SERVECITY MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION
WELCOME HOME! We’re elated that you are considering becoming an official member of ServeCity Church! All the necessary information and requirements surrounding membership are outlined below the following form, including an official letter regarding membership from our Senior Pastor at the bottom of the page. Please feel free to let us know if you have any questions and or concerns at: servecitynextsteps@gmail.com. (Note: Each spouse and or family member must fill out the form for themselves).
How to Become a Confirmed Member of ServeCity Church
The rite of Christian Confirmation differs based on the tradition, however, it is generally centred around affirming, strengthening the faith of a baptized individual and or officially welcoming them into the church family. In order to be confirmed and extended “the right hand of fellowship” (Galatians 2:9) at ServeCity, the process is as follows:
1. You must be water baptized in the name of The Father, and of The Son and of The Holy Spirit (Note: If you’ve already been baptized at another church, in the name of The Father, and of The Son and of The Holy Spirit, we will accept this).
2. Complete Next Steps Course (all three sessions) and submit ServeCity Church Membership Profile & Covenant Form (Above) to the Next Steps Team.
3. Accept and express verbal agreement with the Nicene Creed of 325AD and 381AD, outlined below, before the Senior Pastor (On Confirmation Day).
4. Accept, commit to operation in alignment with and express verbal agreement with our “Core Values,” “Doctrinal & Praxis Distinctives” and “Honour Code,” as outlined below, before the Senior Pastor. (On Confirmation Day)
5. Be extended the “Right Hand of Fellowship” by the Senior Pastor. (On Confirmation Day)
What Is Expected of ServeCity Church Members
1. Actively Participate in LifeGroups, Bible Studies & Seasonal Schools We believe life is better together. In other words, we as a church endeavour to live connected in community; learning, serving and building one another up with love and authenticity. Seasonally, we meet in small groups aka “LifeGroups” and also offer various learning opportunities to help us go deeper in the messages taught on Sundays, Christian doctrine in general and to build relationships with one another. As a member, we expect you to commit to participation in these spiritual growth and connection opportunities.
2. Be An Active Part Of Our DreamTeam
Membership at ServeCity is synonymous with service. Ministry moves forward by the corporate sacrifice of our local church body. There are several opportunities for you to serve during our Sunday morning experiences, as a part of our DreamTeam. Once you join the team best suited for your gifting / skillset, you can fill out your availability and begin serving. Your Team Leader will email you through a convenient program called “Planning Center” which is our primary mode of communication for scheduling. Go ahead and download the App; it’s free. We will then schedule you based on the availability you give us, so make sure to check your calendar first. (Note: ServeCity Kids Team requires a background check).
3. Attend Church Regularly
The Bible encourages us in Hebrews 10:25 to make gathering with other believers something that we don’t forsake. We gather, primarily on Sundays, to worship, pray, fellowship and receive empowering teaching to better equip us for service to God and our fellow man. Membership at ServeCity requires the prioritization of weekly church attendance; not just when you’re scheduled to serve. We love having you around.
4. Be Generous
The vision of ServeCity moves forward because of the corporate generosity of our church family. God transforms lives through people from a variety of socio-economic backgrounds, who give bountifully in proportion to His blessing. As a member, you are expected to share in taking ownership of building the vision that God has given us for our city and beyond. Moreover, as a Christian, the Bible encourages us to give generously, consistently, thoughtfully, not grudgingly and to do so cheerfully into the work of the Lord. Why? 1. It’s a form of worship and devotion to God 2. It makes a way for others to hear and encounter the Gospel 3. It positions us to receive financial harvest from the Lord, having our needs met and enabling us to meet the needs of others (2 Corinthians 9:6-11). No matter how big or small, your consistent gifts here at ServeCity matter.
