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DISCOVERY CLASS

DISCOVERY CLASS. Exploring Church Membership Session 4 “Our Organization: How We Work Together”. OUR CIRCLES OF COMMITMENT. Faith Covenant Church (inner circle) Great Lakes Conference (second circle) Evangelical Covenant Church (third circle) Kingdom of God (outer circle).

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DISCOVERY CLASS

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  1. DISCOVERY CLASS Exploring Church Membership Session 4 “Our Organization: How We Work Together”

  2. OUR CIRCLES OF COMMITMENT • Faith Covenant Church (inner circle) • Great Lakes Conference (second circle) • Evangelical Covenant Church (third circle) • Kingdom of God (outer circle)

  3. 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

  4. OUR STRUCTURE • Covenant Churches are autonomous but not independent • Faith Covenant Church has a Board / Commission structure

  5. Church Board Senior Pastor Associate Pastors Corporate Officers (see below) Deacons Ministry Commission chairs Corporate Officers Chair Vice Chair Recording Secretary Financial Secretary Treasurer OUR CHURCH LEADERS

  6. Board Responsibilities • Provide overall ministry direction and administrative oversight • Develop recommendations for presentation to the congregation • Add or discontinue Ministry Commissions

  7. Executive Committee • Members • Chair • Vice Chair • 3 Deacons • Senior Pastor (ex-officio)

  8. Adult Discipleship Children’s Ministry Congregational Care Evangelism and Outreach Fellowship Finance Missions Properties & Administration Women Ministries Worship, Prayer & Music Youth Ministry Team Ministry Commissions

  9. 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

  10. Our Denomination: The Evangelical Covenant Church • Organized in 1885 • Headquarters: Chicago • Constituency: community based • Size • 780 churches • average attendance: 161,000 • ethnic diversity: 20 % of churches

  11. 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

  12. The relationship between the Covenant & local churches is cooperative – we do together what no single church could do alone

  13. 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

  14. Asia JapanMainland ChinaPhilippinesTaiwanCentral AsiaLaosThailandBangladeshIndia Central & South America MexicoColombiaEcuador Europe Czech Republic Germany France SpainRussia Africa South Africa Burkina FasoCongoCentral African RepublicEquatorial GuineaCameroonKenya Sudan World Mission

  15. 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)

  16. 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

  17. 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

  18. 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

  19. Membership Requirements • Personal faith in Jesus Christ • Have received Christian baptism (either infant or adult)

  20. 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”

  21. 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

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