The Underground Manifesto (Eighteen Values)

Instead of a single corporate vision, the Underground Manifesto expresses eighteen values that reflect shared theological convictions, binding a diverse and creative network together. BUCN affirms this manifesto as part of its theological foundation.

Jesus

The way of Jesus is our way. Before and in all things we value Jesus as the image of the invisible God. We long to worship Jesus by imitating his life and ministry. Both our theology and praxis is relentlessly Christological. He is our model, mentor, hero, mediator, savior, judge, king and ruler of all. All of our values flow from what we understand about his character, concerns, and the practices of his ministry.

(Matt 28:19; Jn 1:3; 13:15; 14:6; 17:18; Rom 5:10; Eph 1:22-23; Phil 2:5; Col 1:15-20; 2:9; 3:17; Heb 1:3; 12:2; Eph 5:1-2; Jn 13:14-15; Acts 26:16; Rom 1:4; 1 Tim 2:5; Heb 7:25; Acts 4:12; Titus 3:6; Rom 2:16; Jn 9:39; 2 Tim 4:1; Rev 1:5; 19:16; Col 1:18; Rev 17:14)

The Poor

We will remember the poor because we believe that God does. We believe that they are central to his mission in the world. It is our conviction that God is always on the side of those who have no one on their side. We welcome all people but prioritize the poor in our ministry concern, allocation of resources, and advocacy — not because the rich and middle class are less important to God, but because they already have access to resources and can advocate their own cause.

(Deut 15:7,11; Ps 82:3; 140:12; Prov 14:31; Is 61:1; Jer 8:21; 22:16; Matt 11:5; 25:40; Mk 2:17; Lk 4:18; 6:20; 7:22; 14:23; 18:22; 2 Cor 8:9,13; Gal 2:10)

The Lost

We value lost people because they are spiritually poor. We believe the good news of the kingdom is the most important commodity with which the church has been entrusted, and we are called and sent to "seek and save that which was lost," prioritizing those who have not yet heard and believed the good news as our first and most important task.

(Gen 22:17-18; Matt 4:23; 10:7; 18:14; 28:19; Mk 13:10; Lk 15:4,6; 19:10; 24:46-47; Acts 1:8; 10:42; Rom 10:14-15; 15:20; Gal 2:10)

The Whole World

We commit ourselves to the mission of God to reach the whole world, believing Jesus came as savior not of one people but of the whole world. We accept the apostolic mandate to send and be sent into every part of the world in partnership with the global church.

(Ps 22:27; 24:1; Is 41:9; Matt 24:14; Mk 16:15; Jn 1:29; 3:16-17; 4:42; 6:33,51; 8:12; 12:46-47; 17:21; Rom 5:18; 2 Cor 5:19; 1 Jn 2:2; 4:14; Rev 14:6)

Culture and Ethnicity

Every culture and ethnicity, while imperfect, reflects the mosaic of God's own image, and together we better glorify and serve the God of creation. We do not believe in being color blind; rather, we purpose to become genuinely multi-ethnic communities that accept and include the beauty and wisdom of every culture.

(Gen 1:27; Ps 67:2-3; Is 56:7; Dan 7:13-14; Jl 2:28; Hag 2:7; Mal 1:11; Jn 17:20-22; Acts 10:34-35; 17:26-27; Rom 14:11; 15:5,6; 1 Cor 12:12-14; Eph 2:14-22; Phil 2:10-11; Rev 5:9-10; 7:9; 14:6)

Contextualization

We will not trust in franchising or empire building through paradigm propagation. Rather we value the empowerment of every microchurch community to contextualize the proclamation and demonstration of the gospel to the people they hope to reach. Our paradigm is that there is no one paradigm — contextualized structures with revolutionary content.

(Jn 1:14; Acts 16:3; 17:22-23; Rom 12:2; 1 Cor 3:5-9; 9:19-23; 10:32-33; Phil 2:5-8)

Zeal and Contemplation

We value the paradox of exuberance and zeal in worship, community life, and evangelism, together with the rhythm and profound importance of silence and solitude for personal contemplation and rest — a life of zeal, lived ablaze and unashamed for God, and contemplation, lived in deep awareness and quiet appreciation for God.

