Acts 2:41-47. According to Luke, the early church worshipped God, enjoyed fellowship with one another, devoted themselves to the Apostles teaching, used their gifts for the common good, and were on mission for Jesus. That s ultimately what we want Grace City to be like. 3
Where is our mission area? While the mission of Grace City Church begins at home in Green Square, it extends beyond the local community, into more regional areas and even the globe. After all, when Jesus told his apostles to make disciples of all nations, we think he actually meant it. Each point mentioned in the mission statement above has a corresponding location. Now, these are certainly not mutually exclusive, but they do reveal the way in which our prayers have led us to focus our energies - at least for the time being. Proclaim The Gospel (Local) Grace City Church will meet in Waterloo. Our building will not primarily be a space for mission, but a base for mission. With that in mind, we will seek to: Facilitate opportunities for our members to be on mission to the people in Green Square and the City South. Equip our members to be on mission to their families, friends, and colleagues. We pray that as the gospel is proclaimed, Grace City Church will be filled with people who live in Green Square and the wider City South, as well as their family members, friends and colleagues who may live elsewhere. Plant Churches (Regional) According to Tim Keller, the continuous, rigorous planting of new churches is the single most effective strategy to see the numerical growth of the body of Christ and the renewal of established churches. In other 1 words, church planting is an excellent way to make disciples of Jesus to the glory of God. Therefore, we believe that planting churches both within and beyond Green Square and the City South is an urgent and strategic work for us to be involved in. We pray that in time, these new churches will be a combination of affiliate, family and campus plants (i.e. some remain connected, but some may not). Produce Resources (Global) Thanks to modern technology, it is now possible for a relatively small group of people to have a disproportionately large impact on the rest of the world. Therefore, we want to make use of the extraordinary facilities that we have at our fingertips to produce gospel centred resources. We pray that these will be used by God to make and mature disciples of Jesus throughout the world. 1 - Timothy Keller, 'Why Plant Churches?' 2009, Redeemer City to City. 4
DISCOVERING GREEN SQUARE Where is Green Square? So where exactly is Green Square? Technically, Green Square is not a council area. At best it is a region - there is no suburb called Green Square. Rather, Green Square is made up of parts of five suburbs just south of the CBD. These are Waterloo, Zetland, Alexandria, Beaconsfield and Roseberry. You can see it marked on the map below: What is Green Square? Green Square is a development area. In addition to the residents who have always lived there, Green Square was once home to thousands of industrial warehouses and factories. While some of these will remain, the City of Sydney has rezoned the area for urban renewal. Consequently, thousands of new homes are being built in the area, and tens of thousands of people are moving in. According to the City of Sydney: About 5,700 new dwellings have been built since 2000 bringing in close to 11,000 new residents. By 2030, Green Square is projected to house about 40,000 residents and attract about 22,000 workers. 2 - City of Sydney, City of Villages, 2030 Vision Image Courtesy: Google Maps 5 2
The four major new precincts can be seen on the map below. At the centre of it all, is the Green Square Town Centre. This will become a vibrant new community centre for the whole region with cafes, shops, a library and aquatic centre. Image Courtesy: City of Sydney Who is Green Square? Green Square is a community in transition. While it is certainly an incredibly diverse community, at the moment: Residents are mostly employed full-time in professional, scientific and professional service Households are mainly couples without children (28%) and single people (26%), though it has the highest percentage of young children out of anywhere else in the city. 36% of people come from countries where English is not the first language, with 10.6% from China. Green Square is also full of young adults. As the graph on the next page demonstrates, the primary demographic moving into the area are young professionals, aged between 20-40 years old. This is significantly more than the average of Greater Sydney. 6
When is Green Square? Although Green Square will continue to grow over the next 15 years, it is expected to experience the most significant growth during the next 5 years. This is a result of the increase in dwellings being built. Obviously, the more residences that are built, the more opportunities there are for people to move into the area. The graph below forecasts the increase in population over the next 20 years. Graph Courtesy:.id, the population experts Graph Courtesy:.id, the population experts 7
So why Green Square in March 2015? Green Square is a growing urban centre into which thousands of people are moving over the next fifteen years. It is: 5km from the CBD The fastest growing region in the City of Sydney Culturally diverse Full of highly educated young professionals A community in formation We re praying that as the gospel is proclaimed, Grace City Church will be filled with people who live in Green Square and the City South, as well as their family members, friends and colleagues who may live elsewhere. We want Grace City Church to become an integral part of the Green Square community. We also want to have an impact on the lives of thousands of people in the name of Jesus Christ. Who is Tim Clemens? Grace City Church is a growing community that is led by Tim Clemens. Tim is married to Emma. Tim will complete his Bachelor of Divinity at Moore Theological College in November 2014 and will transition to leading Grace City full time in January 2015. 8