MEMBERSHIP HONOUR CODE
As a member of ServeCity, you are expected to act honourably in the following ways:
● Be sincere, honest, respectful and trustworthy
● Protect the unity of our church:
● By acting in love towards other ServeCity members
● By refusing to start and or entertain gossip
● By aligning with and following church leadership
● By participating in church liturgy
Scriptures Around The Importance of Church Unity
“So let us concentrate on the things which make for harmony, and on the growth of one another’s character.” (Romans 14:19)
“Live in complete harmony with each other—each with the attitude of Christ toward the other.” (Romans 15:5)
“And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. (Ephesians 4:11-13)
“Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. (Hebrews 13:17)
WHAT WE BELIEVE
THE NICENE CREED
The Nicene Creed, also called the Nicaeno-Constantinopolitan Creed, is a statement of the orthodox faith of the early Christian church in opposition to certain heresies, especially Arianism. These heresies, which disturbed the church during the fourth century, concerned the doctrine of The Trinity and of the person of Christ. This creed goes back partially to the Council of Nicaea (A.D. 325) with additions by the Council of Constantinople (A.D. 381) to combat more heresies. ServeCity Church affirms and accepts this creed as an accurate summary of our fundamental belief system.
“We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, begotten from the Father before all ages, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made; of the same essence as the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation He came down from heaven; he became incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary, and was made human. He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried. The third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures. He ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again with glory to judge the living and the dead. His Kingdom will never end. And we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life. He proceeds from the Father and with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified. He spoke through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church. We affirm one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look forward to the resurrection of the dead, and to life in the world to come. Amen.”
SERVECITY CHURCH IS AN EXPRESSION OF CHRISTIANITY THAT IS:
Orthodox, but not Eastern Orthodox - To be ‘orthodox’ means to hold to the widely agreed upon and or historic beliefs of a religion. Within the context of Christianity, ServeCity is orthodox in the aforementioned sense of the word. Consequently, we are committed to the historic Christian Fatih and adherence to the various creeds and doctrines that are a result of the first seven ecumenical councils of The Church.
Catholic, but not Roman Catholic - We consider ourselves to be a part of the one, holy catholic and apostolic Church (‘catholic’ referring to the global church). This concept predates what is known officially as ‘Roman Catholicism’ today. Christianity is bigger and older that any one denomination and includes Christians everywhere, who have been baptized in the name of The Father, Son & Holy Spirit. ServeCity is catholic in this sense.
Apostolic, but not Oneness - We confess and believe that this Christian Faith was passed down and preserved, through the ages, by the Apostles of Jesus Christ and their successors. It is not new, novel nor can it be confined to any of the modern denominations that claim exclusivity today. ServeCity is apostolic in this ancient sense of the word and is not to be confused with the so called “apostolic faith” rooted in anti-Trinitarian, “oneness” theology, which originated officially in the early 20th century.
DOCTRINAL & PRAXIS DISTINCTIVES
Trinitarian - We affirm and accept the doctrine of the Trinity: One God, eternally existent in three distinct, coeternal, coequal persons: God The Father, God The Son and God The Holy Spirit. We believe this to be the unequivocal witness of both Holy Scripture and history. We consider every other view to be heresy.
Sacramentalist - We believe that one of the ways God dispenses His grace to us is through Holy Sacraments (ie. Baptism, The Eucharist, Confession etc.) God uses Sacraments to initiate us into the Christian body, forgive our sins, deepen our relationship with Him and empower us for a faithful life of service.
Charismatic - We believe in submission to the leading of the Holy Spirit, in our worship of God and service to mankind. We further believe that His supernatural gifts and manifestations (ie. prophecy, tongues, healing etc) are still in effect and available for Christians today. When used in an orderly fashion, they can build us up personally, strengthen the Church corporately and win the lost to Christ globally.
Missional - Our desire is to equip and encourage our membership to faithfully carry out Christ’s commission. By God’s grace, we strive to ever-posture our minds and actions around reaching the lost with the Gospel. We believe that this should frame and fuel our gathering and our going.
Credobaptist - At ServeCity we only water baptize those who are able to make a credible profession of faith in the Gospel of Jesus. Although we do not condemn those who practice “Infant Baptism,” we do not baptize babies. However, our pastors do lay hands on and bless the children of parents who are desirous of publicly dedicating them to the Lord, after the similitude of Jesus in Mark 10:13-16.
