Values

Naturally, because we are a collection of diverse individuals, we all have slightly different values with regard to how we go about serving Christ, shepherding one another, and seeking the lost. Yet certain common values unify our efforts and define our distinctives. We summarize our core values by using the following ten statements.

 

1. God's Word as Authority

The single most defining and distinguishing characteristic of ECC has been its Biblically-based teaching and preaching. We value a teaching ministry that enables our members to face the challenges of our culture and encourages them to be in the world but not of the world. We believe that anointed teaching centered on God's Word is a primary catalyst for transformation in individuals' lives and in the church.

 

2. Truth as Relevant

We believe that God's Truth is always relevant—both relationally and culturally. Knowledge for the sake of knowledge only "puffs up" (1 Cor. 8:1). Relationally, we study, pursue, and teach God's truth in the context of how it enables us to grow in our relationship of love with Him and with each other. Culturally, we work hard at communicating sound doctrine in a way that is relevant to our community and the university environment (1 Cor. 9:19-23). This includes the concept of sensitively relating to our culture through our facilities, printed materials, and use of music.

 

3. Every Member as Minister

We believe that the church should operate as a unified community of servants with men and women stewarding their spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 12, 14; Rom. 12). ECC is committed to a team ministry that seeks to equip lay leaders and members of the congregation to utilize their gifts in ministry (Eph. 4). While looking for leadership from the Pastor, we depend not only on the energy and gifts of a single individual or even the entire pastoral staff and elders, but on a broad-based commitment of all members as well. This decentralized and enabling shared ministry reflects the acceptance of others' ministry gifts and creatively motivates individuals within the fellowship.

 

4. Unity as Essential

A primary mark of Biblical community is love/unity (John 13:34-35). We are unified in our commitment to sound doctrine and to the core doctrines of the faith (see ECC Statement of Faith). We seek unity in the context of our pursuit of God's Truth. However, we allow freedom with regard to differing viewpoints within the confines of our Statement of Faith. For example, we make no statement with regard to acceptable modes of baptism—we allow adult believer's baptism as well as infant covenantal baptism. We make no statement concerning the exact timing of God's work of creation or of Christ's imminent return. Rather than placing a high priority on winning others to one's point of view, we encourage Biblical, loving, humble and intelligent dialogue regarding these issues—always living in the spirit of the maxim—"in essentials unity, in non-essentials freedom, and in all things, love."

 

5. Disciplemaking as Priority

Christ's Great Commission provides us with a clear directive—to be and make disciples. When coupled with 2 Tim. 2:2, evangelism becomes the natural outgrowth of effective discipleship. We believe that believers should manifest authentic fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23) and yearn for continuous growth. Every believer should be involved in the discipleship process, as a discipler of others and/or as one being guided toward spiritual maturity.

 

6. Lost People as Important

People without Christ are important to God; therefore they are important to us. All ECC ministries are built on the reality and relevance of personal salvation in Jesus Christ. This was the foundation for the forming of this church and remains the primary building block. Proclaiming Christ is the task of all believers, and we desire that all members, whatever our personal context, may have Christ-like compassion for the lost, and may be prepared to express the love and truth of Jesus Christ, representing him in our thinking, speech, and actions to a culture oblivious or opposed to God's Truth. Our outreach is especially orientated toward evangelizing/discipling university students, which includes a number of international students. We also place a high priority on a vigorous foreign missions program.

 

7. Worship as Participatory

Worship is not a spectator event. Corporate worship is to be participatory, not presentational. Although we seek to blend contemporary, traditional, and liturgical styles, we believe that effective worship is not primarily an issue of style. It has much more to do with people truly engaging their hearts and minds in exalting God. Whether using hymns or contemporary music, whether the teaching is expositional or topical, our desire is that our worship glorify God by reflecting His Truth, thus leading us to joyful and genuine experience of Him.

 

8. Leadership as Service

The authority of leaders is derived from God's calling, and is then fleshed out in the Christ-like, "above-reproach" character of the leaders as they seek to become servants of the flock. Leaders are not to use their authority in a way that "lords it over" others (Matt. 20-25). Pastoral staff, in concert with elders and other lay leadership, initiate and set goals and define vision for ministry that reflect the leading of the Holy Spirit and God's will as expressed through the Body (Matt. 23:11-12; Eph. 4:11-13; 1 Tim. 3).

 

9. Relationship as Vital

We believe that regular small group interaction, close relationships with fellow believers, and accountability to other members of the body create an environment where the Holy Spirit can bring about significant transformation in our individual lives as well as strengthening our unity in Christ. A significant ministry focus is placed on nurturing relationships in marriages and in families. Much of the personal care of members also comes through different kinds of small groups—Bible studies, the choir, discussion groups, adult Sunday school classes, and ministry boards.

 

10. Excellence as Glorifying

We believe that excellence, expressed together with humility and authenticity, glorifies God and inspires people. We define excellence as doing all we can within our God-given resources, to reflect the majesty, beauty, and order of God and His creation. This does not mean that we promote "professionalism" or "elitism"—the widow who gave two mites was excellent in her offering, and this pleased God. Our first priority is to excel in holiness in our relationship with God and with others (Col. 3:17). A natural outgrowth of our relational excellence will be the pursuit of excellence in our teaching, our music, our facility, our services, our programs—these should also reflect our best offerings to God (Mal. 1:6-14).

 

 

ECC Contact:

503 South High Street
Bloomington, Indiana 47401 (directions)

phone: (812) 332-0502

email: ecc@eccbloomington.org