Characteristics of a New Kind of Church

FELLOWSHIP
The new gathering is a community …

We understand the church to be a community of persons seeking to follow Jesus.  For the community to function effectively, every person is both a leader and a follower as we live openly together.  Every voice is valued as we seek consensus when making decisions.  Leadership teams will be formed as needed.  The community is organic in the sense that all aspects of the shared life emerge from who we are as a community of faith.  We intentionally seek to be intergenerational, multicultural, and inclusive with hospitality as a distinguishing characteristic.

MISSION
The new gathering is a community whose members participate fully in the kingdom of God …

We believe the mission of the church is inextricably woven into the fabric of the community of Jesus followers.  The mission cannot be reduced to a statement, but is an expression of the character of the community.  Our focus is glocal—our immediate neighborhood and around the world—as we extend God’s care through acts of justice and mercy.  We intentionally seek to be incarnational with generosity and humility as distinguishing characteristics.

DISCIPLESHIP
The new gathering is a community whose members participate fully in the kingdom of God while learning to follow Jesus …

We see spiritual formation as the process of moving ever closer to Jesus, which occurs best in a supportive community of Jesus followers.  Every member of the community, therefore, can expect to be a “sacred companion” for other people, either in a formal or informal setting.  We intentionally seek to be spiritually discerning with highly developed listening skills and fervent intercessory prayer as distinguishing characteristics.

EVANGELISM
The new gathering is a community whose members participate fully in the kingdom of God while learning to follow Jesus, and inviting others to do the same …

We envision evangelism as part of the discipleship continuum.  Since God is always graciously drawing each person to Himself, we find no value in a saved/lost dichotomy.  Since all belongs to God, we disregard a sacred/secular delineation.  Instead, we intently search for signs of God’s activity, then get involved wherever and with whomever God is working.  We intentionally seek to be ministers of reconciliation with compassion and courage as distinguishing characteristics.