Decision making at the Dove River Church is governed by the Leadership Team and Church stewards.

The Leadership Team is chosen by the stewardship and the stewards have direct input into the decisions of the Church especially in terms of finances and Church direction.

Stewards are required to regularly attend stewardship meetings and the Annual General Meeting.

Dove River Church Constitution for Stewardship

Church Stewardship is open to those who:

• accept the beliefs of the Church*; 
• meet the church’s qualification on Baptism
• commit themselves to serving Christ with the church and beyond;
• abide by the decisions of the Church Stewardship Meeting
• acknowledge their responsibilities as Church Stewards;
• have their stewardship application accepted by the Church Stewards.

           *the same as the Baptist Union of Great Britain. http://www.baptist.org.uk

On receipt of an application the applicant(s) will be interviewed by two established stewards to ascertain their suitability for stewardship.

References will be sought from their former minister or leadership.

The Church Stewardship Meeting will consider and vote on the application for stewardship and if accepted the new steward(s) will normally be welcomed publicly.

Stewards of the church will be those who :-

• Believe in and accept Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord (Acts 4:12)
• Have repented of sin and confessed personal faith in Him in the ordinance of believer’s baptism by immersion (believer’s baptism is by full immersion unless a medical certificate is supplied or there are exceptional circumstances)  (Acts 2:38).

• Are endeavouring to live a life worthy of the gospel (Philippians 1:27).
• Believe in the Bible as the Word of God relevant for today (2 Timothy 3:16)

In accordance with Ephesians 5:1-2, Romans 12:1-2 and Colossians 1:10, it is expected that a steward will live a life of witness and worship of God through service in the local church and be committed to:-

• Growing in faith and seeking the gift and graces of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4: 11-13).

• Making every effort to gather with the church regularly to worship, fellowship and receive instruction (Hebrews 10:25).

• Sharing bread and wine in communion with the church (1 Corinthians 11:23-26).

• Seeking to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace through submission to each other (Ephesians 4:3-6).

• To submit to church leadership and discipline (Hebrews 13:17).
• Giving regularly to God’s work through the church (Malachi 3:10, 2 Corinthians 9:7).

• Sharing their faith with those who are not Christians and to seek through friendship to introduce others to the church and to a knowledge of Jesus Christ.

• Are 18 years old or over.

If you feel that the Dove River Church has become somewhere you want to commit even further into and you want to become a steward please chat to one of the leadership team.