FBCF Passes Church Covenant

I blogged earlier (see here) about the proposed covenant being considered by First Baptist Church of Farmersville.

Sunday evening, our church adopted the covenant with 91% of those voting supporting the adoption of the covenant. I'm proud of our congregation. We discussed the matter thoroughly. We probably spent a cumulative total of 4 hours in congregational discussion about the covenant over the past three months. That's not counting at least 2 hours of discussion by the deacons and an untracked and incalculable amount of time spent over the course of the past several years in development of this document.

At First Baptist Farmersville, we believe in allowing every member of our congregation his or her opportunity as a believer to pray about our congregational decisions and to share what they perceive to be the results of that prayer. I mentioned the above high percentage of consensus for adopting the covenant, but you would be wrong if you presumed that 91% of our congregation had no questions about the covenant or that 91% of our congregation started out in favor of this action when they first heard about it. The document has been improved along the way by the input of our congregation. Congregation members' understandings and opinions of the document and that nature of the church have grown through the unfolding dialogue that we as a congregation pursued. We had a robust discussion about this before our vote.

I thought that the 90 minutes spent Sunday evening discussion this covenant represented the absolute apex of biblical congregationalism. I felt like we were experiencing Acts 15 all over again in some sort of an updated framework. The leadership of elders was a part of the experience. The members of the congregation interacted with one another. The whole congregation had an opportunity to express its approval of our final outcome. And this business meeting was not centered around financial statements or paint colors or indemnity—we spent 90 minutes talking about people, their relationships with the Lord, how to aid new believers in their spiritual growth, how to have a biblical church of mutual accountability and encouragement without its devolving into legalism. We spent far more time conversing with one another about spiritual things than about temporal things. I was so proud of our congregation.

The highlight for me was the church member who told the story about having used the list of scriptures given in the church covenant to minister to couples having marital problems, young believers struggling to grow spiritually, and even to witness to some lost people. We discussed the use of the covenant catechetically (OK, so that particular word never actually entered the congregation) as a curriculum framework for an ongoing class for new believers, new members, and people who just think that the class would be helpful for their spiritual growth.

Our Constitution & Bylaws vote has been delayed. It turns out that changes in the Texas Business Organizations Code make it worthwhile for us to postpone that vote while we secure a legal review of our organizational documents (both those in force now and those proposed).

Monday I shared this thought with my pastoral staff: The job before this congregation now is to proceed with such careful grace, such heavenly wisdom, such mutual love within our congregation, that a decade from now our 91% who voted in favor of the covenant will be glad that they have done so, and that the 9% remaining will rejoice that their fears did not materialize. Perhaps even more importantly, we need to fall on our faces before the Lord and ask him to work through our growing emphasis upon the biblical nature of the church to see the large numbers of people who are members of our church but were not present for the vote—those who are never present for anything at the church—either saved if they are lost or reclaimed for Christ's service through our persistent gracious and restorative wooing of them in Christ's name.

Upon my return from London, I will share some of my reflections upon this process so far, as well as my hopes and fears for the work yet to do.

FBC Farmersville's Proposed Covenant

In this morning's worship services the members of our congregation will receive copies of our proposed church covenant. This is a momentous occasion in the 144-year history of our congregation, representing a key element of our prayerful quest to become more and more a church in the New Testament pattern.

I am thankful to say that the process of developing this proposed covenant is representative of the best in church polity. It bears the mark of the leadership of our pastors/elders/overseers, who first began to labor over some of this wording as much as five years ago. It demonstrates the value of congregational leadership, having been considered by a committee of lay leadership and our deacons. Many improvements have taken place in the development of this covenant. Each group has given transformational leadership to the initiative, with the result that this document now legitimately belongs to our congregation and not to any individual person.

So today, we place it before our congregation. We have already done so with our proposed Constitution & Bylaws. We will be voting on both of these documents together in our July 19 business meeting. For our members of FBC Farmersville, and for whoever else has interest, below is our proposal. This may very well not be the document that we eventually adopt, for the membership of the congregation will have the same opportunity to improve the document that others have had. Nevertheless, we are happy at this stage to place the document before the broader Christian family in the hope that it might open a conversation that will clarify the discipleship journey of other congregations as it has our own.

God established the church to change every member—especially me—into a Christ-like disciple to carry out the Great Commission. (Matthew 28: 19-20; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Philippians 1:6) Because such transformation is impossible apart from being born again, I make the following two affirmations (which are prerequisite for church membership):

• That I have been born again, having personally repented of my sin before God; sought and received His forgiveness; believed upon Jesus Christ—crucified, buried, and resurrected—as the one-and-only Savior of all mankind; surrendered to Him as the master of my life; and identified myself publicly as a Christian. (Mark 8:38; John 14:6; Acts 3:19, 16:31; Romans 10:9-10; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Ephesians 1:7; 1 Timothy 2:5)

• That, after having become a Christian as described above, I have received New Testament baptism as explained in this congregation’s statement of faith. (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 1:9-11; Romans 6:3-5; 1 Peter 3:21-22)

I want to see God change my life according to His plan, and I need the help of the entire church body for that to happen. I am not perfect, and God will not be finished perfecting any of us until we get to Heaven. That is why, whatever commitments we make, we will need much love, grace, and gentleness to keep us together. (Proverbs 27:17; Ephesians 2:19-22; Philippians 1:6) As a member, in spite of my failures, I commit never to quit trying to live up to the following affirmations:

