Our Values

Jesus says to us in Matthew 11:28-30

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take

my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and

you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Our values and actions are based on interaction with this Jesus.

Urban Chapel is centred on the person and work of Jesus Christ.

Our posture is open and biased towards the other. Practically this means we are intentionally available to one another and live in proximity to one another.
This results in:

a. A community of hospitality.

b. A community of welcome.

c. A community of Intersection. a safe third space

d. A community of sacrifice. a life lived intentionally for the other

Our actions are expressed in the open table of welcome. We recognize that for many, people need to belong before they believe. Therefore we intentionally:

a. Extend the arm of friendship to all who come.

b. In mutuality we recognize the intrinsic value and worth our friends share with us as people who are created in the image of God. We offer them a seat at the table.

c. Foster a community of Love. Life lived sacrificially with regard to our actions towards each other and tangibly in acts of justice outwardly in our neighbourhood.

For many, to be heard is akin to being seen. This foundational need is often overlooked in our neighbourhood and sadly it is often overlooked in many people’s faith journey. We are spoken to without being heard. Our voice in community starts by listening.

Understanding this we have a bias of:

a. Open and robust dialogue. Particularly open and honest about doubt and struggle in the context of our faith journey.

b. Unapologetic Gospel dialogue. Recognizing that to be truly seen and heard is found in the person and work of Jesus Christ.

c. When we are both seen and heard we are free to worship unapologetically.

d. This type of speech with each other and in worship, results in an environment of acceptance that fosters honest and authentic spiritual formation resulting in community trust.

As a local community of faith our guiding authority is derived from:

a. Being solidly grounded in the Biblical scriptures.
b. Rooted in the history of the church.
c. Expressed sacrificially in community.

Power and accompanying privilege can be a difficult and problematic topic to address.

Wisdom on how to use power is a social acumen. Old Testament scholar Bruce

Waltke coins a proverb about the book of Proverbs. His words encapsulate the wise way we are to use power in community. He says:

The wicked advantage themselves by disadvantaging others, but the righteous disadvantage themselves to advantage others.“

This is how power is to be used in our community. A disadvantaging of oneself for the sake of the other.

In practice that means we are:

a. A praying community. Our power is best expressed in prayer.

b. A sacrificial community. We are biased towards the other.

C. A connected community. We are empowered in the Spirit as a community, part of the body of Christ represented on the DTES.

We hold no power in our community except what is given to us in the sacrificial death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. It is his spirit given to us that enables all of what we do. And this is to be given away