The Reliant board of directors approves an organizational statement of faith that is designed to help locate the identity of Reliant Mission as “broadly evangelical.” The intent is to publicly declare Reliant’s core beliefs so that donors, ministry partners, and missionaries have a clear understanding of our doctrine and its relationship to our mission.
Background
On November 9, 2012, the board of directors voted to replace the previous Statement of Faith (1989-2012). Our desire was to better reflect our value that Reliant does not take the role of local spiritual leadership for churches or ministries we partner with. The previous Reliant statement of faith was adopted under Great Commission Churches since 1989.
Reliant Missionaries Affirming the Statement of Faith
Affirmation of the Reliant Statement of Faith is required for Reliant missionaries and is seen as a necessary area of agreement for working in partnership with churches or ministries.
All Reliant missionaries regardless of status (including associate and intern) show their affirmation by signing the statement of faith during their assessment and application process, which is kept on record in their personnel file.
Signing Statement
Please sign to indicate your full agreement with the Reliant Mission statement of faith. Many of our missionaries and church and ministry partners affirm statements that are more specific than these but are not in contradiction.
Non-Affirmation
We assume that many of our missionaries and church and ministry partners may choose to affirm doctrinal statements that are more specific than these or expressed with different language. However, our missionaries may not affirm beliefs that are in contradiction to these.
Potential missionaries or current missionaries who can affirm all but a few words or small portion of our statement of faith (potentially a "minor area of disagreement") should still speak with Reliant about their specific question before signing the statement. Reliant desires a "major on the majors and minor on the minors" mentality and greatly values integrity and candor.
For a potential missionary who cannot affirm our statement
If a potential missionary will not affirm our statement of faith, we will be unable to employ or give associate status.
For a current missionary who cannot affirm our statement
Current missionaries who experience a change of conscience and belief such that they are no longer able to affirm Reliant's statement of faith should discuss their position with local church and ministry leadership (including local Reliant supervision). If the situation remains, the Reliant missionary should declare their position to Reliant within a reasonable period of time.
If a current missionary declares to us that they can no longer personally affirm our statement of faith, Reliant may consider it justifiable reason to end employment or association, though only after careful process in conversation with local ministry leadership.
If a current missionary perceives a contradiction between the doctrinal beliefs of their local church or ministry statement of faith and Reliant’s statement and their local church or ministry is already in ministry partnership with us, they should ask Reliant to review the situation with local leadership to seek clarity. If the issue is decided to be truly in contradiction, see the section on Church and Ministry partnership below.
Church and Ministry Partnership
Reliant works in ministry partnership with a number of evangelical ministries and churches. In each case, Reliant expects that the local church, church network, or ministry will have their own statement of faith or method of affirming Christian belief.
Faith Agreement for Voluntary Partnership
Reliant chooses to partner at its own discretion with Christian churches and ministries who are "like-minded" and evangelical. A disagreement on our Statement of Faith is part of our evaluation of the appropriateness of any partnership. Reliant may choose to request or review the statement of faith of a church or ministry who is establishing a potential ministry partnership.
Reliant does not formally sign statements of faith of other church or ministries, and churches or ministries are not expected to formally sign the Reliant statement of faith. Partnership with Reliant is voluntary for both parties and does not constitute a contract or apostolic relationship.
Church may require more specific beliefs
A local church or ministry may choose to require more specific affirmations from Reliant missionaries working at their location, as long as there is no contradiction with the Reliant statement of faith. The requirement should be fairly and consistently applied in the local context.
Reliant will support the more specific requirement via the local portion of the Missionary Assessment Process. As well, Reliant will support continued missionary employment for the Reliant missionary with the church or ministry partner based on local specific requirements.
However, Reliant may support the transfer of a missionary to a church or ministry who does not hold the same specific requirement, based on our guidelines for change in ministry assignment, which includes the blessing of the church.
EXAMPLE: A prospective church planter is a member of a church planting network who requires affirmation of the Westminster Confession of Faith. The church planter submits a Reliant application stating that they do not affirm the Westminster Confession. Reliant does not require such an affirmation, but in the assessment process, the non-agreement issue is raised as a "Red Flag" concern by the local church pastor. Reliant chooses to support a final decision not to hire the applicant based on his non-agreement with the local church standard.
Disagreement
If a church or ministry partner perceives a contradiction between their locally held doctrinal beliefs and Reliant’s statement of faith, Reliant seeks careful conversation between the Reliant Executive Director and local leadership to talk about whether the voluntary partnership makes sense to continue further. Reliant Missionaries will not be "caught in the middle"—Reliant desires to come to understanding with the church or ministry partner first.
Review and Appeal
Questions, requests, concerns, or potential disagreements regarding the statement of faith should be reviewed Reliant Missionary Resources alongside local church or ministry leadership. Appeals or requests for exceptions may be made to the Executive Director, and at his discretion, by the sub-committee of the Reliant board of directors designated to review doctrinal issues. The Reliant Board of Directors holds the final say in doctrinal matters.
2 Comments
Julie Thomas
Matt Elkins, Jenni Saniuk - Is the content on this page about new staff affirming the statement of faith still accurate?
Matt Elkins
Hey Julie Thomas, The Statement of Faith is in the assessment and must be signed to move forward. It is also in the partner packet we send to new churches/ministries. So, I don't think a lot has changed and this page should be mostly accurate. It is also linked here: Statement of Faith Details