Our Code of Conduct

"People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."
1 Samuel 16:7

We are a church for common and imperfect people. Because of that, this document should never be read as a list of requirements for belonging. It is a shared commitment to the kind of people we are becoming as we follow Jesus together. At Mission, we believe following Jesus shapes every part of our lives, from the way we speak and serve to the way we treat people and show up in our city.

As we build this church together, we recognize that every one of us helps shape the culture we are creating. Whether serving on a team, hosting a meal, leading a conversation, praying with someone, or simply showing up consistently, our lives carry influence. This is not about perfection. It is about becoming the kind of people who reflect Jesus well and help build a healthy church, a strong community, and a hopeful future for our city.

We Represent Jesus Well

We understand that our lives communicate something about the Jesus we follow.

Because of that, we pursue integrity in both the public and the private. We want our words, decisions, relationships, and actions to reflect the character of Christ.

We are not striving for perfection. We are pursuing faithfulness.

We Protect Unity

We refuse to participate in gossip, division, dishonor, or unhealthy criticism.

We believe healthy conversations happen directly, honestly, and with grace.

We choose encouragement over cynicism, understanding over assumption, and reconciliation over division.

The culture we protect today becomes the culture others experience tomorrow.

We Honor People

Every person matters.

Whether someone has been following Jesus for decades or is exploring faith for the first time, we commit to treating people with dignity, patience, and respect.

We will be known by how we welcome people, care for people, and make room for people.

We Honor the Image of God in Every Person

We believe every person is created in the image of God and worthy of dignity, value, and respect.

Because of that, racism, prejudice, bigotry, discrimination, and hatred have no place in the culture we are seeking to build.

At the same time, we recognize that all people are being transformed by Jesus. We all carry biases, assumptions, wounds, and sinful tendencies that require the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

When attitudes, beliefs, or behaviors rooted in prejudice, racism, or discrimination are revealed, we believe they should be met with honesty, repentance, discipleship, and transformation.

As followers of Jesus, we are committed to becoming people who love our neighbors well, honor the image of God in others, and reflect the reconciling work of Christ in the world.

We celebrate the diversity of God's people and believe the Church is at its best when people from different backgrounds, experiences, cultures, and generations come together around Jesus as one family.

We Live With Integrity

Following Jesus shapes every part of our lives.

Because of that, we pursue integrity in our relationships, conversations, sexuality, finances, habits, and the decisions we make when nobody else is watching.

We honor healthy boundaries and treat people with dignity, respect, and care. We seek relationships that reflect honesty, wisdom, and faithfulness, and we avoid behavior that creates confusion, mistrust, manipulation, or harm.

We understand that integrity is not about appearing perfect. It is about living honestly before God and others.

When we struggle, we choose openness over hiding, community over isolation, and growth over pretending.

We Steward Influence Wisely

Whether in person or online, we recognize that our words carry weight.

Our conversations, social media presence, and public interactions all communicate something about the Jesus we follow and the community we are helping build.

We want our lives to reflect encouragement, wisdom, humility, and truth.

We avoid content, behavior, or conversations that are vulgar, hateful, divisive, reckless, or damaging to others. Instead, we seek to use our influence to build people up and point people toward Jesus.

We Pursue Freedom

We believe Jesus invites people into freedom and wholeness.

Because of that, we pursue lives marked by health, self-control, and spiritual maturity.

We recognize that addiction, substance abuse, pornography, destructive habits, and other patterns of bondage can impact both our lives and our ability to serve others well.

No one is expected to struggle alone.

When challenges arise, we choose honesty, accountability, prayer, and community. We believe healing happens when people are known, supported, and walking alongside others toward freedom.

As a church, we are committed to helping people take those steps.

We Show Up Faithfully

We believe excellence is stewardship.

We show up prepared, dependable, and ready to serve.

We communicate well. We follow through on commitments. We help carry responsibility.

Not because church is a production, but because people are worth our best.

We Love Our City

We are building more than gatherings.

We are helping build a church that contributes to the flourishing of Gainesville.

We will pray for our city, serve our city, invest in our city, and love our neighbors well.

We believe every follower of Jesus is a local missionary and every act of faithfulness contributes to God's work in our community.

Our Commitment

As servant leaders, vision carriers, and friends & neighbors, we commit ourselves to the way of Jesus.

We will serve with humility.

We will love people deeply.

We will protect unity.

We will pursue integrity.

We will seek freedom.

We will honor every person.

We will contribute to the mission God has given us.

Together, we are helping build a church where people are learning how to follow Jesus together.

And by God's grace, we will carry that responsibility well.