Partnership Covenant

“...We are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.” (Ephesians 4:15–16)

THE PURPOSE OF THE JOURNEY CHURCH PARTNERSHIP COVENANT IS:
1. To join God’s work of forming an authentic church community.
2. To clarify the on-going responsibilities of each partner.
3. To encourage consistency, accountability, and loving unity within the church family.
4. To accomplish God’s call for the Journey Church family. This agreement does not imply that you will never fall short of the goals, but that the desire of your heart is to fulfill each of the responsibilities stated to the best of your ability. We trust that your commitment will be a personal blessing to your own journey in Christ, as well as a blessing to those around you.

WHY WE SAY “PARTNERSHIP” INSTEAD OF “MEMBERSHIP”:
Members have rights, Partners have responsibilities.At Journey Church, we like to frame membership a little differently. We believe that it is important to connect to the local church through a common covenant and we do so through partnership, instead of membership. Partnership communicates that we’re in this together. You aren’t paying dues for some benefit in return. We’re all investing our lives into the family, for our good and God’s glory.In covenant partnership, the church and the individual link arms, to live as light in the midst of a dark world. In this relationship, the church partner is cared for, protected, and commissioned by the church. In turn, the church body is strengthened by its partners who embrace and live out the mission of the church together.


With the guiding help of the Holy Spirit, the church leadership covenants the following:
  1. We commit ourselves to lovingly care for you and seek your formation in Christ (Hebrews 13:17; 1 Thessalonians 5:12).
  2. We covenant to provide teaching, preaching, and counsel from the Scriptures, spanning the whole counsel of God’s Word (Acts 20:27-28, Galatians 6:6; 1 Timothy 5:17-18).
  3. We commit to helping you in times of need (Acts 2:42-47, 4:32-35, James 2:14-17).
  4. We covenant that your elders and deacons will meet the criteria assigned to them in the Scriptures (1 Timothy 3:1-13 and 5:17-22; Titus 1:5-9, 1 Peter 5:1-4).
  5. We covenant to pray for you regularly, particularly when you are sick (James 5:14).
  6. We covenant to be on guard against false teachers (Acts 20:28-31).
  7. We covenant to help you become equipped to serve Christ (Ephesians 4:11-13).
  8. We covenant to seek God’s will for our church community to the best of our ability as we study the Scriptures and follow the Spirit (Acts 20:28, 1 Peter 5:1-5).
  9. We covenant to set an example and join you in fulfilling the duties of church partnership (1 Corinthians 11:1; Philippians 3:17; 1 Timothy 4:12).
  10. We covenant to exercise church discipline when necessary (Matthew 18:15-20; 1 Corinthians 5; Galatians 6:1).

With the guiding help of the Holy Spirit, I covenant the following:

(Hebrews 13:7, 17; Ephesians 4:1-3).

My journey in Christ will be evident through my regular participation in the corporate worship services, and intentional pursuit of relationships within our church community (Psalm 119:97, 105; Acts 2:42-47; Hebrews 10:23-25).

- putting sin to death (Colossians 3:5) and stirring up love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24) - and will willingly confess and repent when I fall short (1 John 1:8; James 5:16), knowing that He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us of all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

(Ephesians 5:15-18; Romans 12:1-2; Ephesians 4:1-16; Galatians 5:22-26; Proverbs 3:9-10). This includes regular giving to Journey Church that is sacrificial and cheerful (2 Corinthians 8-9).

(Ephesians 4:11-16; 1 Peter 4:10-11; Romans 12:1-8; 1 Corinthians 12:7-31). This includes regularly serving at Journey Church and in other gospel ministries in my community.

(Philippians 2:1-11; 1 Corinthians 13:4-5), (Proverbs 16:28, Matthew 18:15-17)

If I withdraw from partnership while the subject of pending disciplinary action according to Matthew 18:15-17, I expressly consent and submit to the elders’ continuing authority to complete the disciplinary process set forth in our church by-laws.

I understand that it is an evaluative tool, as well as an affirmation of my continuing conviction and purpose.

Information:

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