CHURCH PARTNERSHIP EXPLAINED

• Church Universal: It is Jesus who adds us and all the children of God to the Church Universal. We do not do this. Jesus did this 2000 years ago.
• Local church: Partnership in our local church, that is, those who are bonded by a common faith at our particular location, is different than membership in the Church Universal. In our local church, we make a commitment to enjoy more fully a relationship with our particular group of people in our particular location. Partnership in our local church is a commitment to our community where you enjoy fellowship, where you find opportunities for ministry, where you turn for help and advice. Partnership makes a commitment to share beliefs and goals, to respect leadership, and to work through both the hard times and the good times, with our particular group of people in our particular location. Partnership in our community is people committing their lives not just to Jesus but also to each other.

BAPTISM DESCRIBED AND EXPLAINED

• See our pastor's 8/26/07 sermon, "Anointed and Sealed" based on Mark 1:9-11, 2 Cor 1:21-22 and his 9/30/07 message "Let the Children" based on Luke 18:15-16 and his 5/4/08 message "The clothes of Christ" based on Galatians 3:23-29, Roman 6:3, 5, Colossians 2:12, 3:12-17.

REQUIREMENTS FOR PARTNERSHIP IN THIS COMMUNITY

• Profess that Jesus Christ is your Lord, and is the one who saves you from brokenness (not we ourselves).
• Affirm your reliance on God’s love, mercy, and forgiveness.
• Declare your intention to participate in the worship and mission of our particular community.
• Partnership is not a measure of goodness: We are all sinners. We are all messy. Groucho Marx once said, “I wouldn’t want to be a member of a church that would take someone like me as a member.” What if your life is messy right now? We believe our church is a sanctuary for the messy. It is not a citadel for those who always have their heads on straight. The folks who hung out with Jesus were pretty messy. So are all of us. Believers/non-partners/doubters are all WELCOME. Partnership in our church is available for believers regardless of their status of goodness. A true church is not a club, but represents the business of Jesus. In our church “believers” tithe, support, and share in the ministry of the church. When partnership speaks to believers who attend our church, they will become partners at that time.

BENEFITS OF PARTNERSHIP IN OUR COMMUNITY

• Ministry and Leadership opportunities
• Nominating and voting for church leaders

Do you have to be a partner of our particular church to receive Christian education, worship, fellowship, receive pastoral care, or go on mission trips? Absolutely not! But voting on policy issues and for leaders is a benefit reserved for those committed not just to the Church Universal, but also committed to the community of people in our particular location.