Section 1 Introduction
Purpose of the Handbook
Welcome
GBCC's Mission Statement
A Doctrinal Statement of Green Bay Community Church
Open Door Policy
Communication
Purpose of the Handbook
The pages of this handbook provide a general overview of procedures and guidelines that Green Bay Community Church has established for its volunteers. Please read through it carefully.
The handbook should serve as a guide for you as you begin or continue your service at the church. However, it's obviously not possible to anticipate all situations that could arise in ministry or provide information that answers every possible question. As a result, the church reserves the right to modify, supplement, rescind, or revise any policy or provision, with or without notice, as necessary or appropriate. However, at all times, the church will comply with all applicable laws.
Nothing in this handbook creates a contract of employment. Both traditionally and biblically, churches have long relied on unpaid workers to fulfill their calls to service–not because of reward or remuneration–but out of love and obedience in personal relationship with Jesus. Of course, different ministry roles require different skills and personality types, and neither the church nor the servant can always predict whether things will be a good fit. Therefore, while we hope that your service is both long-term and rewarding, either you or the church can terminate this relationship at any time.
Finally, it's important that you read and understand the contents of this handbook. If you have any questions or need additional information, please talk with your designated ministry leader. If your leader doesn't know the answers, he or she will find the answers and get back to you in a timely manner.
Welcome
Welcome to your new position at Green Bay Community Church. The staff and lay leaders of the church are excited about your gifts and skills, and we look forward to your service as part of the church's ministry team.
In our church, we sincerely believe that God equips people to serve in ministry. In 1 Peter 2:9, God calls his followers "a royal priesthood"; 1 Corinthians 12:1 says that "God gives [spiritual gifts] to each one, just as he determines." We sometimes use the term "volunteers" as a convenient way of referring to those who serve, but what we're really talking about is people who lovingly respond to Jesus' call to serve in his ministry.
Therefore, it's important to keep in mind that during your service at Green Bay Community Church, you're representing both our congregation and the Lord as you live out every aspect of your life. As you minister to others here, as well as in your private life away from church, you should be striving toward living in a way that serves as an example to others of your own deepening relationship with God.
GBCC's Mission Statement
I. Purpose: To Glorify God (Eph. 3:14-21 Matt. 5:16)
Our purpose is to glorify God through lifestyles that are increasingly obedient to
Jesus Christ.
(Slogan: Developing lifestyles that are increasingly obedient to Jesus Christ)
II. Vision
To attract people to a relationship with Jesus Christ that results in a committed, contemporary, Biblical community of believers working intentionally to build the body of Christ.
The Great Gift ~ (2 Cor. 5:16-21)
We believe the basic purpose of the Gospel is to restore our relationship with God through a personal belief in Jesus Christ. This relationship in turn should influence all other relationships, building a community that expresses itself through integrity and accountability.
The Great Commission ~ (Matt. 28:18-20)
We believe God has commissioned His people to go into their world for the intentional purpose of delivering the Gospel. As people embrace the Gospel, we are to help them mature through understanding and obeying the vital propositions of the Bible.
The Great Commandment ~ (Matt. 22:37-40)
We believe the Bible commands us to live out the first two principles motivated by love. This is a genuine love for God expressed through a whole-hearted commitment to Him. Because of our love for God we should desire to display a quality of love for others that is demonstrated by the kind of indulgence we usually reserve for ourselves.
III. Values of GBCC – The Three "R's"
Revelation
We believe Christianity is a revealed faith, based in revelation, which is God's recorded Word, the Bible. We believe the Bible is the authority upon which all life, for both the individual Christian and the church, should be based.
Relevance
We believe it is vital to communicate the message of God's Word through means and methods that connect with the culture of the day. We believe the methods we use are a vital component in the effective giving of "good news" as stated in the Gospel.
Relationship
We believe that relationships have a deep impact upon and change people. We believe that the Bible, communicated in a straightforward, practical way, will result in shaping positive relationships between people, both inside and outside the church.
Whom Do We Serve: Imperfect people struggling to connect with God and others.
How Do We Serve: With an attitude of inclusiveness and interdependence.
A Doctrinal Statement of Green Bay Community Church
Green Bay Community Church is a non-denominational group of members. We are dedicated to glorifying the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ through the salvation of souls and the edification of Christians by the teaching of God's word.
Articles of Faith
The Holy Scriptures
We believe the Holy Scriptures to be the inspired Word of God in thought and word. The Scriptures are authoritative, infallible, and inerrant in the original writings. (2 Tim. 3:16–17; 2 Peter 1:20–21; Matt. 5:18; John 16:12–13).
The Godhead
We believe in one God, eternally existing in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, identical in nature, equal in power and glory and having the same attributes and perfections. (Deut. 6:4; 2 Cor. 13:14; Matt. 28:19–20).