THE GRACE CITY LAUNCH TEAM In the world of church planting, a launch team is a group of people who come together to help start and establish a new church. This FAQ is designed to help you learn more about the Grace City launch team, as well as to provide you with the necessary information for deciding whether you want to join us. Why have a launch team? Starting a new church is difficult. It requires lots of prayer, hard work and money. Having a team of people who commit themselves to serving and supporting the church in its infancy stage can make an incredible difference to the long-term health of the church. How long does the launch team last? The job of a launch team is to help start and establish the new church. It typically takes a new church about three years to get established. While most team members will commit to staying at the church for at least that long, those who are only able to stay for 12-18 months can still make a big difference. How many people will be on the launch team? This depends on the church. At Grace City, we are asking God to raise up a launch team of fifty people. Why does Grace City want a large launch team? According to church planting expert Aubrey Malphurs: If you want to break through the two hundred barrier and other growth barriers, you need a minimum of fifty adults before you go public. And the more people you have in the core group beyond fifty adults, the better your chances are of reaching a significant number of lost people for the 3 saviour. 3 - Aubrey Malphurs, Planting Growing Churches for the 21st Century: A Comprehensive Guide for New Churches and Those Desiring Renewal (3 edition.; Grand Rapids, Mich: Baker Books, 2004), 188. 9
While this statement is from a North American, and therefore needs to be contextualised to Australia, the basic point still stands - the larger the launch team, the greater its potential to reach those who do not know Christ. This is important. We don t want a large team for the sake of being large; we want a large team in order to increase our opportunities to reach the lost. In addition to this, two other benefits of a large launch team are: Sociologically, it is easier for a non-believer to dip their toe in the water of church in a larger group. In smaller churches, newcomers (particularly in the Western world) can often feel overly exposed and intimidated. To run a typical church service takes lots of work. You need people to help set up, welcome, play music, serve food, run kid s church, and pack up. A larger team ensures that members can share the load and do not get burnt out. What will be expected of me if I join the Grace City launch team? A launch team sets the DNA of a church. Therefore, getting the right people on the team is absolutely critical. At Grace City, we are seeking anyone who: 1. Supports the vision and mission of Grace City 4 2. Believes the Grace City Statement of Faith 3. Pursues radical discipleship in response to the gospel Or if you want the simplified version we want people who: 1. Will support the church and won t bring personal agendas and hobby horses 2. Will submit to the Bible and won t be divisive over secondary doctrines 3. Will serve God in response to the gospel and won t be motivated by legalism (I obey, therefore I am saved) or license (I am saved, therefore I don t have to obey) When are the Grace City launch team gatherings for 2014? In 2014, we will gather once a month in Waterloo on a Monday night from 7-9pm. All launch team members are requested to be at these meetings. The dates are: 18TH AUGUST 8TH SEPTEMBER 6TH OCTOBER 3RD NOVEMBER 1ST DECEMBER Psst... Add these dates to your calendar now so you don t forget! 4 - While total agreement is not necessary, divisive behaviour is toxic to a church (Titus 3:10). Therefore, if you expect to have significant difficulties with anything in our Statement of Faith, we respectfully ask you not to join Grace City Church. 10
What will being on the launch team involve in 2015? The Grace City launch team will hold its first Sunday service on January 11th, 2015. While we will not launch publicly until March, launch team members are requested to leave their home church and join Grace City services from that time onwards. Those who are on the launch team in 2015 will be asked to commit to the following five things: 1. Attending all Sunday services as you are able 2. Joining a Community Group when they begin in February 3. Serving in at least one area of ministry 4. Making a financial pledge for 2015 5. Praying for and actively supporting the vision and mission of Grace City Are there any other limits to who can be on the launch team? No. We want people of all ages, whether single, married, or divorced; with kids or no kids; from any nationality and from any church background. As long as you can agree to the expectations and commitments of the Grace City launch team, we want you to join us. What should I do if I want to join the launch team? There are five things that you should do if you want to join the launch team: 1. Speak to the leadership of your present church. While we do not believe that it is necessary for you to get their permission, we do ask that you prayerfully and respectfully discuss it with them. 2. Speak to a member of the Grace City launch team. If you know someone on the launch team, ask them whether they think Grace City is a good fit for you and tell them why you want to join. 3. Come along to the next launch team gathering. If you want to come along, send an e-mail to info@gracecity.com.au to let us know that you re coming. This will enable us to give you the necessary details and will also help us with catering. 4. Meet Tim Clemens. Tim is leading Grace City Church and wants to get to know you. Introduce yourself at the next launch team gathering and tell him your story. 5. Let us know that you want to join the launch team. If you can agree to the expectations and commitments of the Grace City launch team, we want you on board! We pray that you will be blessed and enriched by the experience. 11
