First and foremost, on Equip we offer a warm welcome to any Christian who wishes to engage with God’s Word and apply its transforming words in their walk with God. So while Equip’s teaching springs from an evangelical standpoint, our prayer is that the teaching it offers will be of lasting value to those who attend, regardless of their particular affiliation. We offer a safe space in which to learn what God’s word says and discuss what it means. It may well be that those discussions reveal different understandings – we encourage respect for diverse views, for it is often the case that they deepen our understanding of our own perspective.
We are not in a position to stand in judgement over others, and we would not wish to. However, when teaching Equip there must be a core doctrinal position, otherwise the courses would lack consistency and coherence. So we ask our teachers to confirm that:
- They study the Bible regularly and carefully to understand its message, and consider biblical teaching authoritative over all other sources.
- They can give assent to the Evangelical Alliance statement of faith (available at Basis of faith – Evangelical Alliance (eauk.org)).
- But also, that they are prepared to demonstrate sensitivity and respect for the views of other Christians with whom they might disagree.
Again Equip is not just about teaching God’s word; it is also about living it out. And whilst we all stumble in our walk with God, relying time and again on His grace and forgiveness, none-the-less it should be our heart’s desire to make Jesus the Lord of or lives – in our thoughts, our values, and our actions. And so we also ask our teachers to confirm that:
- They are In good standing with their local church.
- They are committed to growing in faith and discipleship and developing the gifts they have been given.
- God helping them, their day-to-day lives set an example to those around them, “in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.” (1 Timothy 4:12).