COMMITMENT COVENANT FOR LAUNCHING A NEW EVANGELICAL FREE CHURCH

EFCA Southeast District Church Plant Covenant

Recognizing that there exists an interdependency among churches affiliated with the EFCA, and that those who attend EFCA churches must exhibit a spirit of humility, mutual support and accountability among the association of other EFCA churches.
I wish to openly state our commitment to work within the following guidelines:

1. I am unreservedly in agreement with the EFCA Statement of Faith.


2. I am in agreement with implementing a congregational form of government with in the two-year time frame after "Prevue Services” begin.


3. I fully agree to the process of developing leaders for the new church. Beginning with the Provision Leadership Team and eventually appointing elders for the new church recognizing the process may take 2 years or more.


4. I fully agree to be credentialed (license or ordination) before beginning official meeting for this new ministry. Each additional staff pastor will be encouraged to be credentialed.


5. I will demonstrate a spirit of harmony in working with my brothers and sisters in Christ (even across denominational lines), with the SED representatives, and with the Regional Steering Committee assigned to us.


6. I agree to use the Articles of Incorporation approved by the EFCA Southeast District as proposed by the Director of Church Planting. Any by-laws written prior to the new church functioning congregationally must receive final approval by the SED-EFCA Superintendent.


7. I fully agree to have the new church plant support financially the EFCA, the EFCA Southeast District, the SED's Church Planting efforts and missions, as the agreed upon in Articles of Incorporation state. The pastor must be receiving his full salary from the church before it begins tithing.


8. I will attend the Church Planter's Network Meetings, Coaching Sessions, the Regional EFCA Pastor's Gatherings, and the SED-EFCA Annual Conference.


signed: ______________________________ date: ____________
phone:_________________ email address:___________________________