The Summit Edmonton Church
Standards of Leadership
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At The Summit Edmonton Church (The Summit), we value our staff, ministry team leaders, leaders, and volunteers; and we recognize that without them we would not be able to function as a church or fulfill the mission that God has given us. It is through the faithful service of our volunteers that we have seen countless people’s lives transformed by the power of God.
However as with any kind of leadership, there is a burden of responsibility that each team member carries, and a biblical standard of leadership that must be modeled. Being on a team requires commitment; a commitment to God’s service, a commitment to caring for people, and a commitment to integrity and high ethical standards in accordance with scripture, as we seek to demonstrate Jesus’ love to the world.
Within this document, you will find information regarding our expectations for everyone who serves at The Summit, as well as an outline on the different levels of leadership within the church. Everyone serving on a team at The Summit is responsible for reading, understanding and abiding by the appropriate standards, as listed below.
Please know, we recognize that no one is perfect and everyone is in the process of being sanctified and becoming more like Jesus - so our expectation is not perfection. We know that we all will sometimes fail in upholding these standards at all times. Our expectation simply is that everyone serving on a team at The Summit seeks to live a life according to these standards.
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Levels of Leadership
At The Summit, we recognize four different levels of leadership:
Volunteer - anyone who is part of a team, but not leading others or on-stage
For Example: Tech Team, Ushering Team, Hospitality Team, etc.
Leader - anyone who leads others or is on-stage, but not preaching or teaching
For Example: Kids/Youth/Group Leaders, Worship Team, Altar Prayer Team
Ministry Team Leader - anyone who leads and supervises other leaders
For Example: Head of Ushers, Head of Greeters, Head of Merch table
Staff - anyone who is a regular paid staff member
For Example: Administrator, Kids Ministry Leader, Pastor
At each level of leadership, we have a set of expectations in order to promote the safety of our teams and to hold our leadership to the high standard as outlined in scripture.
Leadership Standards
While you are on a team at The Summit, you agree to the following:
Standards for Volunteers, Leaders, Ministry Team Leaders, and Staff
These standards are expected of everyone serving on a team at The Summit.
Be willing to submit a valid police check.
This is a requirement of all volunteers in order to ensure the safety of all attendees.
Be willing to embody the vision & core values of The Summit, conducting yourself in an appropriate manner while at The Summit.
This means being mindful of what you say & how you act while at The Summit in order to promote safety and our core values.
Be willing to safeguard all confidential information learned, accessed, developed, or created while on a team at The Summit.
This means protecting all confidential information you may learn, and reporting any disclosure or theft of such information to your team lead.
Be willing to serve to the best of your capacity, giving God your best in your areas of service.
This means that in everything we do, we seek to worship God by generously offering Him our first fruits and our best as we bring people into encounters with Him.
Be willing to grow by being open to input, challenge & correction from Team Leaders and The Summit Staff.
This means understanding that nobody is perfect, and that our team wants to help you succeed.
Additional Standards for Leaders, Ministry Team Leaders & Staff
These standards are expected of everyone serving as a Leader, Ministry Team Leader, or Staff at The Summit, in accordance with the standards for Deacons found in 1 Timothy 3:8-13.
Be willing to act with integrity and honor, treating others fairly & with respect.
This means being mindful of how you interact with others, seeking their benefit. (1 Timothy 3:8; Matthew 5:43-44, Luke 6:31, Philippians 2:3-4)
Be willing to abstain from deceit, gossip, false accusations & double-minded behavior.
This means practicing what you preach and refraining from engaging in gossip or slander. (1 Timothy 3:8; Exodus 20:16, Ephesians 4:29 & 5:18)
Be willing to abstain from intoxication and the overuse of drugs and alcohol.
This means avoiding overuse of alcohol and legal prescription narcotics, but doesn’t prohibit their proper use. (1 Timothy 3:8 & Titus 1:7; Luke 21:34, 1 Corinthians 6:10 & 12, Ephesians 5:18)
Be willing to abstain from the pursuit of wealth, striving to live a life not dominated by materialism.
This means choosing to put God first in your life; not allowing the pursuit of money to define you. (1 Timothy 3:3,8 & Titus 1:7; Proverbs 13:11, Matthew 6:19-24, 1 Timothy 6:17-19, Hebrews 13:5, 1 John 2:16)
Be willing to actively obey the word of God, accepting His word as final authority over your life.
This means engaging in learning the word of God and actively choosing to believe what it says, even if culture disagrees. (1 Timothy 3:9; Joshua 1:8, Romans 15:4, 1 Corinthians 2:1-7, 2 Timothy 3:16-17)
Be willing to act with temperance and discipline; choosing to live free from negative and life-dominating influences.
This means not allowing culture, social media, news or others define and dominate your life. (1 Timothy 3:10-11; Proverbs 25:28, Titus 2:12, Hebrews 12:1)
Be willing to faithfully and loyally serve God and others, making your own spiritual growth a priority in your life.
