Just as we believe it is God's intention for his people to live not only in covenant relationship with him, but also in covenant relationship with other people—so we also believe that the church is called to live in covenant relationships. liberti Fairmount has three layers of vital relationship:
- We are the first congregation of the liberti movement. See other liberti churches to learn more about our sister churches here in Philadelphia.
- We are a part of a denomination.
- We are a part of a church planting movement.
Denomination & Movement: Red and White Blood Cells....
The human body needs red blood cells and white blood cells. Red blood cells deliver resources to the front line—energy, oxygen to the extremities. White blood cells are to fight disease and impurities. Just like the human body, the church needs both. We find these in our denomination and in our movement.
White Blood cells: Denomination.
Today it is vogue for people to shun such institutions as being outdated or silly. However, we believe that it is right for us to be “in community with other churches. ” In obedience to Jesus’ prayer in John 17 that we be unified, we are a part of a denomination as a step toward that unity. We have a local connection to this community (Philadelphia Presbytery) as well as a national connection (the Presbyterian Church in America). liberti pastors, as members of the Philadelphia Presbytery, are under its authority, and accountable to the pastors who make up this body. Our relationships within the Philadelphia Presbytery have fed and nurtured us over the years as we have grown as a church.
Red Blood cells: Movement.
In addition, we are a part (or product) of a group called Acts 29—a national group of likeminded churches who pool resources to start new churches. See http://www.acts29network.org/