Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that, if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God's household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.- 1 Timothy 3:14,15
Grace Covenant Church of Roanoke is in association with about 20 other churches of like faith and practice. It is called Grace Network (formerly Grace Presbytery). Most of the churches are in the Middle Atlantic area. We have a missionary family in Great Britain working with drug addicts and one who recently returned from training pastors in Croatia. The association is totally voluntary and each church controls its own finances, property, and calls its own staff.
The Association shares common faith and practice, but our primary focus is on relationships. Pastors gather about 10 times a year for sharing and study. There are other meetings, seminars and workshops for church leaders, women, men, singles, college students, and teens.
The following material is from a position paper presented by one of presbytery leaders and expresses our common focus and uniqueness.
We noted above I Timothy 3:14 &15, which is one of those key verses where the Apostle Paul summarizes his understanding of the church. By using the phrases "house of God" and "the church of the Living God", Paul makes it clear that this new place of God's dwelling is a people and that their identifying characteristic is to be the presence of the Living God. By "Living God" we understand Paul to mean the God who permeates and intervenes in human history and the One who is to permeate our corporate life. Paul also states that the church is "the pillar and ground of the truth". We understand "ground" or foundation of the truth to mean that the church is the faithful proclaimer and preserver of the "faith that was once for all delivered to the saints". We believe the notion of "pillar" implies the framework or the embodiment of the truth. Of the many things that might be said of the N.T. Church, the above leads us to say the following: the N.T. Church is a group of people called out by God and indwelt by His Presence that would reflect and model the life of its head, the Lord Jesus Christ.
What is the purpose of this group of people? The purposes of God for the church are manifold. We may summarize them as follows:
- To glorify God, which means to bring him due honor, by understanding and obeying His word and by giving him the credit that corresponds to the grace that we have received. Eph. 1:12, Ps. 29:1,2
- To love God with all of our being, which includes giving to God our greatest loyalty, attention, obedience, and sacrifice. Matt. 22:37,38.
- To express his love to our fellow man, which includes our families, church and community at large. Matt. 22 :39,40, Gal . 6:10, I John 3:23.
- To continue the Ministry of Jesus Christ, which includes:
- Declaring his words I Tim. 3:15, I Cor. 15:1-3
- Demonstrating his works. Matt. 9:35-11:1, Luke 9:1-6, 10':1-24, Luke 24:46-49, Matt. 28:18-20, John 14 :12,13, Acts 1:8.
- Extend the Kingdom of Christ to the ends of the Earth. Matt. 28:18-20, Acts. 1:8.
Values identify us with certain groups and distinguish us from others. Values are often hidden to us until we feel that they have been stepped on, and then we realize what was important to us. There are reasons why we left our respective denominations and there are reasons why we have sought to identify with other brethren versus remaining independent. The values we esteem will govern what our churches will be like.
What are some issues we value as churches? The following are not set forth as a complete list but rather as a representative one. It is also understood that this list represent the values shared by the Directors of Grace Presbytery (GP).
In the Constitution of GP we expressed four words that we believe describe our churches, "Charismatic, Apostolic, Reformed, and Evangelical" [CARE]. Those four words flow out of our values.
By "Charismatic", we mean that we are committed to the present day demonstration of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, as outlined in the first epistle to the Corinthians and in the Book of Acts. Our posture is not just one of tolerating these "giftings", but also to encourage the exercise of such, in our public gatherings as the Spirit inspires and directs their use.
By "Apostolic" we understand that we feel called to not only win the lost, but also equip local churches to reproduce themselves in other locations. The objective of the apostles was to see churches planted. The term "Apostolic" also carries with it an understanding that God has given that ministry gift to the Body, and that it too, is functional today. Although no man, no matter how gifted, is adding to the New Testament Canon, nevertheless, those who function as apostles, as did Paul and Barnabas and others, should be recognized as such.
By "Reformed" we understand that we share a common commitment to the truths that were reclaimed by the Reformation. This is not to say that we wish to perpetuate the division and animosity aroused by the disputes of the Reformation. This also is not intended in anyway to slight our Roman Catholic brothers and sisters. It is to say, however, that we are convinced of the primacy of the "Doctrines of Grace". These include; the need for God's grace to draw us and convince us of the truth of the Gospel, that justification is received by faith and that good works will follow our reception of the Gospel, and that because of the sufficiency of God's grace, we will be kept and enabled to endure to the end. Moreover, we hold to the absolute and governing authority of the Bible. This means, that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are to have the final say on the truth or falsity of any claim, whether it be doctrinal, or come through personal spirit-illumination.
By "Evangelical" we understand that we are committed to the proclamation of the Gospel as the means that God has chosen to use to win those who are separated from himself. This term also describes the attitude we have as churches, in terms of taking assertive steps to ensure that we are actively winning souls, ie. leading others to the Savior.
What other specifics do we value?