This means prioritizing your relationship with God through prayer, reading the bible, and other spiritual pathways; as well as committing to attending The Summit on a frequent basis. (1 Timothy 3:11; Matthew 25:14-30, Luke 16:10, John 15:5 & 12-17)
Be willing to adhere to the biblical standards of marriage and sexuality, choosing to live in sexual purity.
This means remaining faithful to one spouse, abstaining from sex outside of marriage, abstaining from improper sexual relations and avoiding the practice of lust. (1 Timothy 3:2, 12 & Titus 1:6; Genesis 2:24, Matthew 5:27-30, 1 Corinthians 6:9, 7:1-5, 7:8-16, 2 Corinthians 6:14, Ephesians 5:21-28, Hebrews 13:4)
If applicable, be willing to manage your children and household properly in accordance with these standards.
This means recognizing that church leadership is first practiced in your home, and choosing to lead your family in a godly manner. (1 Timothy 3:4, 12 & Titus 1:6; Proverbs 22:6, Ephesians 6:4, Titus 2:4, Hebrews 12:7-11)
Additional Standards for Staff
These standards are expected of everyone serving as Staff at The Summit, in accordance with the standards for Elders & Bishops in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:6-9.
Be willing to live a life that is above reproach and honorable before others. This means choosing to live in a way that is respectable so that you are without blame in light of the whole picture. (1 Timothy 3:2 & Titus 1:6; Romans 12:17, 2 Corinthians 7:1, Philippians 2:15, 1 Thessalonians 4:4)
Be willing to practice sensibility, prudence, and self-control; having a balanced, godly perspective of theology, faith and life. This means being sensitive to the needs of others, cautious in the face of problems, and being able to control yourself when you disagree with others. (1 Timothy 3:2 & Titus 1:7; Romans 12:2, Philippians 4:5-6, 2 Timothy 1:7, 2 Peter 1:5-6)
Be willing to be hospitable and welcoming to all. This means welcoming people with open arms, loving people and inviting people to be a part of your life. (1 Timothy 3:2; Leviticus 19:33-34, Matthew 25:31-46, Romans 12:13, Galatians 5:13, Hebrews 13:2 & 16, 1 Peter 4:9)
Be willing to pursue a deep understanding of the word of God, so that you can accurately share truth with others. This means actively pursuing biblical truths, seeking to understand theological truths, and the ability to teach them to others. (1 Timothy 3:2 & Titus 1:9; Colossians 3:16, 2 Timothy 2:15 & 24-26, Titus 2:1)
Be willing to abstain from violence and violent or angry reactions, choosing to regard others with fairness and love. This means choosing to treat people with love, even when dealing with difficult people or disciplining others. (1 Timothy 3:3 & Titus 1:7; Matthew 5:38-39, Romans 12:17-21, Ephesians 4:32, 2 Timothy 2:24, James 1:19-20)
Be willing to abstain from quarreling and hot-headed behavior, refusing to harbor resentment or long-standing anger. This means choosing to pursue peace with everyone and to forgive others. (1 Timothy 3:3; 2 Timothy 2:23-24; Matthew 18:21-35, Luke 17:3-4, Romans 13:12-14, Ephesians 4:26 & 31-32, James 1:19-20)
Be willing to abstain from the worldly preoccupation of gratifying your flesh, choosing to practice self-control. This means living a life that is not based on fulfilling your flesh’s desires, but choosing to obey God’s calling for your life. (Titus 1:7-8; Galatians 5:16, Colossians 3:5, 2 Timothy 2:22, 1 Peter 2:11 & 4:7, 1 John 2:15-16)
Be willing to choose to love what is good, just and holy; loving what God loves, following what God approves, and obeying God’s law. This means allowing God to define what is right and what is wrong, and choosing to follow his word no matter what. (Titus 1:8; Psalm 119:10, Proverbs 6:16-19, Matthew 23:23, John 14:15 & 15:12-14, Acts 5:29, Galatians 5:13-26, 2 John 1:6)
Must not be a new convert (1 Timothy 3:6) This is to avoid the damaging effects of high callings on new Christians, which can cause conceit and lead to condemnation.
Must be well-respected by those outside the church (1 Timothy 3:7) This is to prevent reputational damage to the individual and church, which can lead to reproach.
Compliance
Adherence to these standards are a condition of serving on a team at The Summit, and failure to comply with them may result in removal from your role on the team, depending on the circumstances.
Ultimately, these standards give an overview of the high standard that God has called those serving in leadership too. However, we recognize that no one is perfect and everyone is in the process of being sanctified and becoming more like Jesus; knowing we will sometimes fail in upholding these standards at all times. Our expectation simply is that everyone serving on a team at The Summit seeks to live a life according to these standards.
As such, if an individual chooses to willfully & actively participate in behavior and beliefs that are not in accordance with the standards of leadership outlined in scripture, and if said individual is unrepentant and unwilling to pursue a life that obeys God’s standards for leadership, they will be removed from their position of leadership until such a time that they are willing to follow God’s calling for their lives.