Soft Complementarian - The Bible outlines distinct and timeless roles for men and women. However, we believe that Scripture is clear that God has chosen to use both genders to accomplish His Gospel purposes. Consequently, we affirm, equip and create opportunities for both men and women to serve in ministry, yet and still honouring the natural and spiritual dynamics that God has designed.
Liturgical - With the hope of remaining connected with the universal Christian body and the historic Faith, we observe general Christian holidays (ie. Christmas, Lent, Easter etc.), follow a liturgical calendar, utilize vestments and ancient books in worship (ie. “Book Of The Gospels,” “The Book of Common Prayer”), recite historic creeds that champion and guard Christianity and read written prayers (in addition to our extemporaneous prayers).
CORE VALUES
SACRED SCRIPTURE - Our belief system and practices are founded primarily on the Bible. Consequently, our leaders are committed to the study and expository preaching of God's Word. We strive to teach, preach and practice ministry in a manner that is relevant, practical and most importantly cantered around the good news about Jesus and His love. (Ephesians 4:14; 2 Timothy 2:15; 2 Timothy 3:16, 17; Romans 1:16; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 9:19-22; 1 Thessalonians 1:5; Ephesians 4:15).
HISTORY & TRADITION In order to be relevant, while still remaining anchored to to the ancient Faith, we are committed to continuously deepening of our understanding of Church History and the employment of historic Christian traditions and Creeds, as we are led by The Holy Spirit. We are not to idolize tradition; it instead should serve as a secondary guide, working in harmony with sacred Scripture and galvanizing us with the universal Christian body. (2 Thessalonians 2:15; John 21:25)
PRAYER - We are committed to constant communication with God through personal and corporate prayer as is encouraged by scripture. God is all powerful, all knowing and is present everywhere, simultaneously. Therefore, we as a church are dedicated to interceding on behalf of our city and the nations of the world as God is capable of solving any issue we as humans face (2 Chronicles 7:14; Luke 18:1; Ephesians 6:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; James 5:17).
WORSHIP & ARTS - We are committed to the praise and worship of God with our time, talents and resources. To this end, we strive to glorify God while gathered in our homes, worship facilities and most importantly in our everyday lives. Furthermore, using the arts, we endeavor to honor God, connect His people and engage culture (Ephesians 5:19; Psalms 150; 134:1, 2; Romans 12:1-2).
COMMUNITY - We are committed to following the New Testament church's example of "doing life together." In other words, we as a church, endeavor to live connected in community; serving and building one another up with love and authenticity (John 13:35; Acts 2:42, 46; Acts 4:32-35; Hebrews 10:25; Galatians 6:1, 2).
OUTREACH - Jesus' purpose for coming to Earth, the first time, was to reach and save those who were relationally separated from God, with His love. Before His return to Heaven, He empowered His followers to reach the lost and point them to Himself for salvation. To this end, we are committed to living as missionaries, reaching beyond the four walls of our gathering places to share and show the Good news about Jesus to our city and the nations of the world. Additionally, we are intentional about creating gathering environments where people can come as they are, belong and most importantly be transformed by The Gospel. (Luke 19:10; Matthew 28:19, 20; Matthew 5:16; Acts 1:8; Romans 1:16; 2 Corinthians 2:2-5).
DIVERSITY - We are committed to serving people from all walks of life. It is our desire to positively impact everyone within our reach with the Good News about Jesus and His love. No matter who a person is, what they look like or where they're from, they are welcome at ServeCity and will be treated with love and respect (John 3:16; Galatians 3:28; Matthew 28:19; Acts 1:8; Matthew 25:35-40; Matthew 23:11).
KINGDOM SUPPORT - We do not consider ourselves to be in competition with other evangelical churches. Therefore, we are committed to praying for, supporting and serving them as such opportunities arise. In as much, we hope to help maintain unity in Christ's body and advance His kingdom in our city and the nations of the world (John 17:11; 1 Corinthians 12:12-26).
