Are there any prerequisites to becoming a covenant member?

Other than being a practicing, confessing Christian and having been baptized, there are no specific requirements for covenant membership. We recommend that you refrain from covenant membership until you’re fully ready to commit yourself in The City Church family, so it might be wise to be involved with our church family for at least six months before you covenant with us. Additionally, you will want to be familiar with our theology and philosophy, and you might benefit from a “Foundations” class, offered several times throughout the year as “an intro to life in The City Church.”

Why do I have to be a Christian to become a covenant member in the city church?

Simply put, the basis of a covenant is a common understanding before God, based in Jesus’ work in the gospel. All of our identities, and all our work in the church family, are based on the Bible and the cross of Christ. The church is the family of God; the body of Christ. Without this shared understanding and basis, you won’t be able to fulfill the very basis of this covenant… If you’re not a believer in Christ, we still welcome your fellowship and involvement with us; however, you will not be able to be a covenant member.

Why do I have to be baptized to become a covenant member in the city church?

Baptism is an outward, public expression of the change Jesus has made in your life. It’s one of the two ordinances we believe in (along with communion), in which Jesus participated, and which Jesus commanded of his disciples (Matt 28:19; Acts 2:38; 10:48; 1Pet 3:21). Believers throughout the Bible and history model baptism: you’ve died to sin and risen anew to Christ. While we don’t require your baptism to take place in The City Church, we do require that every covenant member has been baptized after their conversion to Christ. If you haven’t been baptized, please tell your Village leader, or a pastor-elder, and we’ll celebrate with you and baptize you. If you do not agree with our beliefs on baptism, we still welcome your fellowship and involvement with us; however, you will not be able to become a covenant member.

Is there an age limit for covenant membership?

There is no minimum (or maximum!) age for becoming a covenant member in The City Church. The only requirements are that you are a professing, practicing Christian who has been baptized. It is necessary, of course, that you are able to understand the elements of the member covenant and have an ability to carry out each aspect. We ask parents to be discerning as to what age their child covenants with The City Church.

What if I don’t want to become a covenant member?

If you’re not a covenant member in The City Church, then you’re technically our “guest.” We rejoice in this if you’re not yet a believer in Christ or if you’re a visitor: you’re welcome to participate with, be involved with, and fellowship with The City Church and your Village. But if you’re a Christian who refrains from becoming a member over an extended time (generally more than a year of involvement), you do a disservice to Jesus’ body and bride, and to yourself: you consume from God’s church, but don’t commit to it or sacrifice for it, and you hinder the work of the church family (1Cor 12). Practically, if you’re not a covenant member, you’re disallowed from serving in KidCity, from leading a Village, class, and from some of the other City Church ministries reserved specifically for the church family, the covenant members. Finally, our pastor-elders cannot commit to provide the same level of personal shepherding and support to you, because the Bible requires that we take care of our family first (Eph 2:19; Gal 6:10).

Why can’t I be involved in leadership if I’m not a covenant member?

The church family is just that: a family, a committed body, a covenanted people. Anyone in leadership in the family, therefore, must be committed and covenanted to the family. As a matter of protecting our family, the Bible forbids our pastor-elders from putting you in a position of leadership, or some ministry positions, if you’re not willing to fully commit and invest in our church family (1Tim 5:22; Acts 20:28).

Am I covenanting with my Village, instead of “the church”?

No. Biblically, the church isn’t an institution or organization, which you join like a country club or a gym. The church is the people of God; the family of God, living on the mission of God (Eph 1:4-5; 2:19).  Practically, “becoming members one of another” – investing our lives together, caring for each other, speaking truth to one another, and living out our faith and mission together (Rom 12:5, 1Cor 12:25; Eph 4:25; 1Thes 2:8) – happens in smaller expressions of the Church, with whom you truly share life. So you covenant annually before God and to The City Church as a whole, but you commit to live out the elements of the covenant together in your Village.

What happens if I want to become a covenant member mid-year?

Our membership covenant and Village commitments generally renew every September. If you aren’t comfortable signing in September, or aren’t involved with The City Church in September, but choose to covenant with us later in the year, you’re welcome to do so. Generally, you’ll just talk with your Village leader or a pastor-elder, and they’ll walk you through the covenant and your Village’s commitment for that year. You’ll sign yourself into covenant membership, and commit to the Village’s commitment until the following annual renewal, the coming September.

How do I know if church leadership is upholding their end of the covenant?

We do our best to keep you informed of leadership decisions, direction, etc, but if you have a question, you’re always free to simply ask a pastor-elder, or another leader in the area you have a question about. We use venues such as All-Church Gatherings, our online network, eNews, and covenant member meetings to keep you informed of issues, decisions, and information The City Church family needs to know. But again, if you have a question, please ask us: we have an open-books policy for covenant members regarding finances, and if there’s something you don’t feel like you know, we’re happy to talk with you about it.

What if I feel like church leadership isn’t upholding their end of the covenant?

If you feel like a pastor-elder or another leader isn’t fulfilling their covenant with you, it is your right and responsibility to first lovingly and humbly express your concerns to that leader, as well as to the pastor-elders, who will handle it according to the biblical mandate for charging an elder (Matt 18:15-20; 1Tim 5:19-20). If the pastor-elders are unwilling to change and pursue a solution, or to pursue faithfulness to the covenant, then you are freed from your covenant membership obligations and are free to seek membership elsewhere, based on the church’s disobedience. The other pastor-elders handle the issue and decide the steps of reconciliation, discipline, or removal of that pastor-elder or leader.

How do I know if I’m fulfilling my end of the covenant?

Within your Village, you’ll periodically participate in “family nights,” during which you’ll review your membership covenant and Village commitment together, celebrate together, and discuss areas where you’re struggling, need discipleship and/or discipline, and need to shepherd each other. Additionally, we encourage you to be in regular relationships with other same-sex folks, who you trust and who can push and exhort you in areas of the Christian life where you need discipleship and growth. Finally, if you ever have a question about your end of the member covenant, feel free to ask a pastor-elder.

What happens if someone thinks I’m not upholding my end of the covenant?

Failure to uphold your covenant – the breaking of a vow – is a sin before the LORD, just as any other sin is a sin before the LORD, even if it is carried out between two people (Num 30:2; Psalm 51: Matt 5:33-37). Thus, if someone in your Village or in your life thinks you’re being unfaithful to your member covenant, in an ongoing or regular basis, and in an unrepentant manner, they should approach you, humbly and lovingly walking through each step of the church discipline procedure outlined in Matthew 5:33-37. If they fail to approach you in this manner, or if you disagree, you’re welcome to approach a pastor-elder to act as an arbitrator between the two parties (1Cor 6:1-8).