This list of values at LMC is not intended as a statement of faith, even though many of its points are theological in nature and all have some theological foundations or implications. This list, however, assumes commitment to the Confession of Faith in Mennonite Perspective. The list is intended to be descriptive of elements of church life which are important to us as a congregation. By naming these values, we are freeing ourselves up from having to say everything we might like to say about ourselves in the mission statement, thereby making it too long and verbose.

True, not everyone in the congregation would give equal weight to each item, but we believe they represent values which as a group we cherish and do not want to lose. As such, these values indicate that we have much in common with each other, in spite of our diversity. In some sense, they are ideals, as well; we do not claim to live up to them in every case or all the time but wish to strive toward them.

WE VALUE:

Our Anabaptist/Mennonite heritage and faith, as exemplified in these principles:

We believe that Jesus is Lord and that our ultimate allegiance as Christians should be to the kingdom of God which transcends and relativizes all human associations, including nations and professions. Although we live and work in the world, our values should be shaped by the Kingdom of God.

We believe that the Bible is the source of our identity as a people of God (who we are) and the source of our orientation for living (how we ought to live). Jesus Christ-who he was, what he did, and what he taught-is the interpretative key to the whole Bible. Although individual study and meditation is encouraged, biblical interpretation best happens in community where there are opportunities for testing of perspectives and discernment of what it means for our life today.

We believe that faith is first and foremost a "lived reality" in all of life, not just doctrine, rituals, or particular religious experiences, however important the latter are.

We want to be both Matthew 28 and Luke 4 Christians, calling people to faith in and obedience to Jesus Christ who is Lord of all, but also bringing good news to the poor and liberation to the oppressed. Witness through proclamation and lifestyle are both important, as is service to others both inside and outside the faith community.

We believe that becoming a disciple of Jesus is a matter of personal choice which involves: repenting of our sins, accepting God's grace in Jesus Christ, committing ourselves to a life of following Jesus enabled by the Spirit, and binding ourselves to a local congregation through believers baptism and church membership.. Although discipleship is an individual matter (which can't be coerced), it's a choice which involves joining a community where there is mutual care, support, and correction.

We want to provide and support activities and practices which disciple people in their walk with Christ and help them serve Christ in whatever walks of life they are called to. Nurture is as important as evangelism, being is as important as doing.

We believe that the church is central to what God is doing in the world, calling a people who are reconciled to God and each other and are working at a ministry of reconciliation in the world. How we live together as a church community is a matter of witness: as God loves us, we ought also to love one another; and as God is concerned for the well-being of all, we ought also to look out for each other's needs. The unity of the church is an embodiment of Christ's peace which breaks down dividing walls of hostility.

We also believe that peace is integral to the gospel and to the church's ministry in the world, but that peace is not simply the absence of conflict but the presence of shalom (well-being, peace with justice), toward which we should work. Commitment to Christ's way of peace is a faith statement, not just a political stance. We believe the way of peace to be what Jesus modeled in his life and death, teaching, and ministry. It is the way his disciples should follow, even if it doesn't seem to be the most effective or expedient way of dealing with violence in the world or even if it leads to persecution or martydom.

We want to be good stewards of the gifts which God has given us, including our time, talents, and financial resources. We strive to live lives marked by simplicity and generosity and to give freely and joyfully to others and the work of the church in the world.

Although we value the Anabaptist-Mennonite tradition, faithfulness to that tradition means being open to new work which the Spirit wants to do in and through us, not simply the acceptance of old understandings and ways of doing things. We want to be open to God's renewal of the church today.

WE FURTHER VALUE:

Our connection and commitment to the larger Mennonite Church, including the Illinois Mennonite Conference, the Mennonite Church, and the international Mennonite World Conference. It is our goal to support the confession, mission and vision, and the institutions of the Mennonite Church U.S.A. At the same time, Mennonites aren't an island unto themselves, and we value connections with other Christians as well.

We value the context in which God has placed us-Lombard, the western Chicago suburbs, and the greater metropolitan Chicago area-and are committed to finding ways we can best use our individual and collective gifts and resources to serve God and others in this geographical area.

We want to be a welcoming church community, making people feel at home in our midst despite their ethnic, racial, economic, social, or religious background or status. Some of us have "ethnic Mennonite" backgrounds, others don't. Both are welcome and valued as persons with gifts to share with the rest of the Body. We also want to be a community of hope and healing, as expressed in the Mennonite Church's "Vision: Healing and Hope" statement, a place where people are supportive of each other and can psychological, emotional, spiritual, relational and physical healing.

We believe the church is a family where there should be a place for women and men, children, youth and adults, married and single. It is especially important in a mobile society that church does serve as extended family for its members and that in this community children and youth can observe many models and mentors besides their parents. Although Jesus taught that our spiritual family is more important than our human families, we also want to be supportive of married couples, parents, and families.

We value worship in which we remember what God has done for us, praise God, and seek God's will for our lives. Worship forms us into being the kind of people God wants us to be in the world. We also value the ordinances of the church, such as baptism, communion, anointing, etc., and are committed to marking the high moments and passages of life such as births, deaths, marriages, and so forth.

Although the communal nature of the church is important to us, we think it is also essential that each of us work at spiritual disciplines which cultivate a life of discipleship and the fruit of the Spirit. Relationship with God is a gift of grace, but it is also a "walk" which takes "practice" (that is, practices such as prayer, meditation, devotional reading of the Bible, "retreats" from the busyness of everyday life, etc.). Accountability for our walk with Christ usually happens best in smaller settings than the congregation as a whole. For that reason, people are encouraged to join small groups within the congregation.

As fitting for a Mennonite congregation, we especially value music, including congregational singing. Although a cappella music seems like "second nature" to us, we are committed to a full range of styles of hymnody as exemplified in the Hymnal: A Worship Book. We also have a history of special music, both vocal and instrumental, and enjoy using the musical gifts of our many people.

We value both the gifts of and need for "called out leaders" (pastors, etc.), and those of Lay Leaders.. We want to call out and nurture the gifts of young and old alike, male and female-for the edification and building up of the church and its ministries.

The gifts which God gives us are not just for the church, however; therefore, we are committed to helping people discover their gifts which can be used to the glory of God in the world, also. Helping people find ways they can live out their first profession-seeking first God's kingdom-through their work, whatever vocation they are in, is an important task of the church.

We believe in a servanthood and collaborative style of leadership, in which pastoral and lay leaders work together for the good of the whole congregation.

We are committed to working toward an open system in the way we function as a church, healthy interpersonal relationships, and constructive means of dealing with our differences.