GateWay City Church
Dr. David Cannistraci, Senior Pastor
5886 Eden Park Place
San Jose, CA 95138
gccsj.com | 408.281-7900

 

 GateWay City Church
BELIEVERS COVENANT OF RELATIONSHIP

Our congregation is empowered and held together by the Holy Spirit and a common adherence to a “Believers Covenant of Relationship.” This covenant is important for everyone because it…

  • Establishes our united purpose as congregation
  • Defines our common Statement of Faith
  • Communicates the Biblical nature of our relationships
  • Embodies our requirements for participating in the life of the church

 

OUR COMMON PURPOSE

The purpose of GateWay City Church is to carry Gospel of Jesus Christ to the world!  We exist to encourage men, women and children to come to Christ and grow stronger in the Christian faith.  By meeting together regularly, we seek to exalt the Lord Jesus in worship, edify believers in fellowship, and extend the Good News to a hurting and broken world. 

OUR STATEMENT OF FAITH

THE BIBLE - We believe the Bible to be the inspired, authoritative, and infallible Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16).

THE GODHEAD - We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (1 John 5:4-6).

JESUS CHRIST - We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, atoning death, bodily resurrection and ascension, and in His personal return in power and glory (I Corinthians 15:3; 1 Peter 2:21-30; John 3:16).

SALVATION - We believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful man, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential (Romans 3:21-30; Galatians 4:4-7).

HEALING - We believe the redemptive work of Christ on the cross provides healing for body, mind, and spirit in answer to believing prayer (Isaiah 53:5; 1 Peter 2:24; James 5:14-16).

THE HOLY SPIRIT - We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit who indwells every believer and operates in all believers in the power and gifts of the Spirit, manifesting them as He wills (John 14:16-Acts 1:5, 8; Acts 2:2-4; 1 Corinthians 12-14; Galatians 5:22).

WATER BAPTISM - Baptism in water is by immersion for the circumcision of heart as a direct commandment of the Lord for believers.  (Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12).

BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT - The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is a gift from God as promised by the Lord Jesus Christ to all believers in this dispensation, and is received subsequent to the “New Birth.” (Matthew 3:11-12; Acts 1:8, 2:4).

MARRIAGE - Marriage is ordained by God and revealed in Scripture as the exclusive covenantal union of one man and one woman in a lifelong commitment.  The sacrament of marriage will only be conducted and recognized by the church for those persons meeting this biblical definition of marriage (Matthew 19:4-6, Hebrews 13:4).

HUMAN SEXUALITY - Sexual relations are to be exercised solely within marriage.  Sexual activities outside of marriage (including adultery, premarital sex, homosexuality and pedophilia) are inconsistent with Biblical holiness.  Lascivious conduct, transgender behavior, sexual harassment and participation in pornography are also incompatible with the Christian faith (Romans 1:24-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; 1 Thessalonians 4:3).

THE RESURRECTION - We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost-they that are saved unto the resurrection of life and they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation (John 5:24, 28-29).

UNITY - We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ, and seek community together, to "become more and more in every way like Christ who is the Head of His body, the church" (Ephesians 4:15-16).

OUR RELATIONSHIPS

In Scripture, those regularly attending a church and participating in its activities are identified as “believers”, “disciples”, “saints” and “brethren” (herein “Believers”).  Therefore, being a part of a church is a spiritual and relational matter, not a legal one.  In our church, the Board of Directors has legal and corporate authority, requirements and responsibilities for the church.  But all of Believers have spiritual requirements and responsibilities to our church and its leaders, congregation and mission:

Requirements for Relationship with GateWay City Church

Participating in the life of GateWay City Church means believers are actively:

Sharing the responsibility of this church

  1. by praying for its vision and purpose to be fulfilled,
  2. by inviting the unchurched to attend,
  3. by warmly welcoming those who come.
     

(See 1 Thessalonians 1:2; Luke 14:23; Romans 15:7)

Serving the ministry of this church

  1. by discovering their gifts and being equipped to serve,
  2. by developing a servant’s heart,
  3. by serving in ministry.

(See 1 Peter 4:10; Ephesians 4:11-12; Philippians 2:3-4, 7)

Safeguarding the unity of this church

  1. by demonstrating love and grace toward other members,
  2. by dealing biblically and lovingly with conflict,
  3. by following the spiritual leaders of this church.
  4. by avoiding those who cause disorder and division.
     

(See Romans 14:19; 1 Peter 1:22; Ephesians 4:29; Hebrews 13:17, 1 Corinthians 16:17)

Supporting the witness of this church

  1. by attending faithfully,
  2. by growing in and living a godly life,
  3. by giving regularly.

 

(See Hebrews 10:25; Philippians 1:27; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2a; Leviticus 27:30)
A Word about Handling Disputes within the Congregation.  1 Corinthians 6:1-5 prohibits legal action between Christians in a court of law.  Believers experiencing disagreement or a dispute or claim against a Believer within our congregation, or our church, or its leaders, agree not to file legal action to resolve the matter. Believers agree instead to resolve the matter in accordance with the Matthew 18 process as interpreted, supervised and determined by the Senior Pastor.  If a matter is not resolved to the satisfaction of a party to the dispute, in accordance with the Matthew 18 process, Believers agree the Senior Pastor, or a neutral Believer selected by the Senior Pastor, shall have binding authority to arbitrate and finally resolve the matter.

A Word about Discipline and Removal.  In our church, the Senior Pastor has the biblical and final authority to oversee the congregation, which includes the authority to release a Believer from good standing and/or remove a Believer from fellowship with the congregation.  In the rare event removal would be necessary, it would be for the cause of doctrine or conduct that is deemed unscriptural, dangerous, divisive or disorderly. (1 Corinthians 15:33, Titus 3:9-11).

Commitment to Relationship with GateWay City Church

Why should I identify with a local church?  Being a part of a church is a tremendous blessing as well as a Biblical command.  It provides you with…

  • Fellowship with people that share your faith and values
  • A place to grow, serve and give as the Bible teaches
  • Safety and spiritual covering in the storms of life
  • Day to day encouragement in the Christian experience

 

Pledge of Commitment and Agreement with the Believers Covenant of Relationship:

Having received Christ as my/our Lord and Savior, and being in agreement with the Believer’s Covenant of Relationship, I am led by the Holy Spirit to unite with the GateWay City Church congregation. In doing so, I commit myself to the Common Purpose of the Church, its Statement of Faith, and Biblical Pattern of Relationships.  It is my/our earnest intent to remain true to Christ and this church, but if I/we depart from the faith or cease to live in accordance with this Believers Covenant of Relationship, I/we shall consider it just cause to be released from relationship with GateWay City Church.

AGREEMENT: