Belonging at The Village
At the Village, there are two clear ways to belong. One is by signing the year-long covenant, which invites you into a deeper level of shared commitment, responsibility, and life together. The other is by participating in the art project, a creative and accessible way to join the community, share in its story, and practice the way of Jesus alongside others.
The Purpose of Belonging
Community
Just as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit exist in community, we are created to live in community, both with God and with one another. Belonging to The Village fosters authentic connection through worship, teaching, prayer, and loving relationships.
Encouragement & Accountability
The Village exists to encourage perseverance in hardship and to provide accountability in the pursuit of spiritual disciplines.
Love
Belonging opens the door to giving and receiving love in the church community. In love, we bear one another’s burdens and place others before ourselves.
Mission
The church helps broken people be reconciled to God and transformed to fulfill their purpose (2 Corinthians 5:11–21).
The Village Belonging Covenant
When someone enters relationship with God by grace and faith in Jesus Christ, they enter into two covenants:
1. To journey with God for life, loving Him fully.
2. To journey with His people in the local church.
Belonging at The Village is a public recognition of these commitments.
Purposes of the Covenant
1. To join the Spirit in forming a church community that reflects the love of Father, Son, and Spirit.
2. To clarify the blessings and responsibilities of every belonger.
3. To encourage consistency, accountability, and unity.
4. To accomplish God’s mission for The Village family.
This covenant acknowledges human weakness but reflects a heart’s desire to live faithfully. The commitment is both for personal blessing and for the good of the community.
The Leaders’ Covenant
With the Spirit’s help, Village leaders covenant to:
1. Care for you lovingly and seek your growth in Christ (Heb. 13:17; 1 Thes. 5:12).
2. Provide faithful teaching and counsel from Scripture (Gal. 6:6; 1 Tim. 5:17–18).
3. Teach the full counsel of God’s Word (Acts 20:27–28).
4. Help you in times of need (Acts 2:42–47; James 2:14–17).
5. Meet the biblical criteria for leadership (1 Tim. 3:1–13; Titus 1:5–9; 1 Pt. 5:1–4).
6. Pray for you regularly, especially in sickness (James 5:14).
7. Exercise discipline when necessary (Matt. 18:15–20; 1 Cor. 5).
8. Equip you for service (Eph. 4:11–13).
9. Seek God’s will for our community through Scripture and the Spirit (Acts 20:28).
10. Model Christlike living, joining you in the duties of belonging (Phil. 3:17).
The Community’s Covenant
With the Spirit’s guidance, each member covenants to:
1. Affirm the Apostles’ Creed, avoiding divisiveness, and pursue unity and peace (Eph. 4:1–3).
2. Maintain a close walk with Jesus through worship and community life (Heb. 10:23–25).
3. Steward God’s gifts—time, body, talents, finances—with joy and generosity (2 Cor. 8–9).
4. Commit to The Village’s mission to embody and proclaim the gospel in Tucson.
5. Use spiritual gifts to build up the church locally and universally (1 Pt. 4:10–11).
6. Practice humility, avoid gossip, and cultivate spiritual friendships (Phil. 2:1–11).
7. Maintain unity by belonging to one church family (Heb. 13:17).
8. Follow biblical processes for discipline and accept correction when needed (Matt. 18:15–17).
9. Submit to the authority of Scripture (2 Tim. 3:16–17).
Together, leaders and members walk in covenant relationship with God and one another, seeking to be a community of belonging rooted in Christ.
