MEMBERSHIP AGREEMENT

We believe in the Holy Trinity. There is one God, who exists eternally in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

We believe that we are all are sinners and totally unable to save ourselves from God’s judgement for our sin, except by His mercy and that salvation is based solely on His grace.

We believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, who through his perfect life and sacrificial death atoned for the sins of all who will trust in Him alone for salvation.

We believe that God is gracious and faithful to His people, not simply as individuals, but as families in successive generations, according to His covenant promises.

We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells and empowers all those who place their faith in Christ alone for salvation, giving them the strength and wisdom to trust Christ and follow Him.

We believe that Jesus will return one day as He promised, bodily and visibly, to Judge all mankind. God being holy and just requires perfection from us. God being gracious and loving provided perfection for us, in Christ. On the Day of the Lord, God will make all things new, restoring His beautiful creation. Those who trust in Christ will receive the restoration of their physical bodies, as evidenced by Christ’s resurrected body. Those who do not trust in Christ for salvation, will receive judgement, by being given over to their desire for life apart form God, resulting in eternal separation from God.

We believe that all aspects of our lives are to be lived to the glory of God under the lordship of Jesus Christ.

THE CALL TO BE A COMMUNITY OF LOVE
The message of the gospel is not only the entrance into Christian faith, but the power by which we live it out. We teach that followers of Jesus endeavour to live into their new humanity, as image bearers of God, conforming to the image of Christ. Endeavouring to be imitators of Jesus, we aim to relate to one another’s struggles with love, patience and long suffering.

THE CALL TO COMPASSION FOR THE POOR
We acknowledge the call of Christ to remember those in need and to minister healing and the hope of the gospel to the broken. We are committed to caring for the needs of our city, and as a membership we aim to do this in a variety of ways: by putting our hands to the work through various initiatives of the church, by financially supporting this work, and by relating to those in need with compassion when we encounter them in our city.

THE CALL TO SEEK THE GOOD OF THE CITY
We love the diversity and vitality of KW. We celebrate the arts, professions, education and the diverse cultural expressions that are here. We desire to be an outward facing church, involved in our community. We welcome seekers and skeptics. We invite their questions, graciously sharing why we have hope in Christ. We desire to show love to those who disagree with our convictions and maintain that this can be done without abandoning our convictions.

The elders at KW Redeemer endeavour to lead in a way that facilitates the flourishing we see in the New Testament church. We aim to lead according to the wise guidance of God’s word in the following ways:

COMMITMENT TO CHRIST-LIKE CHARACTER
1 Timothy 3:1-7 Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s schemes.

FAITHFULNESS TO SCRIPTURE
2 Timothy 3:16 “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

GOSPEL DRIVEN APPROACH TO AUTHORITY
Matthew 20:25-28 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

PASTORAL CARE
1 Peter 5:2-4 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.

OPEN COMMUNICATION
MEMBERSHIP AGREEMENT – Any revisions to our membership agreement will be sent out to our current membership before being used in future membership classes. Members who desire discussion on revisions are welcome to reach out to an elder who will be happy to bring clarification or rationale for the revision.

CHURCH BUDGET – In the Presbyterian form of government, the eldership is responsible to set the budget. Our church treasurer welcomes questions regarding church finances annually at our AGM, and throughout the year: rick[at]kwredeemer.com

DOCTRINE & AFFILIATION – As a Presbyterian Church, the doctrines of KW Redeemer are outlined in the Westminster Confession. No changes in any of our doctrinal positions or our church affiliation can be made unilaterally by our eldership. According to our denomination’s BCO (Book of Church Order) a change in our affiliation would require an open forum membership meeting, inviting discussion and require a 3/4 membership vote in favour of changing our affiliation.

ACCOUNTABILITY
Each member of our Elders Session is committed to holding each other accountable to the requirements of the office of elder, according to Scripture. Our Session sits on the Eastern Canada Presbytery where the Sessions from all churches hold one another accountable to lead in a manner worthy of Christ.

In the event a member has a complaint against an elder, they are encouraged to use Matthew 18 as their guide and go to the elder who has offended them, or go together with another member who is sympathetic to their complaint, in an effort to bring restoration and unity in the church.

Should an offence by an elder be severe, such that  going to them would be neither possible nor appropriate, the member may bring their complaint to the KW Redeemer Church Care team by reaching out to churchcare[at]kwredeemer.com

The Church Care team will contact the Eastern Canada Presbytery, who has the authority to investigate the complaint, the offending elder, and bring appropriate discipline to the offence. The process of church discipline is outlined in the Book of Church Order, ranging from formal admonition and public repentance to the removal from office, depending on the offence.