JESUS
We believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles and teachings. We believe in His substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, perpetual intercession for His people and personal, visible return to earth. As part of God’s universal church, we seek to help people know and obey Jesus Christ, the living Son of God, who is the Way, the Truth and the Life.
SALVATION
Salvation is God’s deliverance of people from His wrath through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. All of mankind has rebelled against God and is condemned to eternal death and separation from Him. Jesus, God’s Son, was sent to die in the place of condemned sinners to make it possible for them to be brought back into a right relationship with their Creator. Through faith in Jesus, who was raised from the dead, people can experience God’s forgiveness and have hope of eternal life with Him. GOD
There is one and only one living and true God. He is an intelligent, spiritual, and personal Being, the Creator, Redeemer, Preserver, and Ruler of the universe. God is infinite in holiness and all other perfections. God is all-powerful and all-knowing; and His perfect knowledge extends to all things, past, present, and future, including the future decisions of His creatures. To Him we owe the highest love, reverence and obedience. The eternal triune God reveals Himself to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence, or being.
SALVATION
Grace
We believe that God’s grace does not come to us as the result of human effort or worthiness (Romans 3:24-28; 11:6), but is the provision of God’s mercy and love freely given to those who will believe in His Son (Ephesians 2:4-10). Grace gives to us what we do not deserve nor can earn by our performance (Romans 11:6). It is by God’s grace that a person is able to experience forgiveness and a right relationship with Him (Ephesians 1:6-7; 2:8-9). Believers in Jesus Christ stand in the grace of God (Romans 5:2) and by it they have hope. For those in Christ, grace abounds far beyond sin and its consequences (Romans 5:15-19), to the end that condemned sinners are now able to have eternal life through Jesus Christ (Romans 5:20-21).
Sin
We believe that all people are sinners by nature and by choice – therefore, under God’s condemnation. We believe that as sinners (Romans 3:23) we are unable by human performance to earn, deserve, or merit salvation (Titus 3:5). We believe that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23), and that apart from God’s grace no one can be saved (Ephesians 2:8-9). We believe that none are righteous before God (Romans 3:10-12), and that apart from the conviction and regeneration of the Holy Spirit, none can be saved (John 1:12-13; 16:8-11; I Peter 1:23-25). Mankind is clearly fallen and lost in sin.
Forgiveness
We believe that Jesus Christ died as a substitute for and a satisfaction of God’s righteous judgment against sin “for the whole world” (1 John 2:2; 4:9-10). God redeems and forgives all who will believe in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ as their only hope of salvation from sin, death, and hell (Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:18-19). We believe that eternal life is a gift of God (Romans 6:23), and that whoever believes in Jesus Christ will not perish, but will have eternal life (John 3:16-18). 1 Timothy 4:10 says “…we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe.” Hebrews 2:9 states that Jesus “…was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.” The atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ was clearly sufficient to save the entire human race (2 Peter 2:1), but becomes effective only in those who believe (1 Timothy 4:10).
Election
The Bible affirms the doctrine of predestination, that God chose believers before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight and in love has predestined them to be adopted as His children (Ephesians 1:4-6). Those whom God has foreknown He has predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son (Romans 8:29-30). We believe that God offers salvation to all who will call on His name (Romans 10:13). We also believe that God calls to Himself those who will believe in His Son, Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 1:9). The Bible teaches that there is a universal command to repent given to all people, that human beings make choices for which we are responsible, and that those choices have eternal consequences (Acts 17:30-31). Revelation 22:17 states, “…whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.” I Peter 1:2 tells us we are, “…chosen [elect] according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood…” Matthew 22:14 says, “For many are called, but few are chosen.” God clearly does choose, but man must also accept God’s invitation to salvation. There is a mystery here. Any attempt at demonstrating that the Bible teaches only one side of this mystery must be rejected. To all who have believed, we say clearly: do not boast, for even your faith is by the grace of God. We cannot save ourselves, only God saves. And God alone receives glory for our salvation.
Perseverance
We believe that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 8:38-39), and that there is no condemnation to those who are in Jesus Christ (Romans 8:1). We believe that the promise of Jesus in John 10:27-28 is clear: “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.” Jesus said in John 6:37, “…whoever comes to me I will never drive away.” We have this assurance in Philippians 1:6: “…being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” We believe that the Holy Spirit has sealed us for the day of redemption (Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:30).
