Life Together vs. Guerilla Warfare.

Our most important battle will be for the viability of our ?life together? as a faith community (treating one another as brothers and sisters in Christ), and against the temptation to turn in upon ourselves, splitting into factions that use ?guerilla warfare? tactics to ?bite and devour one another? (Galatians 5:15).

Confessional Faithfulness vs. Political Expediency

Faithfulness to our witness is more important than political expediency. We ought to ?fly our confessional colors? openly and proudly without regard to considerations of what will be to our political advantage or what will make us popular. ?I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus . . . preach the word, be urgent in season and out of season . . . be steady, endure suffering . . . fulfill your ministry? (2 Timothy 4:5).

Transparency vs. Secrecy

The transparency of open discussion and open operation is vital to our life together as a district. Secrecy (e.g., ?private? strategy sessions, closed list serves, fear of open discussion, ?informal? decision making groups-within-groups) should be unacceptable to us. ?For every one who does evil hates the light . . . but he who does what is true comes to the light . . .? (John 3:20-21).

Serving in Freedom vs. Obligated Servitude

Our individual and our corporate relationships ought to be free of any hint of paternalism, coercion, or legalism. We are set free to serve each other in Christ. We are under no one?s dominion. ?Owe no one anything, except to love one another? (Romans 13:8, cf. also Mtt 27:37-40).