Introduction

The following Relational Commitments are designed to help the members of Calvary Church relate to one another in a way that honors God and promotes authentic relationships. These Commitments cover important relational issues, such as peacemaking and reconciliation, marriage and divorce, protecting children from abuse, counseling and confidentiality, and mutual accountability.

These Commitments are intended to help us build a strong community of faith. By gospel-centered community, we mean a group of people who have voluntarily joined together to encourage and support one another as we worship and enjoy God, grow in our understanding of His love for us, and seek to tell others about the salvation and peace they too can find through faith in Jesus Christ.¹

We know that true gospel-centered community isn’t easy to achieve and sustain. Each of us brings our own expectations and agendas into the church. This diversity usually leads to rich discussions and creative ministries; but sometimes it can lead to conflict. As James 4:1–2 warns, “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have…”

That certainly describes us! At times, no matter how hard we try to build and preserve a close community of faith, our desires and expectations still clash and lead us to sin. That’s where these Commitments come in. Here you will find key principles from God’s Word that serve as the relational guidelines for Calvary Church. These Commitments are designed to accomplish several important purposes:

• They remind us of our mutual commitment to work together to pursue unity, maintain friendships, preserve marriages, and build relationships that reflect the love of Christ.

• They help to prevent surprises, disappointed expectations, confusion, and conflict by describing how we expect to relate to one another within the church community.

• They provide a clear track for us to run on when conflict threatens to divide us, and they remind us how to move quickly toward reconciliation.

• They establish guidelines for how our leaders will counsel others, guard confidential information, and protect our children from abuse.

• They define and limit the spiritual authority of church leaders and thereby pursue the fair treatment of all members.²

• Finally, they reduce our church’s exposure to legal liability by clearly describing our relational practices and by affirming our mutual commitment to resolve conflict biblically.

As you read our Relational Commitments, we encourage you to study the Bible passages that are cited next to particular provisions. We want you to be confident that these Commitments are based solidly on the Word of God. If your study does not answer all of your questions and concerns, please do not hesitate to approach our leaders, who will be happy to talk with you about these principles.³

We encourage you to expressly embrace these Commitments and formally join Calvary Church by going through the Starting Point membership class, acknowledging your faith in Christ, and by signing the Membership Commitments on the Calvary Church membership application. If you are not yet prepared to become a member, we hope you and your family will continue to attend our worship services and participate in Calvary ministries, and seek assistance from our leaders. Because these Commitments apply to Christians in general and not just to Calvary members, if you continue relating to us in any of these ways, we will assume that you have consented to these Commitments, even if you have not yet formally joined the church.

Calvary Church Board of Elders

Peacemaking & Reconciliation →