Become an Affiliated Ministry

Affiliate your ministry with the Alliance and be part of an inclusive and diverse communion with room for all.

Any ministry or faith community that wishes to become an affiliated ministry of the Alliance may do so by completing the ministry affiliation application expressing their support of the Alliance’s mission and core values. Affiliated ministries are approved by the Leadership Council.

Affiliation continues until the affiliated ministry petitions the Leadership Council for removal or is terminated from membership by the Leadership Council for cause.

Affiliated ministries remain autonomous but will receive support from the Alliance. Participants in the affiliated ministries are encouraged to become individual members of the Alliance for a voice and vote in all policy matters.

Should any case of gross breach of covenant, or of public scandal occur, the Leadership Council shall endeavor to resolve the conflict; and if this effort fails the Leadership Council shall be empowered to act in the best interest of Alliance. All such proceedings shall be pervaded by a spirit of Christian kindness and forbearance, but should an adverse decision be reached, the Alliance may proceed to admonish or declare the offending group to be no longer in affiliation with the Alliance. Any whose affiliation has been terminated for any offense may be restored by majority vote of the Leadership Council, upon evidence of their repentance and reformation.

Affiliation with the Alliance shall be terminated when a group is removed by majority vote of the council due to reasons and circumstances provided in Article 2.4 – Disciplinary Procedures. The Leadership Council will counsel the affiliated ministry for reconciliation prior to an action of termination.

Step 1 of 3

Ministry Information

Name of congregation/ministry/organization that desires affiliation. *

Address *

Address Line 1

Address Line 2

City

State

Zip Code

Name and title of pastor or primary organizational leader. *

Primary Contact Email Address *

Website *

Please describe your organization's commitment to LGBTQIA+ inclusion, theological diversity, and social justice. *

Please give a brief history of your organization. *

Please provide your organization's statements of mission, vision, purpose, and/or core values. *

Affiliation Terms

This Autonomous Congregation Affiliation Agreement states the terms of affiliation that govern the agreement between the Progressive Christian Alliance and above named organization who, as a result of the exploration of their common faith, have come into agreement with the core values of The Progressive Christian Alliance and wish to share in the universal body catholic (all embracing) family of the Alliance. WHEREAS, The Progressive Christian Alliance exists to serve and grow in unity with those whose understanding of an inclusive and grace filled body of Christ calls them to radical communion; and WHEREAS, the above named organization desires to join with the other Autonomous Congregations, Clergy, and Members of the Progressive Christian Alliance for mutual edification and ministerial covering; NOW, THEREFORE, Do both parties wish to join together with mutual covenants of love and understanding, that as separate, unique but interdependent emanations of the body of Christ they may serve each other more fully in formal declaration of their call to advance the causes of Social Justice and Radical Inclusion that lay at the heart of the gospel narrative; The Progressive Christian Alliance and the above named organization the agree as follows:

We recognize that the Progressive Christian Alliance maintains a focus on social justice. *

Yes.

We believe that the gospel of Christ calls us to minister to the last, the lost, the least, and the left-out of society. *

Yes.

We respect theological diversity. *

Yes.

Faith is not about concrete answers, religious absolutes, creeds, or dogma. Faith is about the search for understanding, the raising of important questions, the open honesty of having doubt, and the realization that no one has it all completely right nor does any human hold all the answers. *

We so affirm.

We seek to follow the advice found in 1st Thessalonians 5:21, which is to “seek truth out in all things and hold firmly onto that which is good.” *

Religious absolutes of dogma, legalism, and strict doctrine become stumbling blocks and “litmus tests” for who is “in” and who is “out” of the circle of God’s grace. These false tests that Jesus never required get in the way of truly following Jesus and his teachings. *

We so affirm.

We affirm the dignity of all of God’s children and invite them to participate fully in the life of the church. *

Yes.

Membership in the Alliance

This agreement shall begin on the below listed date and continue until either party declares their intention to remove association. *

Please type today’s date.

Either party may terminate this agreement for actions by the opposite party taken outside the core values described below with 30 days written notice to the other party. The reasons for termination shall be described and posted with the first week of the thirty days. This agreement may only be entered into or terminated on the part of the Alliance by majority vote of the leadership council. The autonomous congregation may determine their own metric for ratifying this agreement so long as a simple majority of the congregation is also in agreement. *

We agree.

Congregational membership in Progressive Christian Alliance shall consist of autonomous congregations who have expressed agreement with our Core Principles and wish to enter an affiliation with the Progressive Christian Alliance. This Affiliation Agreement shall be submitted for affiliation in order to be recognized as a PCA congregation. Affiliated congregations will remain autonomous congregations, but under the PCA umbrella. Congregations seeking affiliation and membership in the Progressive Christian Alliance will submit the Congregational Covenant with an overview of their ministry. The Leadership Council will approve these applications by a majority vote. Upon affiliation all members of the affiliated congregation that are submitted with the Autonomous Congregation Membership Covenant are entitled to run for offices, to vote for officers and propose and approve changes to the constitution and canons of the PCA. Churches affiliated with the PCA are welcome to separately join any and all denominations or organizations that do not directly conflict with the Core Values of the PCA. No modification of this Agreement shall be valid unless in writing and agreed upon by both Parties. *

By typing my name in the above box, I certify that I am an authorized representative or leader of the above applying organization, and that affiliation is not official until approved by the Leadership Council.

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