• To join with my fellow members in this congregation to seek God’s will in our common decision-making; to allow every member the privilege of seeking to influence the church in its pursuit of God’s will; to accept congregational decisions without grumbling; and to work to prevent division in the church. (Matthew 18:15-20; Acts 15:1-33; 1 Corinthians 1:10; 2 Corinthians 2:6; Philippians 2:14; Jude 19)

• To confess and repent of personal sin; to practice personal worship, prayer, and Bible study; to participate in corporate worship and Bible study with this congregation, except as prevented by illness, travel, necessary labor, or other serious incapacity; to join my fellow members in observance of the Lord’s Supper; to discover and use my spiritual gifts for the common good of the congregation; to seek the conversion of those who are lost; and to serve others in Christian ministry. (Mark 9:35; Luke 22:19; John 4:23-24; Romans 12:1; 1 Corinthians 5:7-8, 12:7; 2 Corinthians 5:18-21; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; Hebrews 10:25; James 5:16; 1 Peter 2:2; 1 John 1:9)

• To treat other people as the Bible teaches me to treat them. (Matthew 22:37-40; Philippians 2:1-8)

• To practice biblical stewardship of my resources, including the faithful support of this congregation. (Malachi 3:8-12; 1 Corinthians 16:2; 2 Corinthians 9:7; 2 Thessalonians 3:7-12; 1 Timothy 5:8; 1 Peter 4:10)

• To pursue brotherly love in my relationships with other members of this congregation, to aid them in times of difficulty, to pray for their spiritual and physical needs, to encourage them toward spiritual growth, to resolve conflict with them as the New Testament teaches, to pursue peace with all, and to be eager to forgive fellow members of this congregation. (Matthew 18:15-35; John 13:35; Romans 12:10, 14:19; 1 Corinthians 6:1-8, 13:1-13; Galatians 6:2; Ephesians 4:32; Hebrews 10:24-25, 12:14, 13:1; James 5:13-18)

• To respect the spiritual leadership of pastors (also called elders or overseers in the Bible) and the service of deacons as taught in the Bible. (1 Timothy 3:1-13, 5:17-19; Hebrews 13:17; 1 Peter 5:5)

• To keep my speech and my conduct pure and unstained by the world, pursuing biblical morality as a consistent lifestyle (James 1:27; 1 Peter 1:14-16; Ephesians 4:29). In particular, I commit to pursue biblical holiness with regard to those sins that pose the gravest dangers in this age, including my commitments:

  • To employ chemical substances such as alcohol and drugs only as informed by the teachings of the Bible, wise medical counsel, and the dictates of the law (Proverbs 23:29-35; 1 Corinthians 5:11, 6:9-11; Ephesians 5:18; 1 Timothy 5:23).

  • To flee sexual immorality; to shun pornography; to dress modestly; to reserve sexual activity solely for one man and one woman united in marriage; and not to initiate a divorce, except optionally if wronged by an adulterous spouse. (Genesis 2:24; Leviticus 20:13, 15-16; Psalm 101:3; Malachi 2:13-16; Matthew 5:28, 19:1-12; 1 Corinthians 6:18, 7:10-16; Ephesians 5:3; Philippians 4:8; 1 Timothy 2:9; Hebrews 13:4)

  • To protect and defend the lives of my children from the moment of their conception; to abstain from abusive violence in my home; to practice biblical discipline of my children; to obey my parents so long as I am a child and to honor them always; and to encourage every member of my household to learn about and serve God. (Exodus 20:13; Psalm 139:13-16; Proverbs 13:24, 22:15; Colossians 3:19-21; Ephesians 5:22-6:4; Hebrews 12:6)

  • To practice justice and compassion toward all people, including the poor, the sick, the disabled, widows, and orphans. (Leviticus 19:32; Proverbs 14:31; Isaiah 1:17, 47:6; Luke 14:13; Galatians 2:10; James 1:27; 1 John 3:17)

  • To conduct all business in honesty and integrity, practicing the Golden Rule in my dealings with others. (Deuteronomy 25:13-15; Matthew 5:37, 7:12; James 5:1-6)

• To pursue the growth of the fruit of the Spirit in my life. (Galatians 5:22-23)

Because I am a sinner, I know that I will not fulfill the terms of this covenant perfectly. Nevertheless, I affirm the ambitions of this covenant as my own, and I commit always to try to fulfill its terms. As I fail to live up to this covenant, I commit to yield to correction, to seek forgiveness and reconciliation, and to turn from my sin. (James 1:19-25)

Because my fellow members are also sinners, I know that they will not fulfill the terms of this covenant perfectly. Nevertheless, I commit to encourage them to pursue spiritual growth by following this covenant. As they fail to live up to this covenant, I commit—as much as it depends upon me—to correct and restore them in gentleness and humility, never refusing forgiveness and reconciliation in the face of repentance. (Galatians 6:1; James 5:19-20)

If I find myself unwilling even to try to fulfill this covenant, I commit to remove myself from this congregation. If relocation outside the community prevents me from fulfilling this covenant, I commit to unite with another congregation and to continue to pursue growth as a Christian.

I enter into this covenant voluntarily. I believe that attempting to follow this covenant will benefit me spiritually, so I ask my fellow members to interpret this covenant, apply it to my life, and live a life of mutual spiritual accountability with me.