ForestView Values And Jesus came and said to them, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. Matthew 28:18-20 1. MISSIONAL We believe the Church exists to live as God s representative people in the world. Through our togetherness, holy living, sacrificial service and proclamation of the good news, we live as a sign, symbol and foretaste of God s kingdom. In seeking to be a church without walls we recognize that we can t live out our existence within the confines of bricks and mortar. Instead, both corporately and individually, we want to be constantly asking: In what fresh ways is the Spirit inviting us to enter into our neighbourhoods and networks to be the people of God and to participate in what God is already doing? a) We are not bashful about calling people to action into our communities, with our neighbours, with those who are like us and those who are unlike us. We are service oriented. We value participation. b) We particularly value engagement with the marginalized of our society. We believe God has a special concern for the poor and that God uniquely meets us in those relationships. As a result, our second, after a Senior Pastor, was to find a Director of Community Outreach. c) We look for missional partnerships across the globe and want to meaningfully contribute to and learn from their involvement in the work of the kingdom. d) We want to have a corporate presence in the Palermo neighbourhood across Dundas Street. We look for ways to engage with, build community and be the people of God in ForestView s own neighbourhood. e) We run the risk of being too busy fragmented and without central focus. We can be perceived as having too many things on the calendar. 2. INCLUSIVE AND ACCEPTING In becoming a church without walls, we seek to practise the love and grace of Jesus, recognizing in all of us both the image of God and a common brokenness. All are welcome at ForestView, regardless of past or present. a) Our services are casual and informal. We try to use accessible language in our communication and practise authenticity and vulnerability. We want to overcome any barriers that could prevent others/us from deep and meaningful relationship, both with God and each other. b) Our doctrinal statement (see below) focuses only on what we see as essential. We can enjoy diverse opinion on the details and other areas of faith and practice, and prize unity and grace in the midst of disagreement.
c) We have no membership, since membership implies in and out. Instead, we are a centre-bound set, with the centre as Jesus and the congregation huddled around that point. At various times in our lives, each of us may be closer or farther away from that centre, sometimes facing towards it, sometimes facing away from it. As a result, we will always have seekers in our midst at times we will be among them! and so there will be varying levels of engagement depending on readiness. It is also true that, without a dotted line upon which to sign, it is easier to slip in and out, for better or for worse. 3. COLLABORATIVE TEAM LEADERSHIP Leadership at all levels, including church governance, functions within the context of a team and makes decisions based on consensus rather than a vote. Decisionmaking is a collaborative effort between lay leaders and staff, and values the wisdom and discernment of the congregation, believing that God typically speaks through His people. Leaders have a humble spirit and, through their conversations and decisions, seek to serve the body and learn together. Members of ForestView s governing board serve five-year terms. a) Because there is no church membership and thus no vote, ForestView s governing body the Leadership Team makes final decisions related to finances, doctrine, staffing and strategy. The team is comprised of recognized leaders in the church, is self-perpetuating (e.g., invites new leaders) and is deliberately diverse. The Senior Pastor is a respected part of this team and plays a key role in vision setting; however, s/he does not have final say. The team makes decisions. b) Because decisions are based on consensus rather than a majority vote, decisions can take longer. It also means that all members of the team have a responsibility to exercise wisdom, discernment, grace and boldness during conversations. c) Discernment listening for the Spirit among God s people is critical in the decision making process. For all major decisions, the Leadership Team must create time and space to see and hear what God is already doing and saying among and to the body. This value has resulted in a very strong lay leadership structure, the vast majority of which do not currently sit on ForestView s formalized Leadership Team. By listening well, we have also been able to maintain a unity and trust over the years and this is important to us. However, it does make the decision-making process more complex and means that the Leadership Team is always aware of many voices. d) While the Leadership Team values discernment, we also value strategy and planning. We have annual and long-term (3-year) plans complete with goals, tactics and measurable outcomes. Vision and goals are developed in collaboration with Leadership Team, Staff, and congregation. The presence of these plans can create the perception of an overreliance on human abilities rather than the Spirit s work. We work to make the discernment process visible and emphasize the importance of holding all plans loosely. 4. MULTI-DIMENSIONAL SUNDAY MORNINGS We view the corporate worship service as a dramatic proclamation of and reimmersion into the gospel of Christ. We incarnate that gospel by engaging creatively in Hospitality (Welcome), Communion (Eucharist), Prayer, Word (read
