Basic Church Information
Church Name: Calvary Chapel Sevier Valley
Senior/Lead Pastor: Ryan Shaddix
Address: 130 N. Main St. Richfield, UT
Phone: 435-558-3060
Email: calvarysevier@gmail.com
Website: http://www.calvarysevier.com/
Facebook: facebook.com/calvarysevier
Denomination: Calvary Chapel
Preaching Style: Expository/Verse by Verse
Membership Requirements: No
Tithes/Giving Requirements: No
Financial Transparency: Yes
Answered Questionnaire: Yes
Online Services: Go to the church's Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/calvarysevier)
The Questionnaire
1. What is your church's official position on tithing?
“We follow Paul's counsel to the church in Corinth when he says,
"6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. 9 As it is written:
“He has dispersed abroad,
He has given to the poor;
His righteousness endures forever.”
10 Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, [h]supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, 11 while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God. 12 For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God, 13 while, through the proof of this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal sharing with them and all men, 14 and by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding grace of God in you. 15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!" (1 Corinthians 9:6-15)
"Giving is an opportunity for the believer, not an obligation, and ultimately God's grace supplies for all of our needs, so if people do not feel led to give, and partner with the body of Christ in Richfield, then they are not less, or in rebellion to a law, rather they are just not in a place where they can cheerfully give.
"Although we do receive an offering in our regular worship services as an act of worship in the same heart as singing songs, studying God's worship, or serving one another, it is NEVER NEVER NEVER proceeded by some plea or admonishes to give. Truthfully we probably discourage people, especially visitors and newcomers from giving more than we ever would even think about compelling. We share full information without solicitation (more on that in our answer regarding finances).”
2. Does your church have a particular set of rules or requirements that members must follow or abide by in order to retain their membership status with the church?
“No. We do not have a membership of any kind.”
3. What is your church's official position on the doctrine of salvation? Through grace, works, both?
“We see grace as a three part work -
1. We are saved from damnation by grace through faith not of works, and we are saved unto good works that have been designed by God (Ephesians 2:9-10)
2. Grace is what saves us through trial, tribulation and turmoil in this life. God's grace is sufficient, and His strength is made perfect in our weakness. (2 Cor 12:8-10)
3. Grace is what saves the church continuously. This is a little more complex, but it is rooted in the concept of Charis the greek word for grace. It 1st Corinthians 12 we have this whole passage on the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The word there is Charisma - root Charis - Grace. God gives gifts (graces) to the body of Christ to enable it to fill in the gaps that we have because of this broken and fallen world. These gifts create the potential for us a humans to experience the fullness of God's power and work as He uses us in one another's life through Koinania (or fellowship in English).”
4. Are you transparent with your church's financial information? How much does your church bring in through donations and tithing, and how is that money distributed? What do your profit on average?
“We average about 6000-7000 per month in offering.
Building Mortgage $1000 per month (We just recently purchased a 3300 sq foot building)
Building Rent for Youth Center $1500 per month (This is for our community youth rec center and tutoring center)
Utilities $600 per month
Housing Allowance - $2250 TOTAL for 3 Pastors, 2 Interns
Lead Pastor Salary $700 per month
Missions Outreach and Benevolence - $900 per month (We also see our youth center as an outreach) Our goal is to give away 30% of our income to these areas. We are working towards 50%.
Administration, Ministry Supplies - $250 per month
That's a total of $7200 per month.
"In lean months we dip into savings to cover our responsibilities and months of increase we seek to bless others - missionaries, other churches, or put some in savings.
We list our current savings and goals in bulletin weekly.
We have a missions savings, youth savings, and general savings.
We currently have about $16,000 in the bank.
Anyone that has a question about finances we don't have a problem sharing the information.”
5. Which denomination does your church align with the most, if any?
“We are a Calvary Chapel, but we operate in a lot of ways differently from Calvary.”
6. Is your church's pastor available for other questions or comments regarding the church, its doctrines, etc.?
“Yes.”
7. How is your church's doctrinal flexibility and tolerance? If a member has a disagreement with the pastor or leadership on a certain doctrine, how is it handled? Does the church change its position on doctrines fairly often, if at all?
“We try to stick with a New Testament understanding of what the church is supposed to look like. I am very open to conversation and we have many people in our team that do not hold to the same exact views as I do on eschatology, pneumatology, ecclesiology, or even soteriology in some cases.”
8. Does your church require that its members be baptized? What is your church's official position on baptism?
“No. We baptize people into the universal body of Jesus Christ in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We do not believe in baptismal regeneration.”
9. Please describe what a typical service and/or meeting looks like in your church.
“If we are talking about Sundays, it’s pretty straight forward. Simple fellowship, simple music, simple teaching through the Bible verse by verse and chapter by chapter. We go about 1.5 hours each service. I will always hijack the sermon to bring everything back to the purity and simplicity of the Gospel.
"Most of what we do in the way in the way of discipleship comes in the way of small groups that are deeply relational and deeply transparent.”
10. How many people do you have on staff at your church, both paid and volunteer?
“Over 60% of our church is serving in some capacity. We have a monthly ministry team meeting of 10-15 people. 5 people are receiving housing allowance assistance or some other stipend currently.”
11. What is the pastor's educational history?
“Bachelor's in Literature from Dixie State University, Working on a Master's in Special Education. I have served for almost twenty years in pastoral ministry both paid and not paid in youth, children's and adult ministry.”
12. How does the church discipline its members with their sin?
“Challenge personally, love biblically, pursue and pray consistently. We are not the Holy Spirit.”
13. How is the pastor compensated (income, benefits, bonuses, etc.)?
“See above”
14. What is the size of your church and any other space the church owns for meetings and church services?
“About 130 people.”