The Depravity of Man
We believe man was created in the image and likeness of God, but in Adam's sin the race fell, inheriting a sinful nature. This alienated the natural man from God, and leaves man totally unable to remedy his lost condition. (Gen. 1:26–27; Rom. 3:22–23, 5:12; Eph. 2:12).
We believe the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God became man, without ceasing to be God. We believe he was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful man. We believe He accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross as a substitute sacrifice. We believe our redemption is made sure to us by His literal physical resurrection from the dead. (John 1:1–2; Luke 1:35; Rom 3:24–35; Rom. 4:25, I Peter 1:3–5).
We believe the Lord Jesus Christ is now in heaven exalted at the right hand of God, where as the high priest for His people, He fulfills the ministry of Representative, Intercessor and Advocate. (Heb. 7:25, 9:24; Rom. 8:34; 1 John 2:1–2).
The Personality of the Holy Spirit
We believe the Holy Spirit is the personality of the Godhead, convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. He indwells all believers in the present age, baptizes them into the body of Christ, and seals them unto the day of redemption. We believe it is the duty of every believer to be filled with the Holy Spirit. We believe the Spirit gives gifts to every member of the body. (Rom. 8:4; 1 Cor. 12:7-14; Eph. 1:13-14, 4:7-12, 5:18; John 16:8-11).
Salvation
We believe salvation is the gift of God brought to man by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ whose precious blood was shed for the forgiveness of our sins. It is unrescindable, unchangeable, and eternal. (John 1:12, 3:16; Eph. 1:7, 2:8-10).
The Church
We believe the Church of Jesus Christ began at Pentecost; is a spiritual organism composed of all born-again believers and is the body and bride of our Lord.
We believe the two ordinances of the Lord's table and the water baptism of believers are designated in Scripture as a means of testimony for the Church in this age. (Matt. 28:19-20; Acts 2:34-47, 8:36-39, 18:8; 1 Cor. 11:23-26, 12:12-14; Eph. 1:22-23, 5:25-27).
The Personality of Satan
We believe in the personality of Satan, who is the open and declared enemy of God and man (Job 1:6-7; Matt. 4:2-11; Isa. 14:12-17; Ezek. 28:10-11) and whose destiny is everlasting punishment. (Rev. 20:10).
The Second Advent of Christ
We believe in the personal imminent coming of the Lord Jesus Christ for His own and His subsequent return to earth to set up His Kingdom (1 Thess. 4:13-18; 1 Cor. 15:51-53; Zech. 14:4-11; Rev. 20:6).
The Eternal State
We believe the souls of those who have trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation do at death immediately pass into His presence forever. The souls of unbelievers remain after death in conscious torment until the final judgment of the great white throne at the close of the millennium. Non-believers will then be banished from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power forever. (Luke 16:19-26, 23:43; 2 Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:23; 2 Thess. 1:7-9; Jude 6-7; Rev. 20:11-15).
Separation
We believe all believers should seek the walk in such a manner as not to bring reproach upon their Lord and Savior. (Lev. 19:2; Rom. 12:1-2, 14:13; 2 Cor. 6:14, 7:1; 1 John 2:15-17).
Our Financial Policy
Green Bay Community Church is not financially endowed. We engage in no financial activities for profit, sincerely abiding by Christ's instruction, "make not my Father's house a house of merchandise" (John 2:16). We depend entirely upon the regular gifts of God's people, made without assessment. The scriptures urge liberal Christian giving as an expression of our devotion - a ministry that God richly rewards. Offering envelopes are provided for those who care to use them, and the record of offerings is kept in strict confidence.
Open Door Policy
Green Bay Community Church encourages all volunteers to provide input and suggestions concerning both the ministry area in which they serve as well as the overall operation and programs of the church.
Your input and suggestions will likely receive the timeliest attention and action if you bring your comments first to your designated ministry leader. This initial step of providing input is especially vital in situations where you have a problem with your leader. However, if for some reason your concerns are met with inaction or no response at all, we'd ask that you follow the grievance procedure in Section 5 of this manual.
This open-door policy is important in increasing the quality of the church's ministries, as well as for correcting problems that may exist in processes or relationships within areas of ministry. The church welcomes all input by volunteers, who should sense the freedom to voice any comments or concerns without fear of retribution or reprisal. We know it can seem difficult to initiate such conversations, but Jesus told us directly (see, for example, Matthew 18:15) that we should take the initiative to resolve such things.
Communication
For leaders who need to promote ministry events, we have compiled a communication guide that was created as a resource to help you. You can find it on our website under resources. For more information on communication issues, contact the Communication & Connection Director at the church office.
