discovery class exploring church membership session 4 “our organization: how we work together”
Post on 21-Dec-2015
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TRANSCRIPT
OUR CIRCLES OF COMMITMENT
Faith Covenant Church (inner circle)
Great Lakes Conference (second circle)
Evangelical Covenant Church (third circle)
Kingdom of God (outer circle)
OUR STRUCTURE
Covenant Churches use a congregational system of governance Congregation: meets semi-annually (January & May)
↓ Church Board: meets monthly
↓ Executive Committee: meets monthly
↓ Commissions: meet monthly
↓ Task Forces / Special Committees: meet as needed
OUR STRUCTURE
Covenant Churches are autonomous but not independent
Faith Covenant Church has a Board / Commission structure
OUR CHURCH LEADERS
Church Board Senior Pastor Associate Pastors Corporate Officers
(see below) Deacons Ministry
Commission chairs
Corporate Officers Chair Vice Chair Recording
Secretary Financial Secretary Treasurer
Board Responsibilities
Provide overall ministry direction and administrative oversight
Develop recommendations for presentation to the congregation
Add or discontinue Ministry Commissions
Ministry Commissions
Adult Discipleship Children’s Ministry Congregational Care Evangelism and
Outreach Fellowship Finance
Missions Properties &
Administration Women Ministries Worship, Prayer &
Music Youth Ministry Team
Nominating Committee
6 members elected 3 year terms + church chair & senior pastor
Recommend persons for Church board positions Delegates to meetings
Website: www.faithcovenantchurch.org
Our Denomination: The Evangelical Covenant Church
Organized in 1885 Headquarters: Chicago Constituency: community based Size
780 churchesaverage attendance: 161,000ethnic diversity: 20 % of churches
Characteristics
missional: reaching out to neighbors near & far
devotional: encouraging a vibrant personal relationship with Christ
biblical: grounded in the Word of God connectional: helping Christians find &
maintain relationships with each other
The relationship between the Covenant & local churches is cooperative – we do together what no single church could do alone
Ministries
Education North Park University (Chicago) CHET – training for Hispanic pastors in southern California Covenant Bible College (Canada, Colorado, Ecuador)
Benevolence 2 hospitals (one of only 3 chh groups) & 14 retirement
centers
Ministry: credentialing & care for 1800 pastors Publications Youth ministry: CHIC
World Mission Asia
JapanMainland ChinaPhilippinesTaiwanCentral AsiaLaosThailandBangladeshIndia
Central & South AmericaMexicoColombiaEcuador
EuropeCzech RepublicGermanyFranceSpainRussia
AfricaSouth AfricaBurkina FasoCongoCentral African RepublicEquatorial GuineaCameroonKenya Sudan
Ministries
10 Regional Conferences Radio station KICY – Nome, AK Church planting
Events Annual Meeting (June) The Feast Women Ministries Triennial Midwinter Pastors’ Conference (February) CHIC (Youth Conference)
Financial Support Comes From
voluntary contributions by members churches
2/3 of the operating budget funded by local churches goes to world mission or church planting & revitalization in the US
website: www.covchurch.org
Our Regional Conference: The Great Lakes Conference
Area: lower MI, OH, KY, TN, western NY, western PA, & WV
Camps Ministries
Church Planting Church Development Church Outreach Pastoral Placement
Financial support from churches & individuals website: www.greatlakes.cc
Membership Process
The Covenant Church is a believer’s Church
Our Goal: be broad enough to include all who know Christ and narrow enough to include only those who know Christ
Membership Requirements
1. Personal faith in Jesus Christ
2. Have received Christian baptism (either infant or adult)
Steps to Membership
Attend all 4 sessions of the Discovery Class Complete and submit a written membership
application and covenant Meet with representatives of the Evangelism &
Outreach Commission to tell your story Recommendation by the Board Affirmed & received into membership at
congregational meeting Publicly welcomed at a worship service Enjoy a “New Members Brunch”
What’s Next?
The Four “Core Classes” Discovery Membership: commitment to Jesus
and Faith Covenant Church Growth Maturity -- forming the habits
necessary for spiritual growth Ministry Serving -- discovering & using God-
given gifts & abilities in serving him & others Mission Sharing the Good News with others --
through word & action