THE WORD
THE HOLY BIBLE
We believe that the Bible is the Word of God, fully inspired and without error in the original manuscripts, written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, with supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct. The Holy Bible is God‘s revelation of Himself to man and is a perfect treasure of divine instruction. It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth – without any mixture of error – for its matter. Therefore, all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. It reveals the principles by which God judges us – therefore it is, and will remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and religious opinions should be tried. All Scripture is a testimony to Christ, who is Himself the focus of divine revelation.
Exodus 24:4; Deuteronomy 4:1-2; 17:19; Joshua 8:34; Psalms 19:7-10; 119:11,89,105,140; Isaiah 34:16; 40:8; Jeremiah 15:16; 36:1-32; Matthew 5:17-18; 22:29; Luke 21:33; 24:44-46; John 5:39; 16:13-15; 17:17; Acts 2:16ff.; 17:11; Romans 15:4; 16:25-26; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Hebrews 1:1-2; 4:12; 1 Peter 1:25; 2 Peter 1:19-21.
THE TRINITY
We believe that there is one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons, equal in every divine perfection. Together, they execute distinct but harmonious offices in the work of creation, providence and redemption.
GOD THE FATHER
God as Father reigns with providential care over His universe, His creatures, and the flow of the stream of human history according to the purposes of His grace. He is all-powerful, all knowing, all loving, and all wise. God is Father in truth to those who become children of God through faith in Jesus Christ. He is fatherly in His attitude toward all people.
(Genesis 1:1; 2:7; Exodus 3:14; 6:2-3; 15:11ff.; 20:1ff.; Leviticus 22:2; Deuteronomy 6:4; 32:6; 1 Chronicles 29:10; Psalm 19:1-3; Isaiah 43:3,15; 64:8; Jeremiah 10:10; 17:13; Matthew 6:9ff.; 7:11; 23:9; 28:19; Mark 1:9-11; John 4:24; 5:26; 14:6-13; 17:1-8; Acts 1:7; Romans 8:14-15; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 4:6; Colossians 1:15; 1 Timothy 1:17; Hebrews 11:6; 12:9; 1 Peter 1:17; 1 John 5:7)
GOD THE SON
Christ is the eternal Son of God. In His incarnation as Jesus Christ He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin, Mary. Jesus perfectly revealed and did the will of God, taking upon Himself human nature with its demands and necessities and identifying Himself completely with mankind yet without sin. He honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and in His substitutionary death on the cross He made provision for the redemption of men from sin. He was raised from the dead with a glorified body and appeared to His disciples as the person who was with them before His crucifixion. He ascended into heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God where He is the One Mediator, fully God, fully man, in whose Person is effected the reconciliation between God and man. He will return in power and glory to judge the world and to consummate His redemptive mission. He now dwells in all believers as the living and ever-present Lord.
(Genesis 18:1ff.; Psalms 2:7ff.; 110:1ff.; Isaiah 7:14; 53; Matthew 1:18-23; 3:17; 8:29; 11:27; 14:33; 16:16,27; 17:5; 27; 28:1-6,19; Mark 1:1; 3:11; Luke 1:35; 4:41; 22:70; 24:46; John 1:1-18,29; 10:30,38; 11:25-27; 12:44-50; 14:7-11; 16:15-16,28; 17:1-5, 21- 22; 20:1-20,28; Acts 1:9; 2:22-24; 7:55-56; 9:4-5,20; Romans 1:3-4; 3:23-26; 5:6-21; 8:1-3,34; 10:4; 1 Corinthians 1:30; 2:2; 8:6; 15:1-8,24-28; 2 Corinthians 5:19-21; 8:9; Galatians 4:4-5; Ephesians 1:20; 3:11; 4:7-10; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:13-22; 2:9; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18; 1Timothy 2:5-6; 3:16; Titus 2:13-14; Hebrews 1:1-3; 4:14- 15; 7:14-28; 9:12-15,24-28; 12:2; 13:8; 1 Peter 2:21-25; 3:22; 1 John 1:7-9; 3:2; 4:14- 15; 5:9; 2 John 7-9; Revelation 1:13-16; 5:9-14; 12:10-11; 13:8; 19:16)
GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe in the Holy Spirit who came forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin and to regenerate, sanctify and empower all who believe in Jesus Christ. We believe that the Holy Spirit dwells in every believer of Christ and that He is an abiding helper, teacher and guide.The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, fully divine. He inspired holy men of old to write the Scriptures. Through illumination He enables people to understand truth. He exalts Christ. He convicts people of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. He calls people to the Savior, and effects regeneration. At the moment of regeneration He baptizes every believer into the Body of Christ. He cultivates Christian character, comforts believers, and bestows the spiritual gifts by which they serve God through His church. He seals the believer for the day of final redemption. His presence in the Christian is the guarantee that God will bring the believer into the fullness of the stature of Christ. He enlightens and empowers the believer and the church in worship, evangelism, and service.
