Article 6. Marriage and Marriage Blessing
6.1 Marriage Within the Proximity Framework
Proximity Fellowship receives marriage as a covenantal union of one man and one woman. This understanding belongs to the constitutional practice of the Framework and governs what a fellowship may present, perform, celebrate, or bless as Christian marriage while using the Proximity name.
This Article does not attempt to provide a complete theology of marriage, family life, singleness, divorce, remarriage, or pastoral care. Those questions may require fuller treatment in other guidance. Its purpose here is narrower. It establishes the boundary that governs Christian marriage and marriage blessing within the Proximity Framework.
6.2 One Man and One Woman
Consistent with Holy Scripture as received in Article 1 and with the historic Christian understanding of marriage, Proximity Fellowship recognizes Christian marriage as the union of one man and one woman.
A Proximity Fellowship therefore does not perform, bless, celebrate, or publicly present a union between two persons of the same sex as a Christian marriage under the Framework. A local fellowship using the Proximity name should not present a different definition of Christian marriage as though it were the position of Proximity Fellowship.
6.3 Marriage and Biological Sex
For the purpose of this Article, the terms man and woman refer to biological sex as male and female. The marriage boundary of the Framework is therefore understood in relation to biological sex rather than gender identity.
A Proximity Fellowship does not perform, bless, celebrate, or present as a Christian marriage under the Framework a union in which one or both persons identify as transgender. This provision concerns the Framework’s understanding and practice of Christian marriage. It does not diminish the human dignity of a person who identifies as transgender or remove that person’s ordinary welcome into Christian fellowship, prayer, Scripture, friendship, and pastoral care.
6.4 The Boundary Governing Christian Marriage Blessings
A Christian marriage blessing offered by a Proximity Fellowship must remain consistent with the understanding of marriage established in this Article. The form may be simple or formal according to local conviction and circumstance, but the meaning of the blessing should not contradict the constitutional boundary.
No Host, Participant, elder, deacon, teacher, steward, or other person acting in the name of a Proximity Fellowship may use a local ceremony, prayer, public declaration, or alternate terminology to present a union outside this boundary as though it were a Christian marriage recognized by the Framework.
This boundary applies to public Framework practice. It does not authorize Participants to investigate, humiliate, expose, or police the private lives of others.
6.5 Personal Conviction and Framework Practice
A Participant may sincerely hold a different personal conviction concerning same-sex marriage, gender identity, or the scope of Christian marriage. Personal disagreement with this Article does not by itself constitute a declaration that the person is outside the Christian faith, nor does it automatically exclude that person from ordinary participation in a Proximity Fellowship.
Freedom of conscience, however, does not require the Framework to enact every conviction held by a Participant. A person may hold and express a differing view with appropriate respect, while the public practice of a fellowship using the Proximity name remains governed by this Article.
Good faith requires honesty in both directions. The Framework should not misrepresent a Participant’s personal conviction, and a Participant should not represent a contrary personal conviction as though it were the constitutional position of Proximity Fellowship.
6.6 Human Dignity, Welcome, and Pastoral Care
Every person should be treated with dignity, patience, and Christian charity. Gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender persons should not be mocked, humiliated, threatened, manipulated, or treated with contempt within a Proximity Fellowship.
A person’s disagreement with the marriage position of the Framework does not remove the ordinary claims of neighbor love, hospitality, prayer, truthful conversation, friendship, and pastoral care. Difficult personal circumstances should be approached with discretion and patience rather than public spectacle.
Welcome into ordinary fellowship does not require the Framework to surrender its convictions concerning marriage. Holding a constitutional boundary likewise does not permit Participants to treat another person’s dignity as conditional upon agreement.
6.7 Freedom From Coercion
No Host or other Participant should be pressured to perform, assist with, endorse, or publicly affirm a marriage blessing contrary to this Article. No person should be compelled through friendship, financial influence, spiritual authority, threats, shame, or fear of exclusion to act against the constitutional marriage boundary of the Framework.
Likewise, Participants who hold a differing personal conviction should not be subjected to ridicule, forced declarations, or unnecessary interrogation merely to prove loyalty. Where disagreement exists, the fellowship should distinguish between a person’s private conviction and conduct that publicly represents or contradicts the Framework’s constitutional practice.
Where a difference cannot be carried peacefully within one fellowship, separation may sometimes be necessary. Such separation should be handled without contempt, retaliation, or claims of personal ownership.
6.8 Civil Marriage and Christian Blessing
Civil marriage and Christian marriage blessing are related in many places, but they are not identical in every jurisdiction or Christian tradition. Proximity Fellowship does not claim civil authority to create, invalidate, or adjudicate a legal marriage merely by means of this Charter.
