Thank you for your partnership with Shadow Rock Church

Thank you for your interest in becoming a partner at Shadow Rock Church. Many people may be familiar with the concept of church membership, but at Shadow Rock we have changed the language of engagement from "membership" to "partnership." We feel that the term partnership is more reflective of the missional community outlined for followers of Christ and churches throughout the Bible. A good example of this church partnership is found in Philippians 1:3–6:

"Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns."

When you make a partnership commitment, it means that Shadow Rock is not just the church you attend sometimes; but, Shadow Rock is your church—you are Shadow Rock Church. Partnership reflects a shared ownership and responsibility in our church's success and effectiveness. As a partner, you have input in Shadow Rock's values, vision, and doctrinal & financial integrity. You help us discern God's will as it relates to decisions about property, pastoral leadership and how we leverage our resources to reach our community for Christ. Partnership means that we recognize that we are the tangible body of Christ together. We all have different gifts and roles, but each person is essential to accomplishing what God wants to do in and through our church, as it says in 1 Corinthians 12:12–27:

"The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit. Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body? If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything? But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. How strange a body would be if it had only one part! Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.” In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, while the more honorable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad. All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it."