(Genesis 1:2; Judges 14:6; Job 26:13; Psalms 51:11; 139:7ff.; Isaiah 61:1-3; Joel 2:28- 32; Matthew 1:18; 3:16; 4:1; 12:28-32; 28:19; Mark 1:10,12; Luke 1:35; 4:1,18-19; 11:13; 12:12; 24:49; John 4:24; 14:16-17,26; 15:26; 16:7-14; Acts 1:8; 2:1-4,38; 4:31; 5:3; 6:3; 7:55; 8:17,39; 10:44; 13:2; 15:28; 16:6; 19:1-6; Romans 8:9-11,14-16,26-27; 1 Corinthians 2:10-14; 3:16; 12:3-11,13; Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:30; 5:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:19; 1 Timothy 3:16; 4:1; 2 Timothy 1:14; 3:16; Hebrews 9:8,14; 2 Peter 1:21; 1 John 4:13; 5:6-7; Revelation 1:10; 22:17)
THE CHURCH
We believe in the universal church as the Body of Christ, which includes all of the redeemed of all the ages, believers from every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation. We believe in the local church, consisting of a company of baptized believers, associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel; observing the two ordinances of Christ, maturing in wisdom and character, exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word, and seeking to extend the gospel to the ends of the earth. Each congregation and each member is accountable to Jesus Christ and His will as revealed in Scripture. The scriptural officers of a local church are elders and deacons. While both men and women are gifted for service in the church, the office of elder is limited to men as qualified by Scripture.
(Matthew 16:15-19; 18:15-20; Acts 2:41-42,47; 5:11-14; 6:3-6; 13:1-3; 14:23,27; 15:1-30; 16:5; 20:28; Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 3:16; 5:4-5; 7:17; 9:13-14; 12; Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:19-22; 3:8-11,21; 5:22-32; Philippians 1:1; Colossians 1:18; 1 Timothy 2:9-14; 3:1-15; 4:14; Hebrews 11:39-40; 1 Peter 5:1-4; Revelation 2-3; 21:2-3)
TITHING
We do not regard tithing as a command, but do see it as a very valuable teaching tool and guiding principle for God’s people. God used it to teach the people in the Old Testament that the first, best and everything else belongs to Him and that an appropriate way of worshipping Him with sincere thankfulness was to give back to Him a portion of what He had first given to them (Leviticus 27:30-32). In Genesis 14, After receiving the blessing of God through Melchizedek, Abram responded by giving back to him one-tenth (a “tithe” means “a tenth”). Tithing was a common practice in cultures of that day; it was act of submission. God can use the tithe to teach the same lesson to His church.
As Christ followers, we must view all of our money as His and seek to use it for His purposes. Thus we do not command, but do strongly encourage people to give at least a tithe, and indeed for most to give more. Every instance of giving a percentage reported in the New Testament goes beyond ten percent. John the Baptist said that the man with two tunics should give away half (Luke 3:11). Zacchaeus (Luke 19:8) gave away half. The widow with two coins gave all she had (Luke 21:4). Although percentages are not given, the generosity of the early church in Jerusalem (Acts 2:44, 4:32-37) and Macedonia (2 Corinthians 8:1-5) appear to have gone far beyond a tithe. Paul also specifically instructs people to set money aside regularly and for those who were wealthier to give more (1 Corinthians 16:2, 1 Tim 6:17-18). Moved by the sacrifice of Jesus, the power of the Holy Spirit, and the hope of eternal life, it is right and natural for Christians to give even more than believers in the Old Testament.
We believe that the way we handle our giving is an important expression of where our values are. Since even the supporters of a tithe requirement would regard it as a bare minimum, we should continue to press into people the teachings of Jesus that we are to store up treasure in heaven and not to love money. If someone is not tithing, it would be appropriate to talk with them, find out why and ask them to think about whether their giving reflects what Jesus has taught. At the same time, it would be equally appropriate to talk to someone who is wealthy and only giving 10% in the same way. Our priority as a church must be to urge people, on the basis of God’s Word, to make monetary decisions that reflect a life orientation of loving God with all of our hearts and loving our neighbors as ourselves.
Therefore, the most important question regarding our money at the Day of Judgment will not be, Did you tithe?, but rather, Did you love Me with all of your heart, and did you love your neighbor as yourself? These commands are to guide us in all things, including how we use the money God gives us to steward. Jesus said in Matthew 6:19-21, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” To love God with all of yourself means that everything is for Him. If we view our money as being solely or even mostly for us, we are not loving God with all of our heart, and we are not loving our neighbor as ourselves.
Paul’s commendation of the Macedonian church was that they had put both God and helping others first (2 Corinthians 8:5). Similarly, we do not command people to give any specific amount, but we do urge people to really think about what their monetary decisions reflect about the extent to which the two great commands of loving God and neighbor are the orientation of their lives. Giving, rightly understood, is a joyous investment rather than a heavy burden.
Men and Women’s Ministry Opportunities at Salt Church
To reflect God’s beautiful design at Salt Church, we desire to articulate and embody a theological vision of complementarianism, a vision of men and women, not only in marriage, but also in ministry, that both honors the Lord and results in human flourishing. This paper explains what we believe the Bible teaches about gender complementarity and how we live this out particularly within the ministry of Salt Church.
Our Beliefs are Found in the Bible
Our foundation for life and ministry starts with the understanding that the Bible is God’s inspired and authoritative Word. As affirmed in our statement of beliefs, we believe the Bible “... has God for its Author, salvation for its end, and truth – without any mixture of error – for its matter. Therefore, all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy” (Ps. 19:7-11; 2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:20-21). Any attempt to understand personhood and gender must begin with divine revelation and God’s created order.
The Bible teaches that God created two complementary sexes of humans, male and female, to bear His image together (Gen. 1:27-28; Matt. 19:4; Mark 10:6). This distinction in gender represents an essential characteristic of personhood and reflects an essential part of being created in God’s image.
As outlined in Scriptures, we believe that men and women are absolutely equal in essence, dignity and value and are complementary by divine design. Gender does not merely represent a social construct but, instead, represents a reality present in every human from birth. Men and women are not interchangeable.
From the opening pages of Scripture, we find that God, in His wisdom and providence, created two complementary sexes for our good and His glory. In light of His good created order and the fact that men and women both share in divine image bearing, God desires us to embrace our genders as a gift and to have different yet complementary roles and responsibilities in the church and home. This theological view of seeing men and women equal in worth yet different in roles in the home and the church is called complementarianism and is the view we hold and feel best fits the teaching of the Scriptures. We long to model complementarianism not only in our homes, but also in all areas of church life at Salt. These role distinctions do not arise from cultural definitions of masculinity and femininity nor are they specific in application to the churches they address. These distinctions are an integral part of God’s plan for humanity, as revealed in the Scriptures. We should recognize them as God’s grace to men and women, protecting, preserving and practicing them for His glory, our joy, and for the sake of human flourishing (Gen. 2:18-25; 1 Cor. 11:2-16, 14:33-35; Eph. 5:22-33; Col. 3:18-19; 1 Tim. 2:8-15; 1 Pet. 3:1-7).
To reflect God’s beautiful design at Salt Church, we desire to articulate and embody this theological vision of complementarianism in every part of our ministry. We want to be obedient to the Scriptures, honor the Lord, and give opportunities for men and women to flourish in their roles. This paper seeks to describe that vision by explaining what we believe Scripture teaches about gender complementarity as it relates to men and women in ministry, as well as how we humbly strive to live this out at Salt Church.
