Distinctive of Church Practice

Membership

Just as the Church Universal is made up of those who have been saved through faith in Jesus Christ, so membership of The King's Community Church is conditional upon such salvation. Our definition of that salvation is contained in our Statement of Faith.

It is our practice that such salvation should be outwardly expressed in baptism as a believer, by total immersion in water. It is further our expectation that salvation be followed by baptism in the Holy Spirit, and whatever gifts the Lord chooses to bestow. Salvation also includes incorporation into the universal Body of Christ, which should be reflected in a covenant commitment to a local body of believers. Such commitment is regularly expressed in breaking bread together, corporately celebrating the death and resurrection of Jesus, both in congregational meetings and in one another's homes.

Church Government

Those who choose to join The King's Community Church do so in recognition of the pastoral oversight of the elders of the church. While pastoral accountability of the church is vested in the elders, they may delegate that pastoral care to others to ensure that the care is based on relational reality.

The elders recognize that there are a number of divinely instituted spheres of authority: civil government, the family (in which the husband is the head of the home), and the individual's personal responsibility to be obedient to God and His Word, the Bible. Without contradicting any of the above, the members of the church should also recognize the authority of those whom God has placed in leadership in the church.

The elders of the church acknowledge their own need to maintain a submissive spirit. In practice, this means being willing to embrace the counsel of other leaders in the wider Body of Christ, submitting to one another in the plurality of local elders under one presiding pastor, and the recognition of apostolic oversight. In this way the elders will be in a position to serve the local church.

The responsibility of the elders has two essential elements:

Leadership to facilitate the maturity of the church

It is the responsibility of the elders to be role models and to equip the saints and help them toward maturity. To that end, they will seek to offer

  1. Pastoral care (shepherding)

  2. Training, primarily in character and secondly in ministry (discipleship)

  3. Instruction in the Word of God.

They may choose to share these functions in a delegated form with other leaders in the church.

The goal of maturity is further encouraged by House Fellowships. These small groups form the relational foundation of the church. In these groups, both in weekly meetings and in consistent fellowship, growth is encouraged under caring leadership and in relational support.

Leadership to maintain the purity of the church

We believe that the Bible teaches that those who persist wilfully in sin cannot be allowed to remain in the church. the responsibility of church discipline has been vested in the eldership, and will be exercised in accordance with the principles laid out in Matthew 18:

  1. When a person in the church becomes aware of wilful sin in the life of another member, he is to lovingly confront that person with the seriousness of the situation.

  2. If such appeals are not heeded, the elders will personally confront the person with the fact that there appears to be wilful, unresolved sin in their life.

  3. If there is no change, the charge will be repeated in the presence of two or three witnesses.

  4. If there is still no change, the matter will be reported to the whole church.

  5. Finally if a person still persists in sin, the elders have the authority to exclude that person from membership of the church.

  6. Where there is repentance, the eldership is committed to working through a process of restoration with the person concerned.

To become a member of The King's Community Church, one must recognize the government which exists in the church, and in particular the responsibility of the eldership both in discipleship and discipline. The implications of membership are outlined in a commitment class (called "Family Genes"): those who wish to become members are requested to attend these classes in order to be acquainted with the vision and practices of the church prior to making a decision to join.

IMG_0335.JPG

Behaviour

We believe that the church is to be a holy people. We believe that God has established His Word, the Bible, as the standard for all of life. The Holy Spirit provides the power which enables us to bring our lives into conformity with the revealed will of God. Such obedience is by faith, but our dependence on grace does not imply that the holy requirements of God's Word may be taken lightly. Rather, that grace enables us to live lives that are pleasing to God.

Family

We believe that the family (based on the Biblical model of a married man and woman, and their children) is the essential building block of society. God has ordained authority in the family which cannot be usurped by church, state, or any other institution (1 Corinthians 11:3).

 In order to safeguard the sanctity of marriage, we affirm the Biblical prohibition of sexual relationships outside of marriage (fornication, adultery or homosexuality).

Worship

We believe that man was made for the praise of God's glory. Praise and worship form a central part of our individual and corporate lives. We desire to express our gratitude and love to God in praise and worship that is spontaneous and joyful, led by the Holy Spirit. In our worship, we would expect there to be manifestations of the gifts of the Holy Spirit such as tongues and prophecy. Since our worship is to be "in spirit and in truth", a high priority in our corporate worship service is given to the teaching of the Word of God, with an emphasis on expository preaching.

Ministry

We believe in the priesthood of all believers, and therefore desire that all members of the church should discover and function in the calling and gifting of God for their lives. All may have a contribution to make in our corporate gatherings. Each member can know the anointing of the Holy Spirit to enable them to play a part in the declaration and demonstration of the Kingdom of God.

Included among such areas of ministry are:

Prayer

All are called to pray and some have a particular ministry of intercession. We pray knowing that "we wrestle not against flesh and blood" but engaging in spiritual warfare against the principalities and powers arrayed against the Kingdom of God. We pray knowing we have been given authority in Jesus' name over sickness and demons

Evangelism

All are called to witness and some are set apart as evangelists. We seek in whatever ways we can to proclaim the gospel, both in evangelism at home and in missions abroad.

Service

All are called to become servants following in the example of Jesus. As we learn to serve one another in the Body of Christ, we are equipped to express His love in the care of those in need, both in the church and in the world.

The Message of the Kingdom

The Gospel is the good news of the Kingdom of God, and we are called to proclaim God's government in every area of life. We are called to be a prophetic voice calling society back to accountability to God's Word.

Education

We have a particular call to be involved in the realm of education, serving parents in assisting them to fulfil their God-given responsibility to educate their children in accordance with Biblical principles. As God is truth, we believe that all knowledge is inadequate apart from Him, and therefore we must seek to see Him restored to His rightful place at the centre of all education.

 In these and other areas of ministry, we believe that it is the task of the church to equip the saints for works of service.