Basis of Membership

As members of the Anglican Communion within the one, holy, catholic and apostolic church we affirm the faith uniquely revealed in the Holy Scriptures and set forth in the catholic creeds, of which faith the Thirty-nine Articles of Religion are a general exposition. We stand in the Reformation tradition, laying special emphasis on the grace of God.

Our conduct as evangelical Christians should at all times reflect our commitment to Christ and the teaching of Scripture. As members of the Church of Ireland Evangelical Fellowship:

1. We encourage one another in making public comment to place the most charitable construction on the statements made by other Christians, and particularly those who are members of the Church of Ireland Evangelical Fellowship and, where expressions of disagreement are made, to do so with courtesy, humility, and grace. (Ephesians 4:31)

2. We call on each other, where issues of faith and practice divide us, to take care when we offer correction, that this is done with awareness of our own failings (whether as individuals or groups) and the-possibility that we ourselves may be mistaken. (Ephesians 4:15)

3. We urge each other, at all times when matters of theology are in dispute, to avoid personal hostility and abuse, rather speaking truth in love and gentleness. (Ephesians 4:15)

4. We recognise that not all who seek to know and serve Christ as Saviour and Lord will wish to be identified with us and that such persons are not, thereby, to be regathed as being out of Christian fellowship.

5. We seek to bring the purposes of the Church of Ireland Evangelical Fellowship to God in regular prayer - upholding all its members and remembering especially those with whom we disagree. (Romans 12: 14 - 16)

Ephesians 4:3 "Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace."

Those seeking to be members of the Church of Ireland Evangelical Fellowship will be asked to accept the above Basis of Membership.

The Church of Ireland Evangelical Fellowship also affirms the statement The Gospel of Jesus Christ: An Evangelical Celebration, (1999).

The Church of Ireland Evangelical Fellowship believes it is called to:

• Bring together the diverse evangelical groupings within the Church of Ireland
• Encourage and support indMduals in applying Biblical Christianity in their daily lives
• Provide opportunities for evangelical Christians to meet together beyond their own parishes
• Provide a forum for evangelical Christians to listen to and understand one another
• Raise awareness of what God is doing elsewhere in the Church of Ireland and beyond.