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The Reformed Global Missions Network

Covenant

Our Covenant

The Reformed Global Mission Network is built upon a shared theological and missiological foundation. Participants affirm this covenant as the basis for trust, conversation, and collaboration in God’s mission. 

A Theological & Missiological Covenant

As participants in the Reformed Global Mission Network, we believe that evangelism, disciple-making, leadership development, church revitalization and planting are vital aspects of God’s mission to the world and are at the very heart of our calling as Reformed and Evangelical churches. Therefore, we affirm the need for...

A Relational Space

A relational space where Reformed churches can come together to learn from one another, encourage one another, and collaborate in God’s mission to bring all of creation under the Lordship of Jesus Christ (Eph. 4:3).

A Fresh Conversation

A fresh conversation about how we can pursue Christ’s mission together more faithfully and that recognizes that all parties, who share a common heart for the Gospel and hold to a high view of Scripture, are equally invited to the table (1 Cor. 1:10).

A Flexible Network

A non-institutional, flexible network of autonomous churches, denominations, training ministries, and leaders who recognize that the cultural and denominational diversity God has given His Church is one of our greatest strengths for mission. Rather than seeking to merge our distinct traditions into a single institutional expression in order to become “same-minded,” we desire to be “like-minded” around a set of core theological and missiological commitments that are broadly found within the Reformed faith. (Phil. 2:2)

Our Shared Commitments

In order to create an atmosphere of high trust where these conversations can occur (Phil. 2:2; 1 Pet. 3:8), participants in the RGMN affirm these theological and missiological essentials, which unite us in the Gospel while enabling faithful collaboration in God’s mission:

The Exclusivity of Christ

We affirm Jesus Christ, conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, fully God and fully man, whose sinless life, substitutionary death, and bodily resurrection, brings salvation to all who trust in Him through the power of the Holy Spirit. There is no other Name under heaven by which we may be saved (Acts 4:12;1Corinthians 3:11; Westminster Confession, Ch. 8).

The Authority of Scripture

We affirm the Bible as the inspired, authoritative Word of God and the ultimate guide for faith and life. We do not reshape Scripture to fit our desires but allow Scripture to transform us into Christ’s likeness (2 Tim. 3:16; Phil. 2:1-11; Westminster Confession, Ch. 1).

The Mission of God (Missio Dei)

The Mission of God: We affirm that God’s heart is for the nations and that the Church, local and global, exists to proclaim the Good News, make disciples, and multiply communities of faith both in their own communities but also throughout the world (Matt. 28:19-20; Acts 1:8; cf. Second Helvetic Confession, Ch. 17).

The Created Order & Marriage

We affirm that God created humanity in His image as male and female and established the covenant of marriage between one man and one woman as a sign of His covenant love, a context for fruitfulness, mission, and the only faithful expression of sexuality (Gen. 1:27, 2:24; Mk. 10:6; Westminster Larger Catechism Q&A 139).

The Sacredness of Human Life

We affirm that all humans from conception to natural death are created in the image of God and, as such, every person deserves to be treated with dignity, value, and worth in Christian love (Gen. 1:27; Ps. 139:13-14; Jer. 1:5; Belgic Confession, Art. 14).

Reformed Distinctives

We affirm the foundational distinctives of the Reformed Tradition which are articulated throughout our various Creeds and Confessions, including the Westminster Confession and Catechisms, Second Helvetic Confession and the Heidelberg Catechism. These distinctives include the sovereignty of God (Ps. 103:29, 115:3;Second Helvetic Confession, Ch. 6), the total depravity of humanity (Gen. 6:5; Jer. 17:9;Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 8), salvation by grace alone and rooted in God’s eternal counsel, not human effort (Rom. 9:15-16; Eph. 1:11, 2:8-9;Second Helvetic Confession, Ch. 10), the priesthood of all believers (1 Pet. 2:5-9), and the Glory of God as humanity’s chief end (Is. 43:7; 1 Cor. 10:31; Westminster Shorter Catechism Q&A 1; Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 1). Second Helvetic Confession, Ch. 6), the total depravity of humanity (Gen. 6:5; Jer. 17:9;Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 8), salvation by grace alone and rooted in God’s eternal counsel, not human effort (Rom. 9:15-16; Eph. 1:11, 2:8-9;Second Helvetic Confession, Ch. 10), the priesthood of all believers (1 Pet. 2:5-9), and the Glory of God as humanity’s chief end (Is. 43:7; 1 Cor. 10:31; Westminster Shorter Catechism Q&A 1; Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 1).