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS What kind of church will Grace City be? The simple answer is that Grace City will be a gospel-shaped, bible teaching church that s passionate about discipleship and mission. If you want the slightly more technical answer, Grace City plans to be affiliated with the Anglican Church, and for the first few years will be what is 5 called a Provisional Recognised Church. What type of Sunday service will Grace City have? Ultimately, we want to shape our service to engage and reach the people of Green Square and the City South. Nevertheless, there are a few things that we can say with certainty: 1. We will start with a morning service (probably about 10am) 2. We will have a crèche and kids ministry (though probably quite small) 3. We will have high quality production values in all of our public services (to reduce unnecessary obstacles to edification and evangelism) 4. We will preach in a way that expects non-believers to be present Where will Grace City Church meet? God has been incredibly good to us. From February 2015, Grace City will have its own building. This is on Bourke St in Waterloo. While we will encourage community groups to meet in the homes of their members, all church services will be held at this building. 5 - We say plans to be because the technicalities of this arrangement are still being worked out by the South Sydney Regional Council (an Anglican body). Either way, Grace City Church will go ahead. 12
Why have I previously heard about a film school? In God s providence, Grace City has a strong relationship with the International Screen Academy (ISA) on Young St, Waterloo (2 minutes walk). While there will be no formal relationship between Grace City and ISA, the staff at ISA have kindly agreed to allow music and media teams from Grace City to use their facilities free of charge. These include a recording studio and green screen. How will Grace City be governed? 6 Grace City will be governed like all Sydney Anglican churches. Under the oversight of a Senior Pastor, Tim Clemens will lead the ministry at Grace City in pursuit of its vision and mission. A separate committee will govern the property and finances of the church, and administer them in service of the Grace City vision and mission. For a detailed infographic of how this will work, see the end of this document. Can I show this document to others? Absolutely! In fact we encourage you to give it to as many people as you like and to encourage them to prayerfully consider joining Grace City with you. You do not need to ask our permission to show this document to others. If you d like a soft copy to send to others, you can find the most recent version at www.gracecity.com.au/prospectus. 6 - The fact that Tim Clemens is only a Deacon in the Anglican Church adds a small level of complexity. For the first 2-3 years, Tim will be under the authority of a Senior Pastor emeritus. 13
STATEMENT OF FAITH About God There is one unique and eternal God, who exists in an everlasting loving relationship of Father, Son and Spirit one God in three persons. God is sovereign in all things: including creation, revelation, redemption, judgement and the establishing of his kingdom. As sovereign loving creator and redeemer, he is worthy of all glory, honour and praise. About humanity Men and women together are created in the image of God, and therefore enjoy a unique dignity in creation and a unique relationship with God. Men and women together have dominion over the created order. Tragically, human nature is universally sinful since the Fall and all are guilty before God. This leaves us under the wrath and condemnation of God. We are unable, without the prior regenerative work of God s Spirit, to turn ourselves to God. About the Bible There is no other way to know God except that He reveals Himself to us. The Bible is God s revelation to us. The words of the Bible are divinely inspired and infallible, as originally given, and have supreme authority in all matters of faith, conduct and experience. The Bible is sufficient for knowing God. It is not only central to the wellbeing of the church but is able to thoroughly equip the Christian community for life and godliness. About Jesus Christ Jesus Christ was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He is both fully God and truly human. He entered fully into human experience. He endured temptation and He suffered and died. He was perfectly obedient to God his father. Jesus took on himself the consequences of human sin. He died and was buried. On the third day He rose from the dead bodily and is now exalted as ruler over all. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead. 14
About salvation There is only one name under heaven by which we can be brought into relationship with God: the name Jesus Christ. It is only through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ, as our representative and substitute, that the guilt, penalty and power of sin can be removed. In that death, God demonstrates his love to us most perfectly and establishes his victory over Satan and all his foes. The work of the Holy Spirit is necessary to make the death of Jesus effective in an individual s life. The Spirit enables the sinner to repent and put their faith in Jesus Christ, so that salvation is entirely of God s grace and not of human merit or works. Although we enjoy now the blessing of union with Christ and secure relationship with God, we await the final consummation of our hope with the return of Christ, the resurrection of our bodies and life with Him eternally. About the Spirit in the believer s life The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son, and indwells all true believers. His role is to bring glory to Jesus Christ, thus making Jesus Christ central in all things. The Spirit works to illuminate believers minds to grasp the truth of the Bible, producing in them His fruit, granting them His gifts and empowering them for service. He grants his gifts for the purpose of service, not self indulgence. Their use is determined not by personal desire for fulfillment, or satisfaction but by the principle of building the church. Not every gift of the Spirit is given to the church at every moment of its life, only those necessary for building Christ s body. About the church The visible church is the gathering of believers around Christ in His word. It is a community of people intended by God to bear witness to Him and actively seek the extension of His rule. Within its community both men and women are to seek proper expression of their gifts as they work to build the church in love. The Bible makes clear that in church leadership, as in marriage, the roles of men and women are not interchangeable. We are committed to expressing the differences within relationships of mutual dependence. 15
RADICAL DISCIPLESHIP Any time we talk about obedience, it is important to root our discussion in the gospel. This will protect us from two equal and opposite errors. First, it will protect us from legalism, which tries to obey God in order to be accepted by him. Secondly, it will protect us from license, which thinks that because God has already accepted us, we don t need to obey him. Gospel obedience is motivated by the love of God. Since we have already been accepted (on the basis of Christ s life and death), Christians seek to obey God with joyful hearts. The creed on the following page is an attempt to helpfully outline what being radically committed to the cause of Christ might look like at Grace City. In other words, it is an attempt to outline gospel obedience in a practical way. This is not an obedience motivated by fear or guilt, but a joyful obedience rooted in the unconditional love of God. Our prayer is that members of Grace City will commit themselves to pursuing this kind of obedience in community with others. It is not a contract, but an informal and voluntary understanding. We ve chosen to call it a creed because it s something that we can all joyfully pursue, knowing that there is forgiveness and grace whenever we fall short. 16
THE GRACE CITY CREED 1. I will seek to magnify God By using every opportunity to live a life that glorifies Him By regularly realigning my heart through Bible study, prayer and fellowship So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31 As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. Psalm 42:1 2. I will seek to express my membership By connecting with and caring for others in the Grace City community By making every effort to attend and participate in Grace City gatherings By regularly praying for Grace City Church A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, so you are to love one another. John 13:34 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:24-25 We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers. 1 Thessalonians 1:2 3. I will seek to mature in Christ-likeness By repenting of sin and pursuing cross-shaped obedience By allowing others to bring God s Word to bear on my life By submitting my life and doctrine to the authoritative Word of God 17
If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. Luke 9:23 Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:1-2 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers. 1 Timothy 4:16 4. I will seek to minister to others By humbly using my time and talents for the good of the body By sacrificially giving to fund Grace City ministry Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 1 Corinthians 12:7 Remember: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 5. I will seek to live on mission By being involved in the lives of non-believers and praying for them regularly By sharing the gospel at every opportunity and inviting non-believers to church By prayerfully considering moving into Green Square or the City South We are therefore Christ s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 2 Corinthians 5:20 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. Colossians 4:5 I know that I am sinful and therefore will never perfectly live up to these expectations. Thankfully, I trust in Jesus who has already met every necessary expectation on my behalf. Therefore, for the sake of God s glory, my good, and the benefit of the Grace City family, I will strive to pursue this life of discipleship. If I am ever struggling to do so, I will seek help from the Grace City leadership. 18
Grace City Church Governance & Operation To get an idea of how Grace City will be organised to begin with, view the chart below. Property & Finance (P&F): appointed by Tim Clemens in consultation with SP to administer property and finance in service of the Grace City mission. Initially made up of two insiders and two outsiders. Senior Pastor (SP): appointed by Archbishop as minister of Grace City Church until we become a recognised church. SP Tim Clemens (TC): appointed as assistant minister and accountable to SP until Grace City becomes a recognised church. Has doctrinal and pastoral authority under guidance of SP. Sets vision, mission, and strategy in consultation with the SC. Wise Counsel (WC): individual people outside the Church that Tim Clemens relies on for support and counsel. DELEGATED AUTHORITY AUTHORITY AND ADVICE TC SPJ TBC P&F MY Steering Committee (SC): appointed by Tim Clemens to help oversee the key purposes of Grace City Church. AH TC COUNSEL JM WC BH TBC TBC STEERING COMMITTEE TS MAGNIFICATION MEMBERSHIP MATURITY MINISTRY MISSION Purpose: To equip members for mission and to facilitate opportunities in Green Square and the City South. Purpose: To identify, equip, and deploy members to sacrificially minister for the building up of the church. Purpose: To grow in Christlike maturity as we submit our lives to the Word of God in deep community. Purpose: To express membership by leading others to connect with, care for and participate in community. Purpose: To lead Grace City to magnify God with joyful hearts in corporate and private worship. Levers include: Training Life Course Community Events Levers include: Meet Ups Allocation Training Levers include: Community Groups Leaders Training Weekend Away Levers include: Welcoming Pastoral Care Start Up Course Levers include: Sunday gatherings Music City Bible Reading 19
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