Last updated 16-August-2005. [Thompson & Auer]
The Scriptures clearly teach several principles that do not appear to have a prescribed or even implied form. For example older men are to teach younger men, older women to teach younger women (Titus 2, 1 Tim 5:1-2), the church is to care for the fatherless and widows and others in need, but the form(s) for doing so are generally not described. The following are some practices we've adopted in support of these principles and the primary practices stated above. We believe the forms discussed below may change over time as we learn other practical ways to put these principles into practice:
1. No Paid Full-Time Staff - We certainly believe there is freedom to have paid staff and biblical examples of the same (1 Tim 5:17-18). We have found that some modern churches elevate paid staff (which is not required by Scripture) as a priority over other commands of Scripture (such as caring for the fatherless & widows). Some modern churches tend to rely too heavily on paid staff to provide spiritual food to families rather than expecting men to both lead their families and participate in corporate praise & worship. Therefore we will refrain from paying elders or administrative staff for anything other than reimbursement of legitimate expenses and small stipends until we have firmly established the opposite patterns (caring well for fatherless and widows and men actively participating in corporate praise and worship).
2. No Special Building to Maintain - For the same basic reasons as listed above regarding paid staff we prefer not to own or maintain a special building for the church. We expect that any buildings used will be well cared for by their owners and respected by the church as we use it.
3. Sunday Schedule - Practically speaking, our church-service begins at 10:30 am on Sunday mornings and continues until somewhere between 12:30 and 12:45 pm. We then enjoy a fellowship meal together following the "more formal" part of the service. We typically start the "more formal" part of the service with short call to worship, usually in the form of song or prayer. We then move into time of observing the Lord's Supper, in which men lead their families in expressing worth to Christ by bringing psalms, hymns, spiritual songs, and words of instruction. This time culminates with the bread and the cup, as we remember Jesus Christ. Then we have a prayer for the generations, prayer concerns and praises followed by prayer, then a short break, followed by a time of teaching by one of the men, followed by a hymn and closing prayer. We may switch the order of these components from time to time.
4. Ministry Partners - We intend to support and promote non-government organizations and activities that protect and provide godly Christian training and support of widows and the fatherless as well as those focused on making disciples of all nations. Whenever possible, we will work with these partners with our time and build deep relationships.
5. Family Businesses and Ministries - We encourage the creation and establishment of family businesses and ministries in order to train children up to maturity through discipleship and reinforce family as a primary economic system established by God and set an excellent example to the community at large (Col 3:23, 1 Pet 2:12, 2 Thes 3:7-14, 1 Thes 4:11-12). We also encourage sharing of resources (money, time, tools, skills, etc.) between families (2 Cor 8:13-15).
6. Occasional Special Gatherings - We may also have other times where we gather for some special purpose. We try to avoid regularly scheduled meetings during the week that encourage "being at church" rather than ministering with and through families. However, there are times that we may invite all of the church together for special activities.
Notes
“Many of the ideas in the initial draft of this document were based on an e-mail from John Thompson describing the principles of "Connecticut River Christian Assembly" and discussions that followed with John. Since then this document has been influenced by many and assembled by Ken Auer as the basis of the principles at Southwest Wake Christian Assembly. The elders of Greenville Christian Assembly have modified this document.”
