Church Covenant - a further example (CLM 468)

From: robellis@ozemail.com.au (Robert Ellis)

Thu, 8 Jan 1998

As requested in CLM 468 here is another example of a church covenant - from Queanbeyan (Australia) Baptist Church. Our covenant has been formulated as part of a process of review of our membership procedures in which the church has moved to a "modified open" position. This is an outworking of our mission statement: "called to be open to God, to each other and the world". The church wanted to make a statement of what we understood the commitment of church membership to involve, so we have formulated a "covenant of commitment". Our intention is that this covenant would be an instrument of grace, rather than a legalistic weapon. Covenant of Commitment As an expression of my commitment to Christ and His body, the Church, I covenant to : * build relationships with my brothers and sisters in Christ which are characterised by the fruit of the Spirit. * encourage other Christians to faithfully follow Jesus. * protect the unity of the Spirit by avoiding gossip, speaking in ways that build others up and by offering forgiveness. * serve the congregation with the spiritual gifts God has given to me. * witness concerning Jesus through my words and deeds. * participate regularly in corporate worship and in other church activities such as small groups. * grow in the knowledge and grace of Christ through the study of Scripture, prayer and other spiritual disciplines. * worship God by offering Him my whole self - including my time, energy, gifts, abilities and financial resources. * contribute to church meetings and seek through consensus "the mind of Christ" for the life and ministry of the church. * support the leadership of the church as they exercise their God-given responsibilities to strengthen the church. In a recent discussion of this document, a number of people in our church who have non-Baptist church backgrounds commented that they found the "covenant of commitment" to be a helpful expression of the nature of the church and it's direction and one which they can personally affirm. In a culture in which the value of commitment is being eroded, a statement like this (so long as it is a "living document" in the life of the church) is quite counter-cultural. In Him, Pastor Robert Ellis Queanbeyan Baptist Church AUSTRALIA ____________________________ Clergy/Leaders' Mailing List (Moderated) This mailing list is open to all Christians via Internet e-mail and most fax destinations. Submissions welcome: clergy@pastornet.net.au To unsubscribe, e-mail to: clergy-request@pastornet.net.au with SUBJECT reading UNSUBSCRIBE Copyright: Postings may be re-sent ONLY with all copyright notifications intact. A PastorNET ministry: manager@pastornet.net.au

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