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)

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

Executive Committee

Members Chair Vice Chair 3 Deacons Senior Pastor (ex-officio)

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