(Zeal: Ps 47:5; 98:4; Is 42:13; Matt 11:28-29; 17:5; Mk 6:31; Jn 10:27; Rom 12:11; Titus 2:14. Contemplation: Ps 46:10; 48:9; 95:6; 2 Cor 3:18; Col 3:2; 1 Pet 1:13)

Simplicity

We commit to live a life free from clutter and the allure of materialism, embracing a simple lifestyle and renouncing the slavery and idolatry of materialism. We use material things and wealth for the service of the kingdom, not for personal fulfillment or inappropriate luxury.

(Eccl 5:10; Matt 6:19,24,26; 10:10; Mk 4:19; 12:43; Lk 9:3; 12:15,33; 1 Tim 6:7; Heb 13:5)

Sharing and Giving

We commit ourselves to both sharing and giving, confessing that God is the true owner and we are only stewards, pursuing relentless generosity and the holding of all things in common. We encourage our people to give as often and as generously as they can, and the collective finances of the church should set an example.

(Mal 3:10; Matt 25:40; Lk 3:11; Acts 2:43; 4:32; 20:35; 2 Cor 8:7,13; 9:10-13; Eph 4:28; 1 Thess 2:8; 1 Tim 6:18; 1 Jn 3:17)

Each Other

We commit ourselves to each other, believing God calls us into his mission together, never alone. We believe that moral and theological failures, controlling leadership, and many emotional struggles stem from a lack of community, and we value free, committed, and loving friendship, leading through teams whenever possible.

(Eccl 4:9-10; Matt 18:20; Jn 15:13; Acts 2:44; Rom 12:4-8,10; 13:8; 15:7; 1 Cor 10:24; Gal 6:2; Eph 4:11-13; 5:21; Phil 2:3-4; Heb 3:15; 10:24-25; 6:10-11; 1 Pet 3:8; 1 Jn 3:16,7-12; Rev 4:4,10)

Kingdom Mission

We will do mission because we are sent people. The church is not the church until it is engaged in the mission for which God has called it. Healing, discipleship, and intimacy with God come through obedience to the mission, co-laboring with God as workers in the harvest field.

(Ps 51:10-13; Is 58:6-8; Matt 9:35-38; 25:40; 28:18-20; Mk 1:14-15,38; Lk 4:18-21; Jn 4:34-35; 6:27; 9:4; 12:26; 15:9-10; 17:18; Acts 1:8; Rom 15:20; 1 Cor 15:58; 2 Cor 5:18-19; Eph 2:10; Phil 2:3; Col 3:17,23; 1 Jn 3:18; 1 Pet 2:9)

Humility

We commit to pursue humility as one of the chief virtues, in leadership, community, theology, mission, and prayer. As an organization we hope to be a flexible learning organization, always refining our commitments and expanding our understanding of God's call, listening and following with humility.

(Ps 25:9; 51:17; 147:6; 149:4; Prov 11:2; 18:12; 22:4; Eccl 5:2; Is 29:19; 57:15; 66:2; Mic 6:8; Matt 5:3; 11:29; 18:3-4; 20:26; 23:12; Lk 1:52; 6:20; 10:21; 14:10; 17:10; 18:13-14; 22:26-27; Jn 13:14; Rom 10; 11:20; 12:3; 16; 1 Cor 1:28; 3:18; 10:12; 13:4; 2 Cor 11:30; 12:6; 10; Gal 5:26; 6:14; Eph 4:2; Phil 2:3-11; Col 3:12; Jas 1:9; 3:1; 4:6; 1 Pet 3:8; 5:5-6)

Biblical Justice

We will live for the biblical concept of justice, taking a prophetic stand against evil, both spiritual and societal. Biblical justice is more than punishment for wrongdoing — it is the restoration of wholeness, equality, and peace between people and with God, calling us to seek the welfare of every person in our city and world.

