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Values

Statement of Faith

As part of the universal church, we hold to the ecumenical creeds (the Apostles’, Nicene-Constantinopolitan, Chalcedonian and Athanasian Creeds). As Protestant Christians, we affirm that justification is by faith alone, and stand in the tradition of Reformation confessional documents like the Heidelberg Catechism, although we believe water baptism is only for believers. As contemporary evangelicals, we also affirm modern statements such as the Lausanne Covenant and the Evangelical Alliance statement of faith.

Core Values

Core Values

Core Doctrinal Values

1. Word-based

Colossians 1:25, 1 Thessalonians 2:13, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Timothy 4:1-5

  • We believe in the absolute truthfulness, sufficiency and final authority of Scripture.
  • This value is expressed through the Bible having the central place in governing doctrine, practice, ethos and patterns of church life.

2. Grace-filled

Ephesians 2:8-10, Acts 11:23, Colossians 1:6b, Romans 8:1-4, 2 Timothy 2:1

  • The message of grace and the gospel is central to the Christian life and local church.
  • Grace ought to be expressed in relation to salvation, church life, relationships and leadership style.
  • We see our salvation as a work of God from start to finish.

3. Spirit Empowered

Ephesians 5:18, Acts 1:7-8, Galatians 3:1-5, 1 Corinthians 12:1,4-7

  • We believe that all the gifts in Scripture are available and desirable today for building the local church and extending the Kingdom of God.
  • We believe every believer should be filled with the Spirit as part of God’s desire to empower us for Christian life and witness.

Core Leadership Values

4. Elders in each local church

Acts 14 :23, 20:28, 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13, 1 Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1 :5-9, James 5:14

  • The Holy Spirit appoints elders confirmed by the church and apostolic ministry.
  • Church government is not a democracy nor an autocracy but rather a theocracy.
  • Elders’ main functions involve leading, feeding, guarding and guiding the church.
  • We see eldership as the calling of qualified men who lead as a team in their shared endeavour.
  • It has been our normal practice to see one of the elders provide leadership to the eldership team as a first among equals.

5. Ephesians 4 ministries

Acts 14:21-23, 20:28, Titus 1:5, Ephesians 4:7-16, Romans 16:1-16

  • All Ephesians 4:11 gifts are valid today and help bring churches to maturity and to equip men and women to fulfil their God-given ministry.
  • Eldership teams are encouraged to invite Ephesians 4 ministries to help bring their local church to maturity.
  • Local elders are the final human governing authority in a local church. However, the local elders are encouraged to invite and then to receive clear apostolic input and authority.

6. Servant-hearted

Mark 10:42-45, 1 Corinthians 4:1-2, 1 Timothy 3:1-7, 1 Peter 5:1-4, Titus 1:5-9

  • Christian leadership, in its essence, is a call to be an example of godly servanthood.
  • Following the example of Jesus, Christian leaders are meant to serve others not be served.
  • Christian leadership should be godly, transparent and accessible and accountable to others.
  • Christian leadership exists to multiply ministry, not monopolise it.
  • Christian leadership ought to look for partnership and collaboration with other evangelical leaders, rather than to demonstrate isolation and individualism.

Core Mission Values

7. Local church focused

Ephesians 3:10-11, Matthew 16:18, 1 Corinthians 12

  • We regard the local church as central to the mission and purposes of God.
  • We see the local church as the place of primary focus for Ephesians 4 ministries.
  • Ephesians 4 ministries exist to serve the local church, not the other way round.

8. Mission ought to be expressed both locally and globally and holistically

Matt 28:18-20, Acts 1:8, Gal 2:10

  • We desire to see local churches effectively and fruitfully engaged in local Kingdom mission.
  • We desire to see local churches caught up on a global apostolic Kingdom mission.
  • We desire to see local churches involved in holistic mission, engaging with all sectors of society, particularly the poor and the marginalised.
  • Normally local fruitfulness and effectiveness leads to a wider sphere of ministry, rather than the other way round.

9. Contextual freedom in application

1 Corinthians 9:19-23

  • We recognise that our core values will need to be contextualised and applied differently in different contexts.
  • Sound contextualisation means translating and applying our core values without compromising the essence of the values themselves.
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