Member Covenant


On Mission Statements:

Having received the forgiveness and leadership of Jesus Christ, and acknowledging that God’s plan to help me grow in my relationship with Jesus also involves my commitment to a local family of believers, I commit myself to God’s family at Hillside Christian Center.

 1. I will Believe the Doctrine (I Timothy 3:16-17; Romans 10:16-17)
     - Grow in trust of God's Word, the Bible.
     - Abide by Hillside's Statement of Faith, Values, and Constitution/Bylaws.

 2. I will Live Connect-Learn-Serve (John 15; I Corinthians 12:12-27)
     -Participate in each of the following weekly:

          Connect with God in corporate worship
          Learn to love like Jesus in small groups
          Serve the world in ministry teams (on or off campus)

 3. I will Give Sacrificially (Malachi 3:8-10; Luke 11:42; II Corinthians 9:6-9)
     - Obey God as He leads to meet the financial needs of others.
     - Strive to bring 10% of my income (the tithe) to fund Hillside ministries home & abroad.
     - Support the teaching to give offerings above and beyond the tithe to support missionaries
       and non-Hillside ministries as the Lord leads.

With Jesus as head of the church, we partner together:

Obligation of Hillside Christian Center to its members

  • We covenant that your elders and deacons will meet the criteria assigned to them in the Scriptures (1 Timothy 3:1-13; 5:17-22; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Peter 5:1-4).

  • We covenant to seek God’s will for our church community to the best of our ability as we study the Bible & follow the Spirit (Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:1-5).

  • We covenant to care for you and seek your growth as a disciple of Christ, in part by equipping you for service (Ephesians 4:11-13) and praying for you regularly, particularly when you are sick (James 5:14). 

  • We covenant to provide teaching and counsel from the whole of Scripture (Acts 20:27-28; Galatians 6:6; 1 Timothy 5:17-18). 

My obligation to Hillside Christian Center as a member

  • I have read and understood the Hillside Statement of Faith and will not be divisive to its teaching. I also understand the importance of mutual submission between church leadership and church members, and I will be diligent to preserve unity and peace (Ephesians 4:1-3; Hebrews 13:7,17). 

  • I covenant to submit to the authority of Scripture as the final arbiter on all issues (Psalm 119; 2 Timothy 3:16-17). 

  • I will maintain a close relationship with the Lord Jesus through regular Bible reading, prayer, fellowship, and strategic spiritual practices. My relationship will be evident through my participation in weekly worship services, communion, Hillside community, service, and a life that glorifies Jesus (Psalm 105:1-2; Psalm 119:97; Acts 2:42-47; Hebrews 10:23-25; 2 Peter 1:3). 

  • I will steward the resources God has given me, including my time, talents, and treasure (Proverbs 3:9-10; Romans 12:1-2; Galatians 5:22-26; Ephesians 4:1-16; 5:15-18). This includes regular financial giving, service, and participation in community that is sacrificial, cheerful, and voluntary (Romans 12:1-8; 2 Corinthians 8-9; 12:7-31; 1 Peter 4:10-11). 

  • I will not function in leadership or as a member in another church family (Hebrews 13:17). 

  • I covenant to submit to discipline by God through his Holy Spirit, to follow biblical procedures for church discipline in my relationships with brothers and sisters in Christ, to submit to righteous discipline when approached biblically by brothers and sisters in Christ, and to submit to discipline by church leadership if the need should ever arise (Psalm 141:5; Matthew 18:15-17; 1 Corinthians 5:1-5; 2 Corinthians 2:5-8; Galatians 6:1-5 8; 1 Timothy 5:20; 2 Timothy 2:25; Titus 1:9; 3:10-11; Hebrews 12:5-11; Revelation 2:5-7, 14-25).

  • I agree, by God’s grace, to walk in holiness as an act of worship to Jesus Christ, who has saved me from my sin that I could live a new life (2 Corinthians 5:17); I will practice complete chastity before marriage and complete fidelity in heterosexual marriage by abstaining from practices such as cohabitation, pornography, and fornication (Job 31:1; Proverbs 5; Romans 13:12-14; 1 Corinthians 6:9-7:16; Hebrews 13:4); I will refrain from illegal drug use, drunkenness, and other sinful behavior as the Bible, my pastors, and my conscience dictate (1 Corinthians 8:7; Galatians 5:19-21). Should I sin in such a manner, I agree to confess my sins to Christian brothers or sisters and seek help to put my sin to death (Romans 8:13; Colossians 3:5; 1 John 1:6-10).

My commitment to the mission of Hillside

The mission of Hillside Christian Center is to lead people into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ.

I have read the mission statement of Hillside Christian Center and commit to participate in this mission as a diligent, faithful disciple of Jesus, that my identity would be in Him, my worship would be for Him, my fellowship would be through Him, and my interaction with the culture would be for His glory.

I understand that this covenant obligates me to the members of Hillside and is an acknowledgment of my submission to the elders of the church. I accept the responsibility to notify Hillside leadership if at any time I can no longer commit to this covenant, or if I have any questions, comments, or concerns regarding Hillside.

> To be signed and dated at your conversation.