One of the greatest gifts God has given us is the local church. Gathered together as one in Christ, we form a unique community that is a living example of the risen Jesus and a tangible expression of His Kingdom on earth. We believe a strong and healthy local church is absolutely vital to our spiritual lives, our families and the hope of our community. And a healthy church is grown through a shared devotion to life and mission together. Partnership is about this shared devotion to the life and mission of Georges River Life Church. Partnership is saying “I belong here and am committed”. It is personally championing the values of our church, and actively participating in and contributing to the unfolding vision.
WHAT DO WE ASK OF GRLC PARTNERS?
- A passionate commitment to following Christ, a lifestyle of worship, faith, and affirmation of the essential beliefs of GRLC.
- A personal commitment to relationship with one another, serving with our gifts, resourcing the ministry and mission of GRLC, and embodying our core values.
In practical terms… this could look like serving together in a ministry, worshiping together on Sundays, relating together in Small Groups and other key events, and making a financial commitment to the church each year.
As a partner, you have the right to exercise your voice in matters involving the church including your right to vote on substantial areas such as Finances, Property, the appointment of the Senior Minister and the Church Leadership Team. You will also have the right to have relevant transparent information regarding the health of the church, including finances and ministries.
WHY PARTNERSHIP
Church partners participate in the decisions of Georges River in matters concerning:
- the direction and vision of the church,
- the use and development of our church property and finances,
- the appointment and affirmation of the Senior Pastor and Church Leadership Team.
WHEN CAN I BECOME A PARTNER?
We recommend people wait 6 months before applying to become a Partner. This allows time to find a home at GRLC and understand our Mission, Vision and Values.
CAN I BECOME A PARTNER IF I HAVEN’T BEEN BAPTISED?
Yes, you can. Partnership is open to all who believe in and follow Jesus regardless of how you have publicly declared your faith. We encourage all believers to publicly declare their faith in a meaningful way. Our preference for believers is through water baptism and we encourage everyone to respond to what we believe to be an unambiguous instruction of Jesus for his followers as found in Matthew 28.19-20 to be baptised. Because the church is a member of the Baptist Churches of NSW & ACT, it is an Act of Parliament that any legal decisions involving property can only be voted on by GRLC partners who subscribe (pending CLT decision on wording) to the Baptist Statement of Beliefs (Common Beliefs) which includes water baptism by immersion.
IS PARTNERSHIP PERMANENT?
No. Unlike membership, which was a one-time event, partnership places a high value on a person’s active ongoing commitment to the vision and values of the church. We suggest people be in the church for at least six months before they become a partner and to renew their commitment to partnership every 3 years.
WHAT ARE THE GRLC CORE VALUES?
We:
Surrender to God – obediently submitting to the love of the Father, the leading of the Spirit and the way of Jesus under the authority of Scripture.
Walk intimately with Jesus – empowered by the Holy Spirit, we devote our lives to being with and becoming like Jesus.
Partner in Jesus’ mission – loving people, making disciples and redeeming all aspects of life on earth.
Commit to one another in love – serving and pursuing each other with the same love and grace Jesus shows us.