Covenant Community
At Hillside, we don’t have church members in the traditional sense. Our commitment to each other, the local church, and to God is expressed in a covenant that joins us together as a “covenant community.”
Why “covenant community” and not “membership”?
A covenant was a binding agreement in ancient history, made in relationship. Literally, the word ‘covenant’ means a “coming together”. Covenants were made with an understanding of deep commitment and obligation, with the seriousness of marriage. God has made covenants with his people throughout history, and we believe a covenanting community is what the church is all about. The giving of ourselves to God and others sums up our role in the world. The word “membership” in our culture has become a word synonymous with benefits and entitlement. We have chosen “covenant community” to more accurately describe what it means to be part of this church body as a servant of Christ.
How does covenant community relate to Hillside’s by-laws and statement of faith?
The by-laws describe official categories of membership for legal purposes, but refer to a membership policy for what membership means and looks like. The covenant community document (available at the church) is our membership policy which became effective January 1, 2008. The statement of faith is foundational to our church and it is entrenched in the by-laws that ‘active members’ (i.e., participants in the covenant community) will subscribe to this statement of what we believe. The covenant community document flows from our values and describes who we are and what we do.
How can I become part of the covenant community?
As a follower of Jesus who is 18 years of age or older, you are invited into covenant community with us. The process is simple: 1. Become familiar with our values and commit to living them out in community. 2. Sign our covenant. 3. Arrange an informal interview with two elders to share your journey with Jesus, to express your agreement with the statement of faith, and to discuss your role in covenant community.
Do I have to be baptized to join the covenant community?
No. Although we recognize baptism as a significant step in the journey of the believer, baptism is not a requirement to join the fellowship of the covenant community. Christ followers who have not been baptized will be encouraged to do so – it is a public witness of faith that has been practiced by followers of Jesus for 2,000 years! We practice baptism of believers by immersion, but do not hold rigidly to the mode of baptism. If you have been baptized previously before you became a believer (e.g. as an infant), you may decide to be baptized again. This does not devalue a prior experience, but simply reflects a Spirit-led decision to identify publically with Christ through baptism as a believer. Overall, we believe that the timing and mode of baptism is less important than a heart-felt faith in Christ, expressed in a life that has been set free to worship God in spirit and truth. A brochure on baptism is available.
What is my role in covenant community?
Being part of covenant community begins with living out your confession of Jesus as Lord as you engage with others in becoming more like him. Allowing the Spirit to lead you into truth and love, your role is to use all you have (talents, gifts, finances) to serve Jesus in the church, community and around the globe. In addition, we invite you to participate in ministry decisions when appropriate by attending and voting at meetings called for this purpose.
How is the covenant community held accountable?
In community, we hold each other accountable in love, spurring one another on to love and good deeds. The leadership and hubs and relationship with one another help us all live as followers of Jesus. We submit to each other, belong to each other and take care of each other in relational community, mutually submitting to one another.
Why should I “join”?
Your confession of Jesus as Lord assumes you are a member of his body, the church. Signing our covenant is simply a way of joining together locally to bring Jesus’ hope to the world.
Who is this covenant between?
This is a covenant between both you and God, and you and the rest of the local church. We are one in Christ, and we covenant before him as a people, not just persons.
What if I decide not to join the covenant community?
Joining the covenant community is strictly voluntary. If you choose not to sign the covenant you are still welcome to participate in community as an “adherent”, i.e. to embrace the spirit of the covenant and choose to live out the values of this community. You will not be able to serve in leadership roles and you will not have a vote at official meetings of the covenant community. However, you will be given opportunity to express your support of important motions with an “adherent’s ballot”.
