Membership / Partnership

While the original word picture of “membership” in the church was a good one (the Scriptures say that each believer is a “member” of Christ’s body and as such are to support each other like ligaments working together. 1 Cor 12 / Eph 4  ) the concept of membership in our time has been distorted.  Instead of evoking in us a sense of inter-dependence and stirring up a disdain at the possibility of being “dismembered” (separated from the body), the word “membership” has come to be associated with entitlement.  Commercials tell us “membership has it’s privileges” and when we become members of clubs or organizations we join as consumers who expect products and services in return for our contributions.

Because this consumeristic view of membership has leaked into the church, and it is a distortion of what Christ intended, we have chosen to speak about our commitment to each other in the body of Christ as “partnership.”   The idea of partnership embodies the idea of working together for a common goal, and sharing the risks, responsibilities and rewards of our labor together.  We think it best captures the Scripture’s intent of how we are to cooperate and interact within the church.

Partnership Covenant

At Redeemer, we will never ask our church family to do more than the Bible clearly teaches.  We only expect our family members to do what the Bible expects every passionately committed follower of Jesus Christ to do.  Our partnership covenant reflects the things that we believe are normal expectations for Christ-followers and the things that we ask those who identify themselves with us to agree to be and do.  So here is what we commit:

Having trusted in Christ alone as my Lord and Savior, and being in agreement with the Calling, Commitments, Convictions, Core Values, and Beliefs of Redeemer Church, I am called to unite with the Redeemer Church family.  In doing so, I commit to the Lord and to my Redeemer family to do the following:

1.    I will protect the unity of my church family

. . . by acting in grace and love toward others in the church

. . . by keeping the Peacemaker’s Pledge[1] to deal biblically with conflict and refuse to gossip

. . . by following the leadership of the church

. . . by submitting myself to the care and correction of leadership should the need arise

• “So then let us pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.” (Rom. 14:19 NASB)
•  “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs.” (Eph. 4:29 NIV)
• “Obey your leaders and submit to their authority.  They keep watch over you as men who must give an account.  Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be no advantage to you that it may benefit those who listen.” (Heb. 13:17 NIV)

2.    I will share in the responsibility of my church family

. . . by praying for its health and impact

. . . by developing relationships with and inviting the churchless to attend

. . . by warmly welcoming those who visit and committing myself to community with those who attend

• “To the church . . . We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers.  We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thess. 1:1-3 NIV)
• “Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full.” (Luke 14:23 NIV)
• “Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.”  (Rom. 15:7 NIV)

3.     I will serve the purpose of my church family

. . . by being equipped to serve by leaders and teachers

. . . by discovering my gifts and talents

. . . by developing a servant’s heart and looking for ways to employ my time and talent for the benefit of the church and those far from God

. . . by intentionally growing and seeking to reproduce my devotion to Christ in others

. . . by completing an annual spiritual inventory that will help gauge my progress in becoming a more committed Christ-follower and will provide the leadership of the church information that will help them determine the direction of the church’s teaching for the coming year

• “As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” (1 Peter 4:10 NASB)
• “[God] gave . . . some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.” (Eph. 4:11-12 NIV)
• “Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.  Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:  Who . . . [took on] the very nature of a servant.” (Phil. 2:3-4, 7 NIV)
• “And the things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, these entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.”  (2 Tim 2:2 NASB)
• “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.” (Hebrews 13:17 NASB)

4.         I will support the ministry of my church family

  . . . by attending faithfully

  . . . by living life as a fully devoted follower of Christ

  . . . by giving graciously as God has graciously given to me

• “Let us not give up meeting together . . . but let us encourage one another.” (Heb. 10:25 NIV)
• “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel.” (Phil. 1:27 NIV)
• ^“Remember this: 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 Cor. 9:6-7 NIV)
• “And keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame.” (1 Peter 3:16 NASB)