Abernathy United Partnership Agreement
PARTNERSHIP IN THE GOSPEL AT ABERNATHY UNITED
Abernathy United (AU) is a diverse family on mission with Christ! We are a gospel-centered family learning and living the way of Jesus for the glory of God and the good of our neighbor. We are truly a very diverse family with different needs and giftings. Every follower of Christ at AU is needed in the body, both to serve and be served. As a family in Christ, it is vital for us to know who is in the family and how we operate within that family. We do that through partnership.
WHAT IS PARTNERSHIP?
“I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.” — Philippians 1:3-5
A true partnership in the church is active participation in the gospel. Paul’s letter to the churches in Philippi provides a wonderful example of this kind of relationship within the church. The Philippians had shared in Paul’s proclamation of the gospel, sympathized with his suffering for it, suffered for it themselves, gave sacrificially to support the cause of Christ, worked together to be a distinct people on display in their city, and prayed for Paul and the progress of the gospel, all as an overflow of love born in them by the Spirit. This is the kind of partnership we desire among the people of AU, and we recognize this through a partnership commitment.
This partnership commitment serves to clarify what it means to be a part of our church family and encourages us to learn and live the way of Jesus. The church commits to providing opportunities for growth and places to serve. Partners commit to surrendering to the process of being conformed to the image of Jesus and pursuing their calling in the Kingdom of God. We recognize that this is a journey and that the journey to become more like Jesus looks different for each person. Essentially, this commitment allows those who want to be a partner at AU to establish a close relationship of mutual benefit, promoting the gospel through cooperation, sympathy, suffering, financial giving, active labor, prayer, and love. At AU, we take very seriously our commitment to the Lord and to each other.
AU recognizes that there might be seasons where you are unable to fulfill or affirm certain aspects of this commitment. This does not mean you are no longer a partner. While we want to strive towards unity in these things, we are a church operating in grace and love for its partners. There might be a season where you are struggling financially and are unable to give monetarily. There might be a season where you are wrestling with a theological issue or cultural concern. If these issues arise, we want to make space for our partners to work through difficulties or doubts. We simply ask that, in those seasons, you let us know and let us walk with you in whatever it is you're working through. Please consider making AU your church home where we are all committed to becoming more like Christ and sharing the gospel as a family.
THE ELDERS OF ABERNATHY UNITED PARTNER WITH YOU BY BEING COMMITTED TO:
Abernathy United (AU) is a diverse family on mission with Christ! We are a gospel-centered family learning and living the way of Jesus for the glory of God and the good of our neighbor. We are truly a very diverse family with different needs and giftings. Every follower of Christ at AU is needed in the body, both to serve and be served. As a family in Christ, it is vital for us to know who is in the family and how we operate within that family. We do that through partnership.
WHAT IS PARTNERSHIP?
“I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.” — Philippians 1:3-5
A true partnership in the church is active participation in the gospel. Paul’s letter to the churches in Philippi provides a wonderful example of this kind of relationship within the church. The Philippians had shared in Paul’s proclamation of the gospel, sympathized with his suffering for it, suffered for it themselves, gave sacrificially to support the cause of Christ, worked together to be a distinct people on display in their city, and prayed for Paul and the progress of the gospel, all as an overflow of love born in them by the Spirit. This is the kind of partnership we desire among the people of AU, and we recognize this through a partnership commitment.
This partnership commitment serves to clarify what it means to be a part of our church family and encourages us to learn and live the way of Jesus. The church commits to providing opportunities for growth and places to serve. Partners commit to surrendering to the process of being conformed to the image of Jesus and pursuing their calling in the Kingdom of God. We recognize that this is a journey and that the journey to become more like Jesus looks different for each person. Essentially, this commitment allows those who want to be a partner at AU to establish a close relationship of mutual benefit, promoting the gospel through cooperation, sympathy, suffering, financial giving, active labor, prayer, and love. At AU, we take very seriously our commitment to the Lord and to each other.
AU recognizes that there might be seasons where you are unable to fulfill or affirm certain aspects of this commitment. This does not mean you are no longer a partner. While we want to strive towards unity in these things, we are a church operating in grace and love for its partners. There might be a season where you are struggling financially and are unable to give monetarily. There might be a season where you are wrestling with a theological issue or cultural concern. If these issues arise, we want to make space for our partners to work through difficulties or doubts. We simply ask that, in those seasons, you let us know and let us walk with you in whatever it is you're working through. Please consider making AU your church home where we are all committed to becoming more like Christ and sharing the gospel as a family.
THE ELDERS OF ABERNATHY UNITED PARTNER WITH YOU BY BEING COMMITTED TO:
- Appointing elders and deacons who serve in these offices, according to the criteria assigned to them in the Scriptures (1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Peter 5:1-4)
- Prayerfully seeking God’s will for our church community and stewarding her resources to the best of our ability based on our study of the Scriptures and leading of the Spirit (Acts 20:28, 1 Peter 5:1-4)
- Caring for the partners of the church and seek their growth in grace, truth, and love (Matthew 28:16- 20; Ephesians 4:15-16; Colossians 1:28; James 5:14)
- Providing gospel-centered teaching and counsel from the whole of Scripture (Acts 20:27-28; 1 Timothy 4:16; 2 Timothy 4:1-5; Titus 2:1)
- Equipping the partners of the church for the work of ministry (Ephesians 4:11-16)
- Being on guard against false teachers and teachings (Matthew 7:15; Acts 20:28-31; 1 Timothy 1:3-7; 1 John 4:7)
- Lovingly exercising church discipline, when necessary, for the glory of God, the good of the one disciplined and the health of the church (Matthew 18:15-20; 1 Corinthians 5; Galatians 5:7; James 5:19-20)
- Leading as an example, fulfilling the same requirements we ask of every committed partner (Acts 20:27-28; 1 Timothy 4:16; 2 Timothy 4:1-5; Titus 2:1)
- Regularly praying for each partner (Acts 20:27-28; 1 Timothy 4:16; 2 Timothy 4:1-5; Titus 2:1)
GETTING TO KNOW YOU AND YOUR FAMILY
Before we move forward with affirming our partnership agreement, we’d like to gather a bit of information about you and your family to help us stay connected and better serve you. Please take a moment to fill out the details below, and then we’ll walk you through the process of affirming the partnership agreement.
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