MARRIAGE & FAMILY SUPPORT - We are strong proponents for healthy marriages and families. In fact, we believe that many of the issues our world faces today can be resolved through the strengthening of the family unit. Therefore, we are committed to doing all we can to support the married, those considering marriage, and families in our circle of influence (Colossians 3:18-20; Ephesians 5:22-27).
MINISTRY TRAINING - We are committed to and passionate about helping people identify their God-given gifts, callings and preparing them to walk therein. It is our belief that the future of the Church and its impact is based on our equipping and empowering those in our midst for the work of lay and vocational ministry (Ephesians 4:11, 12).
OFFICIAL MESSAGE FROM OUR SENIOR PASTOR
In many ways ServeCity Church is unconventional. Although we hold to the historic Christian Faith, Jesus has led us on an "out-of-the-box" journey, since our inception and we're here for all of it lol. Starting in a Malvern movie theatre, a community that has been marked by gang violence and other notable social issues, people wondered how anything good could begin therein. However, God defied the odds and compelled people from a plethora of backgrounds - the “hood” to the boardroom - to converge at the foot of the Cross, colliding with the paradigm shifting love of Jesus, resulting in salvation, deliverance, restoration and the testimonies continue to roll on. God is unequivocally at work in our midst. We continue to be mind-blown by The Father, Son & Holy Spirit!
Over the past seven years, our church family has grown literally by the hundreds and even thousands, through our online presence - praise God! Many of you are faithful volunteers in our midst, truly embodying our name and what it means to "serve our city." For this we are eternally grateful. Others, simply attend but are not plugged in, committed and or contributing. Being a congregation that started from scratch, we have been hyper-focused on finding our footing, establishing our identity and building a solid volunteer base. Consequently, we have taken our time with emphasizing "membership" and instead have understandably honed in on calling people to join our "Dream Team," as you don't have to be an official member to be a volunteer.
However, in the recent days, as we are moving into more of an established season, God has instructed us that it is now time to offer and call people into full-communion / membership with our congregation. This means that you're not just an attendee or a volunteer, but that you are in full agreement with the values, beliefs and distinctives of ServeCity Church; officially committed to this congregation for the foreseeable future. This not only contributes to strengthening the foundation of our church, but it also gives our leadership a clear idea as to who is all-in with us and can truly be counted on to help build this vision for the generations ahead.
The fact is that many of you are already prepared to take this step and others consider yourselves as a part of the family, so this is simply to make it official. Whether you have been a part of ServeCity from its inception, just started coming within the last year, we are asking all of you, who are ready, to take this official step. This way, everyone will have entered the church through the "front door" and the standard will be the same for everyone going forward.
Moreover, this practice is not novel, nor is it new to the Christian experience. In fact, most mainstream Christian traditions have always included a formal induction process of some sort for people who are seeking membership with a congregation. Common terms to express this are usually "Confirmation," and or "The Right Hand Of Fellowship." Although this process differs in placement, emphasis and practice based on the faith tradition, it is generally centred around affirming, strengthening the faith of a baptized individual and or officially welcoming them into the church family.
At ServeCity Church, during the brief ceremony, you will be asked to confirm your agreement with the fundaments of the Christian Faith and the values of ServeCity Church and I, as the Senior Pastor, will pray a special prayer over you, asking for the Holy Spirit to anoint and enable you to fulfil your commitment as a member in full-communion with our congregation. Simple, yet significant. New members will also receive an official certificate and commemorative pin to seal the event.
So, are you ready / interested making it official? Fill out the form above to sign up for one of the upcoming opportunities for you to be Confirmed / Extended The Right Hand Of Fellowship.
Lastly, whether you're all-in or still discerning your future with ServeCity, there is no pressure. All are welcome and there are no "second class" people in our midst. You are seen, known, loved and valued, wherever you are on your journey. #noperfectpeopleallowed
In Christ,
Bishop G. Andrew Beresford