Where a civil marriage, license, registration, authorized officiant, ecclesiastical recognition, or other legal requirement is needed, the people involved remain responsible for using the appropriate lawful or ecclesiastical process. A Proximity Fellowship should not represent a prayer or blessing as creating a legal status that it does not have authority to create.
The existence of a civilly valid marriage does not by itself require a Proximity Fellowship to perform or recognize that union as a Christian marriage blessing under this Framework. In the same way, a Christian blessing offered within the Framework does not by itself establish civil legal status.
Proximity Fellowship does not prescribe one universal liturgy for marriage. Local form may vary within the constitutional boundary established by this Article and within applicable law.
Article 7. The Proximity Name, Recognition, and Public Integrity
7.1 What the Proximity Name Signifies
The name Proximity Fellowship identifies a Christian gathering that voluntarily uses the Proximity Framework and represents itself as operating within this Charter.
Use of the name signifies a real relationship with the Framework. It includes the common Christian foundation of Article 1, the Framework’s anchoring in the historic Protestant Christian tradition and its understanding of the biblical canon, and the Constitutional Requirements established by this Charter.
This does not mean that every Participant must be Protestant or must hold the same position on every matter the Charter leaves open. It means that a gathering using the Proximity name should be truthful about the Framework it has chosen to use and should not publicly redefine that Framework while continuing to present itself as Proximity Fellowship.
7.2 Honest Use of the Name
A local fellowship may use the Proximity name when it does so in good faith and in a manner consistent with this Charter. The name should communicate relationship with the Framework rather than ownership, status, or institutional superiority.
A local fellowship should not imply that ProximityFellowship.org has personally approved every teaching, decision, practice, Host, leader, or Participant. It should not claim authority to speak for every Proximity Fellowship or for ProximityFellowship.org unless separately authorized to do so.
The Proximity name must not knowingly be used to deceive people, conceal serious wrongdoing, obtain money through false representation, create a misleading impression of institutional endorsement, or present a local position that contradicts an express Constitutional Requirement as though it were the position of the Framework.
7.3 Local Responsibility Remains Local
A local Proximity Fellowship remains responsible for its own ordinary life and conduct. This includes its meeting arrangements, safeguarding, finances, leadership, communications, treatment of Participants, compliance with applicable law, and other responsibilities arising from its activities.
Use of the Proximity name does not make ProximityFellowship.org the employer, insurer, legal representative, ecclesiastical superior, or operational supervisor of a local fellowship. It does not transfer local liabilities or duties to the steward of the Framework.
A local fellowship may receive guidance from the Framework while remaining responsible for the decisions and actions taken in its own circumstances.
7.4 Public Recognition
ProximityFellowship.org may maintain a public directory, listing, or other form of recognition for local fellowships that are reasonably understood to be using the Framework in good faith.
Public recognition provides clarity about a fellowship’s stated relationship with Proximity Fellowship. It does not create a denomination, hierarchy, centralized jurisdiction, or guarantee of theological perfection, personal character, safety, legality, or wise conduct.
Recognition may reasonably rely upon information provided by the local fellowship and other information available to the steward. The absence of intervention by ProximityFellowship.org should not be treated as proof that every aspect of a local fellowship is known, supervised, or approved.
7.5 Good Faith Imperfection
Proximity Fellowship is an imperfect framework used by imperfect Christians. Recognition should therefore not depend upon flawless performance or complete agreement on matters the Charter leaves open.
An honest mistake, local weakness, incomplete use of a recommendation, difference in permitted practice, or good faith theological disagreement should not by itself be treated as misuse of the Proximity name. Local variation is expected within the freedom this Charter deliberately preserves.
The relevant distinction is between ordinary human imperfection and a serious or persistent departure from the Foundational Christian Confession or the Constitutional Requirements of the Framework.
7.6 Serious or Persistent Departure From the Framework
A local fellowship should not continue to present itself publicly as Proximity Fellowship while seriously or persistently disregarding the constitutional identity it claims to represent.
Such departure may include deliberate rejection of the Foundational Christian Confession, persistent disregard of Constitutional Requirements, public practice contrary to an express constitutional boundary, serious misuse of the Proximity name, or deliberate misrepresentation of the Framework’s position.
A pattern of departure may become serious through repetition. A single matter may also be sufficiently serious where substantial harm, deliberate deception, grave misconduct, or another fundamental breach of the Framework is involved.
7.7 Clarification and Opportunity for Correction
Where a possible departure from the Framework is raised, the ordinary first response should be clarification and conversation when that is reasonably safe and appropriate. The local fellowship should ordinarily have an opportunity to explain its circumstances, correct inaccurate information, address a misunderstanding, or take reasonable corrective action.
