Venture Church Network Midwest Covenant
*Revised (Name Change) 12-4-2020
*Revised (Name Change) 12-4-2020
Rationale:
A covenant is a statement expressing how members of a covenantal community define their reciprocal commitments and expectations. It is not the same as a contract. Contracts deal with things and services. Covenants deal with people and relationships. They are enacted by families and friends. God witnesses the terms of covenants and acts as the One who stands behind their vows and promises.
Our covenant instructs us in the nature of our unity as churches together under God’s new covenant of grace. It helps us shape our regional culture around our shared doctrine, mission, vision, and core values.
Venture Church Network Midwest (VCN Midwest) desires to become a covenantal community committed to accountable relationships consisting of mutual rights, responsibilities and privileges. Based upon our shared doctrine, mission, vision, and core values, we solemnly commit to a fellowship expressed in dependence upon, responsibility for, and accountability to each other.
We Covenant:
- To be a community that fully embraces our regional and national Statement of Faith and to have the Word of God as the centerpiece of our lives and churches.
- To be a Great Commission community fueled by the Great Commandment passion, seeking to reach our communities for Jesus Christ and the kingdom of God.
- To seek interdependence by working together and strategically partnering so that we will reach people for Christ and bring greater health to our churches.
- To submit to one another, to protect each other, to honor each other and avoid any communication that would malign another
- To unite the strengths of our churches in a network of services assisting the churches of VCN Midwest and the other churches that make up Venture Church Network (VCN).
- To allow others to minister to our lives if they perceive within us aloofness, independence, competitiveness, or nonparticipation.
- To encourage pastors in VCN Midwest to become involved in sub-regional cluster groups, regional gatherings and events.
- To support the ministries of VCN Midwest and VCN financially, to pray for VCN Midwest and VCN Leadership.
- To partner with other VCN ministries and evangelical agencies of like doctrine, mission, vision, and values that support our churches’ God-given vision and mission.
In recognition of God-ordained covenantal relationships, I sign my name, pledging to honor this agreement as a sacred trust before God. This document is not to be construed as an enforceable contract, with legal ties or liabilities. Rather, it is an expression of intent that you enter into voluntarily and seek to honor as God gives you the resources and opportunities.
A covenant is a statement expressing how members of a covenantal community define their reciprocal commitments and expectations. It is not the same as a contract. Contracts deal with things and services. Covenants deal with people and relationships. They are enacted by families and friends. God witnesses the terms of covenants and acts as the One who stands behind their vows and promises.
Our covenant instructs us in the nature of our unity as churches together under God’s new covenant of grace. It helps us shape our regional culture around our shared doctrine, mission, vision, and core values.
Venture Church Network Midwest (VCN Midwest) desires to become a covenantal community committed to accountable relationships consisting of mutual rights, responsibilities and privileges. Based upon our shared doctrine, mission, vision, and core values, we solemnly commit to a fellowship expressed in dependence upon, responsibility for, and accountability to each other.
We Covenant:
- To be a community that fully embraces our regional and national Statement of Faith and to have the Word of God as the centerpiece of our lives and churches.
- To be a Great Commission community fueled by the Great Commandment passion, seeking to reach our communities for Jesus Christ and the kingdom of God.
- To seek interdependence by working together and strategically partnering so that we will reach people for Christ and bring greater health to our churches.
- To submit to one another, to protect each other, to honor each other and avoid any communication that would malign another
- To unite the strengths of our churches in a network of services assisting the churches of VCN Midwest and the other churches that make up Venture Church Network (VCN).
- To allow others to minister to our lives if they perceive within us aloofness, independence, competitiveness, or nonparticipation.
- To encourage pastors in VCN Midwest to become involved in sub-regional cluster groups, regional gatherings and events.
- To support the ministries of VCN Midwest and VCN financially, to pray for VCN Midwest and VCN Leadership.
- To partner with other VCN ministries and evangelical agencies of like doctrine, mission, vision, and values that support our churches’ God-given vision and mission.
In recognition of God-ordained covenantal relationships, I sign my name, pledging to honor this agreement as a sacred trust before God. This document is not to be construed as an enforceable contract, with legal ties or liabilities. Rather, it is an expression of intent that you enter into voluntarily and seek to honor as God gives you the resources and opportunities.
*Originated April 4, 2007