Men and Women Serve God Together
Our desire is to help people take their next step with Jesus. To see this happen, we labor to make disciples that make disciples for the progress of the gospel, resulting in vibrant churches throughout the world. We believe the Bible explicitly encourages and assumes that both men and women will be equally involved in that disciple making mission through the church. As it relates to women specifically, we see that Jesus welcomed women among His disciples, taught them (Luke 10:39) and vitally involved them in His ministry (Luke 8:1-3). Paul shows us that older women teaching biblical wisdom to younger women is a noble, beautiful, and necessary task (Titus 2:3-5). Proverbs commands young men to listen “to your father’s instruction, and don’t reject your mother’s teaching” (Proverbs 1:8, 6:20). Paul spoke of Timothy’s faith “that first lived in your grandmother Lois, then in your mother Eunice, and that I am convinced is in you also” (2 Timothy 1:5). Phoebe, a servant of the church of Cenchreae, is commended by Paul, having participated in his gospel ministry (Rom. 16:1-2). Euodia and Syntyche, two women in Philippi, contended for the gospel at Paul’s side (Phil. 4:3). Priscilla, with her husband Aquila, took Apollos into their home and “explained the way of God to him more accurately” (Acts 18:26) and we see men and women called to a ministry of “teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom” in the Colossian church (Col. 3:16). We celebrate the biblical picture of men and women serving the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ together. We rejoice in biblical examples of men and women using their gifts in the Church for the glory of God.
The Bible depicts a beautiful vision of men and women laboring alongside one another in the world and the Church for the sake of the kingdom of God (1 Cor. 12:4-31). Spiritual gifts are not given to one gender or another. When we don’t empower both sexes to engage and use their gifts in complementarian partnership, both genders suffer, and the mission of the Church—to proclaim the gospel and make disciples of all nations—suffers.
In light of the belief that male and female image bearers flourish in partnership, we expect that the primary relationship between Christian men and women is that of brotherly and sisterly love. We note that the Bible upholds the metaphor of siblinghood as the primary descriptor for male-female partnering in the Church. The concept that is taught in the New Testament is that the Church ought to have the kind of love for one another that is reserved for blood brothers and sisters. This uniquely Christian disposition reminds us that we ought to see each other as a family in a special sense. Therefore, the primary relationship in the local church between men and women is the relationship of brothers and sisters, united in Christ, not one gender subordinate to another. We affirm that cultivating an environment of brotherly and sisterly love is at the heart of complementarianism. These relationships should be marked by honor, care, and sacrifice for one another.
Men and Women - Equal in Worth Yet Different in Roles
We affirm that equal involvement in the church between men and women does not entail interchangeable involvement. Although men and women are portrayed as equals throughout Scripture, we believe the Bible reserves the office of elder/pastor specifically for qualified men (1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9). Scripture calls elders to lead the church (1 Tim. 5:17; Titus 1:7; 1 Pet. 5:1-2), preach the Word (1 Tim. 3:2; 2 Tim. 4:2; Titus 1:9), protect the church from false teaching (Acts 20:17, 28-31; Titus 1:9), pray for and visit the sick (James 5:14), equip the saints for ministry (Eph. 4:11-12), and use proper judgment in theological and doctrinal matters (Acts 15). In shepherding, overseeing, leading, caring for, and praying for the local church, elders practice sacrificial male headship. Therefore, although we encourage all men and women to actively participate in the life of the church, we reserve the office of elder, and the responsibilities unique to it, for certain qualified men within the church. Apart from the role of pastor/elder, we believe the Bible explicitly encourages and assumes that women will vitally serve in all other ministry roles within the Church. Based on the conclusions drawn from Scripture, we have created a list of affirmations and denials that further encompass our beliefs on gender and the roles of men and women in ministry.
Affirmations and Denials
We affirm that both men and women have been created in the image of God and are held accountable to the responsibilities that come with reflecting our Creator.
We deny that either gender has been given or is entitled to greater dignity in society, the home, the church or the kingdom of God.
We affirm that both men and women are needed and necessary for the health and ministry of the church. Godly men and women should be visible partners in the corporate life of the church, using their diverse gifts for the good of the body. Simply put, all Christians contribute to the ministry of the church.
We deny that the church can flourish without brotherly/sisterly partnership. We deny that a church can exist in which the men flourish and the women do not, or vice versa.
We affirm that the role/function of elder is reserved for qualified men. Elders are distinctly responsible for leading, teaching, protecting, and caring for the Church.
We deny that the role of elder being withheld from women diminishes their importance or their influence in the church. The indispensable help women were created to give can and should be exercised in all manner of roles/offices in the church, excepting those reserved for qualified men.
We affirm that God calls men to a unique teaching role in the gathered church (1 Cor. 14:34; 1 Timothy 2:12), showing a beautiful leadership that God established for man at creation (Gen. 1:26-28, 2:15-25 ; 1 Tim. 2:13). These qualified men who teach at our Celebration Gatherings should seek to draw out, be shaped by, and share invaluable wisdom and helpful insights from godly women.