A decision affecting public recognition should be grounded in this Charter rather than personal dislike, rivalry, pressure, or disagreement concerning matters the Charter leaves open.
Immediate protective action may be appropriate where there is credible concern of serious harm, ongoing abuse, unlawful conduct, deliberate deception, or significant risk. In such circumstances, the need to protect people or preserve truthful public representation may reasonably require action before a longer process of dialogue is completed.
7.8 Delisting
Where a local fellowship seriously or persistently fails to meet the Constitutional Requirements, or deliberately misrepresents its relationship with the Framework, ProximityFellowship.org may remove that fellowship from a public directory or other form of recognition. This action may be referred to as delisting.
A delisted fellowship should cease publicly presenting itself as a recognized Proximity Fellowship or as a local fellowship operating under the Proximity Framework. It remains free, subject to applicable law, to continue gathering as Christians under another name or arrangement.
Delisting exists to protect the truthful meaning and public integrity of the Proximity name. It is not a means of acquiring control over the people who once used it.
7.9 Delisting Is Not Spiritual Judgment
Delisting is not a declaration that the people involved are not Christians. It is not a judgment concerning their salvation, eternal destiny, standing before God, baptism, church membership, or the legitimacy of every Christian relationship they may have.
ProximityFellowship.org does not claim authority to pronounce such judgments merely because it stewards a human Framework and its public name.
Recognition makes no person more Christian. Delisting makes no person less Christian. The question addressed by this Article is narrower. It concerns whether a local fellowship may truthfully continue to identify itself publicly with the Proximity Framework.
7.10 Voluntary Withdrawal
A local fellowship may conclude at any time that the Proximity Framework is no longer useful or suitable for its circumstances. It may withdraw voluntarily without seeking permission from ProximityFellowship.org.
Where a fellowship withdraws, it should cease presenting itself publicly as a Proximity Fellowship and, where applicable, request removal from any public listing or recognition maintained by ProximityFellowship.org.
Voluntary withdrawal should not ordinarily be treated as misconduct, disloyalty, or spiritual failure. The fellowship remains free to continue Christian fellowship according to its own convictions and lawful arrangements. The Framework is a means of serving fellowship, not an end that Christians are required to preserve.
Article 8. Stewardship, Amendment, and Succession
8.1 Stewardship of ProximityFellowship.org
ProximityFellowship.org serves as the public steward of the Proximity Framework. Its responsibilities include maintaining the current Charter, making the Framework and its principal resources publicly available, explaining the Framework, preserving the integrity of its public presentation, and carrying the limited recognition responsibilities described in Article 7.
At the publication of this First Edition, this stewardship is carried by the initiator of Proximity Fellowship, Michael Lin. This describes the present arrangement. It does not create permanent personal authority or ownership. Stewardship may be shared, transferred, or reorganized as the work develops, provided that any such arrangement remains consistent with this Charter.
8.2 Stewardship Is Not Ecclesiastical Government
Stewardship of ProximityFellowship.org does not create a denomination, hierarchy, bishopric, church court, or centralized government over local fellowships. A steward does not become the pastor, elder, bishop, priest, minister, spiritual superior, or owner of Christians who use the Framework merely by stewarding it.
The steward may care for the published Framework and its public name. Local fellowships remain responsible for their own Christian life, leadership, safeguarding, finances, practices, relationships, and lawful arrangements. Stewardship of a Framework must not be confused with headship over Christ’s people.
8.3 Accountability and Transparency
The current Charter and the identity of those carrying substantial public stewardship should be reasonably clear to Participants and the public. Substantive constitutional changes should be dated and documented so that people who rely upon the Framework can know what text is in force and what has changed.
Entrusted responsibility should be exercised honestly, humbly, and with appropriate accountability. Where a steward has a material personal interest in a significant decision, that interest should be acknowledged. Where a matter could substantially affect the integrity of the Framework or the public recognition of a fellowship, seeking the counsel of mature persons outside the immediate dispute is ordinarily wise.
Transparency exists to make stewardship understandable and accountable. It should remain proportionate and should not become an unnecessary administrative burden.
8.4 Protection Against Personal Control
No steward owns the Framework, the Participants, or the local fellowships that use it. The Proximity name, website, constitutional text, public influence, financial resources, and other entrusted responsibilities should be treated as matters of stewardship rather than personal possession.
A steward must not reshape Proximity Fellowship around a personal following, private revelation, financial interest, reputation, or preferred secondary theology. Financial contribution, public prominence, length of service, or proximity to the initiator does not by itself create greater constitutional authority.
The Framework should remain capable of being understood and evaluated apart from the personality of the person currently administering it. Christians are not property, and stewardship does not create a claim upon their loyalty.
