New Community Members (a.k.a. Team Partners) From NCC’s Governance and Bylaws Document

We believe God has chosen to make His multifaceted wisdom known through the Church (Eph. 3:10), and the members that are developed through the Church are at the center of God’s design to represent Himself in all facets of life. The Church is designed to create and commission members who serve the world as they represent Christ and reconcile people to Him. At New Community we believe members are true leaders; servants who die to themselves so that others may flourish. True leaders “go forth and die” as Christ went forth and died for the Church.

God’s people are designed to influence others. To be a member at New Community is to be a leader in the true sense of the word. Membership at New Community is a step of commitment to God, to one another, and the mission God has given us. 

The following describes the commitment and confession of a New Community member.

Covenantal Commitment

  1. I am in covenant relationship with God by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.

  2. I am in covenant relationship with the members of Christ’s body, the Church.

Confessional Commitment

  1. I have confessed Jesus as Lord and Savior.

  2. I confess to the sound doctrine of the true Church as laid out in the Scriptures and fully affirm the New Community statement of faith.

Missional Commitment

  1. I will engage in God’s mission as His ambassador to declare the gospel among all people.

  2. I will use my gifts, time, finances and resources for the proclamation of the gospel and serve those in need.

Community Commitment

  1. I will join in the full fellowship of the church through faithful participation in a New Community House Church and the corporate gatherings of House Churches.

  2. I will use my gifts, time, finances and resources to serve and build the faith of the Body of Christ.

  3. I submit myself to the oversight and discipline of the church and its leadership.

What is a Church Covenant?

“A church covenant is a series of written pledges based on the Bible which church members voluntarily make to God and to one another regarding their basic moral and spiritual commitments and the practice of their faith.”

Why Is a Church Covenant Important?

Church covenants can create a sense of community by reminding us of our commitment to God, to one another, and the mission God has given us.  A church covenant helps members of the community understand what is expected of them as individuals embedded in the larger body. 

Benefits of Membership:

  1. It gives you the biblically prescribed place to participate in the work of church discipline (Matt. 18:15-19; 1 Cor. 5).

  2. It is an example to the world of true community that puts the love and rule of Christ on display (1 Cor. 9:19,22; Matt. 5:13; John 13:34-35; Eph. 3:10; 1 Peter 2:9-12).

  3. It gives you access to the love, care, resources, accountability, intimacy and shared identity of God’s family (Romans 12:3-5; 1 Cor. 16:2, Eph. 4:29; Heb. 10:25; 13:17; 1 Peter 4:8).

  4. It provides a specific church family you’re committed to serve and be served by (1 Peter 4:10; Phil. 2:3-4,7; 1 Cor. 16:2).

  5. It enables you to fulfill your biblical responsibilities to Christ’s body to fulfill the “one another” commands of Scripture (for example, see Romans 12:10, Eph. 4:11-16; 25-32; Heb. 10:25; 13:7, 17; Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 4:8; 5:2).

  6. It gives you a church family to receive biblical leadership (Heb. 13:7, 17), equipping (Eph. 4:11-16), teaching, fellowship and prayer (Acts 2:42).