(Ps 9:8; 96:10; Prov 31:9; Is 1:15-17; 56:1; Jer 29:7; Ezek 34:16; Hos 12:6; Amos 5:15,24; Mic 6:8; Matt 5:6; 6:10,33; 12:18; 18:5; 25:40; Lk 11:42; 18:7-8; 19:8-10; Jn 2:14-17; Acts 6:1-6; Eph 6:12; Jas 1:27; 1 Jn 3:17,18)

Passion

With Jesus as our model, we want our lives characterized by passion — moved by relationship with God and willing to suffer and sacrifice, taking up our cross. We value the kind of radical faith that expects every believer to be ready to suffer and sacrifice for Jesus, rejecting the cultural current of prosperity and personal success.

(Ps 63:1; Matt 10:22; 16:24-25; 26:38-39; Rom 5:3; 8:18; Lk 9:61-62; 14:27; Rom 12:1-2; 2 Cor 1:5; Eph 5:1-2; Phil 2:3; 3:10; Col 1:24; 3:17,23; 2 Tim 2:3; 3:12-15; 1 Pet 3:17; 1 Jn 3:16)

Prayer and Dependence on God

We commit ourselves to live a life of prayer, believing only God can accomplish what he calls us to do and that God should receive the glory. We value constant prayer and the ministry of intercession, asking the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into the harvest field.

(2 Chr 7:14; Ezra 8:23; Ps 17:6; 91:1-2; Is 26:9; Jer 29:12; Matt 6:9-13,33; 9:38; Mk 1:35; Lk 11:9-13; 18:1,7; Acts 2:42; 6:4; 2 Cor 3:5-6; Eph 6:18; Phil 4:6; Col 4:2; 1 Thess 5:17; 1 Tim 2:1-2; Heb 5:7; Jas 5:13-16; 1 Pet 4:7; Jude 20)

Microchurches

We affirm microchurch as the most basic expression of the church, and therefore our ecclesiology is simple: when believers work together in sincere worship and genuine community to accomplish part of the mission of God, they are the church. Worship, community, and mission are the ecclesial minimum. The larger church expression exists to serve the smaller, not the other way around.

(Matt 28:19-20; Lk 10:1; Jn 4:23; Acts 2:42-47; 4:24,31; 6:3-4,6; 14:23; 16:4-5; 20:20; Rom 15:5-6; 16:3-5; 1 Cor 3:16; 2 Cor 5:18-20; 1 Cor 14:26; 16:19; 2 Cor 3:5-6; Eph 2:22; 4:16; Col 3:16; 4:15; 1 Tim 3:2-7; Heb 6:10-11; 10:24-25; 1 Pet 2:5,9; Rev 1:6)

The Bible

We trust the authority, reliability, and truth of all Scripture. We rely on the Bible to be the rule of our faith, teaching us what we do not know and challenging our misconceptions. We don't choose the parts of the Bible we prefer; we submit to all of Scripture, believing it reveals the truth that is beyond us.

(Deut 4:10; 2 Sam 7:28; 22:31; Neh 8; Ps 18:30; Prov 30:5; Is 40:8; Jer 15:16; Matt 4:4; 22:29; Lk 8:21; 11:28; 24:32; Jn 1:1-17; 5:24,39; 8:51; Acts 8:35; 18:11; Rom 3:2; 1 Tim 4:13; 2 Tim 3:16; Col 1:25; 3:16; 1 Thess 2:13; Heb 4:12-13; 1 Pet 4:11; 2 Pet 3:16; 1 Jn 2:5; Rev 3:8; 19:9)

Empowerment

We affirm the priesthood of all believers. Each person who has given their life in surrender to Jesus has a unique calling from Jesus to fulfill in mission and in the church, made possible only by the Spirit of God living in and working through each and every believer, regardless of race, gender, or age.

(Matt 4:18-20; 10:1-15; Mk 6:7-13; Lk 4:18-19; 6:12-16; 11:13; Jn 14:26-27; 15:1-4,26-27; 20:22; Acts 2:1-4; 4:29-31; 6:3; Rom 8:9-11,15-17; 12:3-8; 1 Cor 2:4-5,9-16; 12; 14:1; 16:19; Gal 5:22-26; Eph 4:10-13; 1 Tim 1:18-19; 2 Tim 1:7; 4:19; Jas 4:10; 1 Pet 2:9-10; Jude 20-21; Rev 1:5-6)