8.5 Constitutional Interpretation
ProximityFellowship.org may explain the Charter and may offer interpretations where wording is genuinely unclear. Such interpretation should read the Charter as a whole and should respect the four layers described in How This Charter Works.
The Foundational Christian Confession establishes the common Christian floor. Constitutional Requirements establish the boundaries governing use of the Proximity Framework and name. Framework Principles and Guidance should be read as guidance unless the Charter expressly makes something binding. Matters deliberately left to Local Christian Freedom should remain open.
Where an older resource, local custom, explanatory text, or other Proximity publication appears to conflict with the current Charter, the Charter governs unless and until it is properly amended.
8.6 Clarification Must Not Create New Requirements
A clarification may explain an existing provision. It may not quietly create a new Constitutional Requirement, convert a recommendation into a rule, turn an example into a prohibition, or remove a freedom the Charter deliberately preserves.
Where a proposed explanation would materially change what the Framework requires, permits, or forbids, the matter should be treated as a proposed amendment rather than as interpretation. The same principle applies to companion guides, website explanations, Frequently Asked Questions, teaching materials, and other resources. None may become a second Charter by gradually adding requirements that the Charter itself does not establish.
8.7 Amendment of the Charter
The Charter may be amended when substantial reasons make amendment appropriate. Such reasons may include clearer understanding, experience from local fellowships, a genuine safeguarding concern, an important practical weakness, theological reflection, or a need to correct language that has proved materially unclear or unwise.
Substantive amendment should be deliberate, identifiable, and documented. It should not be made secretly, casually, merely for popularity, or simply because one steward strongly prefers a different formulation. A revised constitutional text should identify its edition or effective date clearly enough that those relying upon it can distinguish the current Charter from superseded versions.
Particular care is required where an amendment would affect the identity established in Article 1. The historic Christian confession, the anchoring of the Framework in the historic Protestant Christian tradition, and the Protestant understanding of the biblical canon must not be altered indirectly through interpretation or supplementary material. Any proposed change to such matters would be a change to the Framework’s constitutional identity and must be presented openly as such.
The same principle applies to other express Constitutional Requirements. A constitutional boundary should not be removed or reversed through informal guidance.
8.8 Stability and Responsible Development
People should be able to rely upon the Charter without expecting its constitutional meaning to shift continually. Stability is therefore a form of stewardship.
The Framework should remain teachable and correctable, but correction should be careful rather than restless. Suggestions from Hosts, Participants, local fellowships, and other Christians may be received and considered on their merits. No person is entitled to have a proposed change adopted merely because it has been requested.
Experience may reveal that a provision needs clarification, strengthening, revision, or removal. The aim of development is greater faithfulness, clarity, usefulness, and integrity, not continual institutional expansion.
8.9 Change Without Accumulation
Development should not be assumed to require more rules, more procedures, more offices, or more permanent requirements. Greater experience sometimes calls for greater simplicity.
A new constitutional provision should be introduced only when genuine necessity, meaningful safeguarding, clearer understanding, or the purposes of the Framework reasonably require it. Difficulties that can be addressed through local wisdom, temporary arrangements, or existing principles should not automatically produce permanent universal rules.
The Framework should also remain willing to remove duplication, obsolete provisions, or unnecessary complexity when doing so can preserve its purposes more clearly. Not every difficulty needs a rule, and not every local solution belongs in the Charter.
8.10 Succession and Continuity
The stewardship of ProximityFellowship.org should be capable of continuing when a particular steward becomes unable, unwilling, or unsuitable to continue. Reasonable arrangements should therefore be made for the preservation of the Charter, public access to the Framework, essential records, administrative access, and other matters necessary for responsible continuity.
Where stewardship is transferred to another person or group, the responsibility received is stewardship rather than ownership. Those who assume it should preserve the constitutional text then in force, the decentralized character of local fellowships, the freedom and dignity of Participants, the distinction between stewardship and ecclesiastical government, and the public accessibility of the Framework.
Practical methods of transition may vary with circumstances. The companion guide The Proximity Fellowship Seasons of Transience offers fuller guidance on continuity and succession, but it cannot alter the constitutional principles established here.
8.11 No Steward Is Indispensable
No steward should become indispensable to Proximity Fellowship. A person may serve faithfully for a long time and still remain a steward whose responsibilities can eventually be shared, transferred, or concluded.
The initiator may become less necessary. A later steward may step aside. A stewardship group may change. None of these events should be treated as a loss of ownership, because ownership was never granted.
Where the Framework becomes healthier, clearer, more accountable, and more capable of continuing without dependence upon one human personality, that should be welcomed. Christ is the Head. Scripture is the norm. No human being is indispensable.