We deny that God has limited any spiritual gifts to either gender, including the gifts of teaching and leadership, and we seek to help men and women express those gifts in various appropriate contexts within the ministries of Salt Church.
We affirm that all members of the church should be in glad submission to the elders, and that all, including the elders, should be in glad and sacrificial submission to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, the Head of His Church.
We deny that all women are subject to the leadership and authority of all men. Further, biblical submission is not indicative of subordination or inequality, as seen in the Son’s submission to the Father (John 6:38; Phil. 2:5-11; 1 Cor. 11:3; Mt. 26:39).
We affirm that complementarianism, rightly practiced, will lead to the recognizable flourishing of both sexes.
We deny any version of complementarianism or theological position that leads to the subjugation, abuse or neglect of any man or woman. We strongly denounce any distorted view of scriptures that contributes to the belief that biblical manhood or womanhood includes or permits practices such as marginalization, subjugation, intimidation, neglect or any form of abuse.
We affirm that all men and women have been created in the image of God, whether single or married.
We deny that men and women must be married to be meaningful participants in the corporate life of the church. We deny that single men possess any authority over single women. The way that they love and serve their sisters should not patronize, victimize or show force, but rather should be the fruit of brotherly love, and vice versa.
Complementarianism within Staffing and Ministry Contexts
We desire to live out and display the beauty of complementarianism, not only within our families, but also within our church staff and various ministry contexts. In coming to these conclusions and how to implement them, we recognize that some will find our position and practice on men and women in staffing and ministry far too conservative. We also recognize that others will find our position and practice on men and women in staffing and ministry far too progressive. We ask for charity from both as we humbly strive to help men and women use their gifts so that all might find their greatest joy in Jesus Christ.
Additionally, we believe it is important to note that a theological confession of complementarianism does not necessarily result in uniform complementarian practice everywhere, for all Christians. We are eager to work with brothers and sisters, churches and other ministries, who view these issues differently than we do.
As we humbly seek to understand God’s beautiful purposes within complementarianism, we have sought to bring application to these truths in various staffing and ministry environments at Salt Church.
Staffing at Salt Church
We seek to hire both men and women for every staff role, for the health of the church, outside of the role of staff pastors/elders. This gives both men and women opportunities to advance and grow in leadership and includes women participating in every level of our organization, from college ministry to director level leadership.
Ministry at Salt Church
Celebration Gatherings (Salt Church and Salt Company)
Sunday mornings - While we have elders or other qualified men assume the teaching roles at our Sunday morning mixed-gender celebration gatherings, we regularly have women use their gifts throughout these services. Expressions of women’s participation in mixed gender celebration gatherings may include pre-service teaching team and planning efforts, sharing testimonies from the front, welcome times, participating and leading out in worship services, baptizing believers, helping serve communion, as well as other leadership and service opportunities.
Other Celebration Gatherings - We believe that passages like 1 Timothy 2:12 are speaking directly to the unique event of the gathered church on a Sunday morning. That being said, we feel that because our college and, at times, other celebration gatherings are so similar to the Sunday morning gathering in structure and format that it would be both confusing and unhelpful to do something different than what is experienced on a Sunday when it comes to the preaching and teaching of God’s Word. Therefore, qualified men will teach in those celebration gatherings.
Equipping Contexts
God has gifted both men and women to teach the Scriptures for the edification of the body (Romans 12:7; Ephesians 4:11-15; 1 Peter 4:10-11). Clearly God has called men and women to teach the Scriptures to their children (Proverbs 1:8, 6:20) and women to instruct other women (Titus 2:3-5). As a general practice, gender-specific teaching environments are taught by a leader of the same gender; men teach men’s environments and women teach women’s environments. When we have mixed-gender equipping contexts, because it is not the context of the entire gathered church, we encourage both men and women to teach in these environments. Elders will give general oversight to all equipping efforts as we see equipping as an expression of the teaching ministry of the church as a whole.
Connection Groups
When connection groups are mixed in gender, men and women will enjoy mutual encouragement and edification as together they share their unique insights and wisdom. When it comes to the leadership of those groups, we desire those mixed-gender groups to be co-led by both men and women. If groups are single gender (i.e. Salt Company), those groups will be led by a person of the same gender. We believe these practices will lead to healthy community and flourishing for everyone participating in our small groups.