Partnership

When we say partnership what are we talking about?

· Partnership – The relationship between two or more people or organizations that are involved in or share the same activity.

· Membership – The state or condition belonging to a particular group, for example, a species, social class, team, club, or political party.

· Attend – To go to or be present at an event. To go regularly to an institution such as a school or church for instruction or worship.

There is very little difference between partner and member; both are used in scripture and describe a people brought together by God. However, the word member has a connotation in 21st century America that strays from the Biblical description of the word. For this reason, we’ve chosen to use the word partner. Overall, we feel like the word partner paints a clearer picture for us of the Biblical model of the church found in scripture.

Is joining a church (or becoming a partner) in a formal sense really necessary?  

In one respect the answer is no. Nowhere in scripture do we see a formal process of people joining a church by attending membership classes or signing written covenants. In fact, the only formal entry point into the church appears to be baptism and the only thing that expresses the concept of ongoing belonging is communion.

However in another respect the answer would have to be yes. Although we don’t see a formal process we do see many examples of church commitment that are similar in nature to our modern (and historic) church membership process. In Scripture we see a numerical record of believers (Acts 2, 1 Timothy 5) and a clear understanding of who’s involved (Romans 16:1-16). Elders are held accountable for those in the church (Hebrews 13:7) and those in the church are called to a high level of commitment (Ephesians 4, Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12:12-30). There are also records of church discipline being exercised (Matthew 18:15-20, 1 Corinthians 5, Galatians 6:1), which tells us if people are excluded they first must be included.

Why Create a Formal Partnership Process?

When a man and woman are joined together they more often than not choose to exchange rings. While there is no biblical or civil requirement for this, there is great symbolism in wedding rings as a reminder to a covenant of love. Likewise, the partnership process serves as a symbol or reminder of an agreement made within a local church community. At Resonation Church we believe we are a community of people joined together by God through the Gospel and called to live in unity and for a common Gospel purpose. This is what Paul is talking about in Philippians 1:3-11, when he recognizes their partnership in the Gospel. Partnership, then, is a covenant that essentially:

* Reminds God’s people that they are more loved and accepted by God than they could ever possibly imagine.

* Helps individuals become a Gospel community.

* Encourages a community to carry out its Gospel mission together.

*Register for the next Partnership Class here