partners for the gospel

At Sojourn, we use the word partnership in place of members. We view each other as brothers and sisters who have made a commitment in partnership to a common mission. This process serves to clarify the biblical obligations, expectations, and commitments for both the Elders and individual Partners of Sojourn Church.

Our partnership process begins by reading through our vision, distinctives, and beliefs, to make sure we are aligned.

After that, read through the following commitment and “sign” by having out your name and email address. We will receive a notification of your agreement and will fill out our partnership document for you so we can keep it on file.

If this is your first time filling out the agreement, one of our Elders will be in touch to set up a meeting to connect further.

Covenant Partnership agreement

As Partners and Elders of Sojourn Church, we commit to...

1. DISCIPLESHIP

  • Partners: The local church is a microcosm of God’s universal church. As partners at Sojourn Church, we commit to follow Jesus: being with him, becoming like Him, and doing what He did.

  • Elders: To care for God’s church and seek her continual growth and formation in grace, truth, and love.

2. SCRIPTURE

  • Partners: To unity on closed-handed issues (defined in Sojourn’s Beliefs), to give charity on open-handed issues, and to submit to Scripture as the final authority on all issues.

  • Elders: To provide teaching and counsel from the whole of Scripture and to be on guard against false teachers and teachings.

3. HUMILITY

  • Partners: To submit to the vision and direction of the elders and to diligently strive for unity and peace with all Sojourn partners in the Spirit of Christ as put forward in Philippians 2.

  • Elders: To appoint elders, board members, pastors, leaders, and staff according to biblical criteria found in Scripture.

4. GENEROSITY

  • Partners: To regular financial giving that is voluntary, sacrificial, and cheerful.

  • Elders: To partner with Sojourn’s Advisory Board members to prayerfully seek God’s will and steward Sojourn Church’s resources based on Scripture and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

5. INVESTING

  • Partners: To steward well all God-given resources such as time, talents, and spiritual gifts in serving those inside and outside of the Sojourn Church community.

  • Elders: To equip and support Sojourn partners to follow Jesus.

6. COMMUNITY

  • Partners: To participate in the life of Sojourn Church by attending weekly gatherings (either in-person or online) and investing in the relational community through the opportunities that Sojourn Church provides.

  • Elders: To set an example and join Sojourn partners in living life in biblical community.

7. SANCTIFICATION

  • Partners: To seek to grow in holiness and live in authenticity before one another and God.

  • Elders: To set an example of repentance while joining fellow Sojourn partners in living lives worthy of the gospel.

8. DISCIPLINE

  • Partners: To follow biblical procedures where sin is evident in another and receive discipline when graciously and biblically approached by fellow followers of Jesus.

  • Elders: To lovingly and humbly exercise discipline when necessary, for the glory of God, the good of the one disciplined, and the health of Sojourn Church as a whole.