Thank you for choosing to serve at Christ Fellowship as a Volunteer Leader. By choosing to enter into a leadership role in one of our ministries, you are entering into a position of authority. Those you lead will watch you closely and take what you say seriously. Leaders should be role models and leaders are called to a higher standard.
As a leader, your lifestyle matters a lot. Who you are when you serve should be consistent with who you are the remainder of the week. That is why we ask everyone serving in a leadership role to agree to this Volunteer Leader Covenant.
We do not want to put you in a position where you feel pressure to teach, represent, or appear to agree to a view on the subjects shared below that you do not personally embrace. Those we serve must see a consistency in our faith and how we express it in our daily lives and in our service together. In other words, “how” we live and serve together is as important as “what” we do in our individual ministries. So in regard to lifestyle, here is what we expect our volunteer leaders to model and communicate.
Daily Quiet Time and Bible Engagement:
I realize the greatest way I can serve my church his to grow my personal relationship with Jesus through daily prayer and Bible engagement. By actively reading the Word of God and praying, I will live out our core value, “Grow to Go.”
Tithes & Offerings:
I commit to returning to the Lord the first ten percent of what He entrusts to me as my tithe and to give beyond that as directed by the Holy Spirit. I will give my tithe to Christ Fellowship, the local church at which I worship and serve.
Social Behavior:
My Words: I will use my words to build up the church and the people I serve alongside. Proverbs 18:21 says, “Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit--you choose.” I choose to speak words of kindness and hope. I will give people the benefit of the doubt.
Social Media: While social media can be a great connection tool, it also serves as a window into your life beyond when you are serving. With this in mind, we ask that you practice wisdom in your use of social media as follows:
- I commit to be wise in what I post to any form of social media. I will err on the side of caution and avoid posting anything that is inappropriate or could be considered inappropriate.
- I commit to avoid posting anything that be seen as negative or demeaning towards others.
- I commit to speak highly of THE church (Christ Fellowship as well as the Global Church) and of church leaders. I will not openly criticize any church leader through social media.
Drugs & Alcohol:
If you have a history of alcohol or drug abuse, this can be something God uses in a positive way to steer the next generation in a different direction. While we believe that God wants to redeem and use every part of our story, we ask you to set some boundaries in place to help protect you as well those you are leading by committing to the following:
- I commit to avoiding the use of illegal drugs or any other substances that can damage my physical health and or my testimony.
- I commit to avoiding the use of alcohol in such a way that could significantly and negatively impact the community I serve or damage my reputation in the eyes of those I’m leading. I understand that this is more of a leadership and appearance issue than it is a biblical issue.
- I will refrain from using tobacco or abuse over the counter or prescription medications.
Entertainment & Recreation:
People are watching you whether you realize it or not. That’s why it’s important for you to use discernment and discretion in your choice of entertainment and recreation. We ask that you show wisdom by adhering to the following:
- With the movies and TV programs I watch, and any video games I play, I will err on the side of caution and avoid anything that would be considered inappropriate for me as a leader at Christ Fellowship.
Sexual Behavior:
We teach that sex was created by God as an expression of intimacy between a man and woman within the context of marriage. Volunteer leaders who embrace lifestyles or behaviors that conflict with this teaching will eventually find themselves having to pretend to be something they are not or pretend to believe something they don't. To avoid situations like this, we ask volunteer leaders to honor the following commitments:
- I commit to live a lifestyle that models sexual purity in all areas of my life. Ephesians 5:3 says there should not even be a hint of sexual immorality in my life and I will strive to live that way.
- I commit to not be in a sexually active relationship outside of marriage and to setting healthy intimacy boundaries in any relationship I pursue.
- As an unmarried person, I commit to being a good example by choosing not to live with a member of the opposite sex.
- I commit to avoid intentionally putting unwholesome things before my eyes (Psalms 101:3) including pornography or television shows/movies with graphic sexual content.
Accountability & Confidentiality:
I commit to being teachable and transparent, open to review and evaluation so that I may grow spiritually and in my ability to serve God. I understand there may be times when I learn a fellow team member or Christ Fellowship leader has or is currently acting or living his or her life in a manner that is inconsistent with Christ Fellowship’s Core Values and this Volunteer Leader Covenant. If this involves sexual immorality or conduct which represents a danger to themselves or others, I will immediately bring this to the attention of the Pastor who oversees my ministry to determine appropriate next steps.
If you find yourself struggling in one of these areas or find yourself in a place where you cannot make these commitments, we ask that you speak to one of our pastors to help you grow and ask that you not serve as a volunteer leader or volunteer in our children’s or student ministries at this time.