and preached), Song, Story, Call and Response. Throughout the service, we seek to move in and out of adoration and confession, lament and celebration, intercession and thanksgiving, invitation and response, blessing and commission. It is a story told and received communally, using art and symbol in a way that spans time, space and diverse traditions. a) The sermon fits within a broader service. All elements of the service work together to form and encourage the body. Because of this multi-dimensional view of Sunday morning, ForestView sermons tend to be shorter than at some places (although longer than others). They aim to be approximately 30 minutes in length. b) We celebrate communion weekly. This grounds us in the centrality of the cross and calls us into being a body broken and poured out for the world. c) We are interested in reconnecting with the church through the centuries, reestablishing some of the practices and symbols that have proved formative over the years. As a result, we have become more aware of the church calendar and look for ways to instill the gospel story into our annual rhythms. So, beyond Christmas, Good Friday and Easter, we observe Advent and Lent as key times of the year and acknowledge (to varying degrees) the significance of Epiphany, Pentecost and Ascension. Furthermore, we are interested in the ways that art and symbol can better help us tell and remember the story. 5. FORMATION AND DISCIPLESHIP We prioritize formation over attraction. We are more interested in growing deep than growing large (although we see numerical growth as a probable byproduct of increased depth). As a result, we want to create environments, establish rhythms and highlight disciplines that provide conduits through which the Spirit can transform each follower of Christ. The reshaping work can be quite programmatic or unassumingly informal. It can be pursued by two or worked out among several. It can name a subject and object or be mutual and reciprocal. Whatever framework is adopted, this communal journey of formation is characterized by intentionality and is focused on the goal of presenting every believer mature in Christ. a) On Sunday mornings, we tell stories of our congregants as they encounter Christ and see themselves being shaped by the Spirit. b) We call our small groups Covenant Communities. In these CovComs we want to share life honestly, and collectively explore and adopt practices that might better shape us into the image of Jesus. As we reflect on Scripture, we also want to reflect on our lives and learn to practise the presence of Christ as we confess and receive grace. c) We are looking for ways to more formally foster mentorship between young and old, as well as between those of similar age groupings. d) We are open to changing something that seems to be working well in order to better facilitate the formation of believers.
ForestView Foundation of Faith For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ 1 Corinthians 3:11 What We Believe ForestView is a complex mosaic of people from diverse backgrounds and experiences. As a result, our community of faith represents a variety of opinions and attitudes towards the issues that dominate our culture. We respect, enjoy and benefit from this diversity. However, on matters of core truth about God, we are of one mind. We believe the following statements to be true. They are explicitly affirmed in scripture and have been embraced by God s people throughout the ages. God There is one eternal God who exists in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. As Creator and Redeemer, God is the Author and Originator of all that exists, and will one day complete its renewal in beauty and perfection. Jesus Christ Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Born in the flesh, he was the perfection of humanity and the fullness of God. As a young man, he was falsely convicted and unjustly subjected to a criminal s execution by means of crucifixion. He died and was buried, and rose to life on the third day. He was seen by witnesses after his resurrection and before he ascended to heaven, where he is now present with God the Father. Sin Sin is rebellion against God, and the rejection of his purpose and blessing for our lives. It affects every human life - separating us from His presence, robbing us of our potential, and enslaving us to destructive and debilitating behaviour. Without God s intervention, we are incapable of knowing His love and experiencing satisfying life. Salvation God forgives sin based on the sacrificial death of His Son. The path to forgiveness begins with the acknowledgement of sin and a desire to move in a new direction. Forgiveness is received when faith is placed in Jesus, as the one who died to save us from our rebellion. This act of faith restores our relationship with God, and begins a new journey of following Christ. Holy Spirit To every person who trusts in Jesus, God gives the gift of the Holy Spirit. His indwelling presence provides the assurance of eternal life, offers guidance in the face of uncertainty, brings comfort in times of upheaval, equips us to serve others, and empowers us for godly living and the conquest of evil. The Bible The Bible is God s word, written down by ancient authors under the inspiration of God s Spirit. With timeless truth and contemporary appeal, its message continues to
speak to the human condition. It provides a personal portrait of God for those who long to know Him. Like a compass, it offers wisdom and direction for those who want a full and meaningful life. The Church The church is a community of those who follow Christ in faith. It exists wherever the people of God gather in the name of Jesus. It knows no social division, spanning the boundaries of age, gender, economics and ethnicity. God s church exists to mediate His life giving presence to a lost and decaying world. Its purpose is to reconcile people and nations to God, and to bring Him glory. The Future Jesus Christ will eventually return in person to judge the living and the dead. Those who have accepted Christ will receive the fullness of eternal life and will dwell with God forever. Those who persist in rebellion will be forever cut off from His presence, and left to their own destruction. God will end this age with the complete eradication of evil and the final restoration of His creation.