As Christian leaders, we understand that we hold a responsibility to model a biblical lifestyle and leadership stance. In ministry, great relationships are key. The heart and tone of this agreement is rooted in a strong relationship with God and with each other. The following are a series of affirmations that are statements of our unity and purpose in Christ.

I am personally endeavouring with God to live out the following:

– To nurture a personal relationship with God, as patterned by Christ, through prayer, biblical scripture, a lifestyle of worship, gathering in community with other Christians, and other traditional Christian spiritual practices such as fasting and exercising spiritual gifts.
– To build community by connecting spiritually and relationally with each other and those we lead, and by sharing the struggles and triumphs of our journey.
– To operate within a culture of honour by affirming, cultivating, and drawing out the gifts of others (Rom. 12:4-8).
– To communicate with love, integrity and intention, and to maintain the confidence of others.
– To acknowledge and process grievances with a heart of grace and reconciliation.
– To search our hearts and to have a humble spirit that is open to teaching, correction and accountability to Holy Spirit, scripture and each other.
– To serve with commitment and generosity in terms of our time, talents and resources.
– While we recognize that we come from different theological backgrounds, we hold more in common than we differ.

I believe and wholeheartedly affirm the following:

– That prayer is powerful and personal. It is the foundation of our decision-making and an intimate conversation with our Father.
– That the Bible is God-breathed and a road map for our walk with Christ.
– That Holy Spirit is relevant for the church today.
– That the fruits and gifts of the Spirit are evident in our lives (Gal. 5:22, 1 Cor. 1:8-11).
– That as leaders we have a great measure of freedom, but we hold that freedom with a sense of responsibility to those that we lead (1 Cor. 9:1,19, Jn. 8:36, Rom. 12:1-2, 1 Cor. 6:12).
– That as leaders it is important that our public (including social media) and private lives are congruent so that we are not a stumbling block for others (Rom. 14:13, 21).
– That the state of our hearts is as important as our actions – a holy and pure lifestyle begins with the heart (Matt. 12:35; 15:18-19).
– That as Christians we cannot serve two masters – where light and life are flowing, there is no place for sin and darkness (Matt. 6:24, Jam. 3:9-12, Gal. 5).
– That God’s intention for marriage and sexual expression is a lifelong union between one man and one woman. Sexual intimacy is intended for marriage and sexual intimacy outside this protective bond is contrary to God’s good design for our humanity.

I recognize the following:

That if I can no longer, in good conscience, uphold these agreements, or if I struggle, even after seeking support, with habitual sins that contradict these agreements, I may have to step down from leadership until things are resolved.