Our Relational Covenant

Using Jesus as our example and with God’s grace, we promise to . . .

Practice Humility:

·        Seek to discover what is best for our church as a whole, not what may be best for us or for some small group in the church. (Philippians 2:3-6)

·        Walk hand in hand-- even when we don’t see eye to eye. (Colossians 3:15-16)

Examine your heart:

·        Listen first, and then offer our opinions with humility and clarity. (Colossians 3:12-14)

·        Confess our sins to those we wrong. (James 5:16)

Always Show Love and Respect:

·        Accept disagreements, conflict, and evaluation as normal and natural. (Philippians 4:2-3)

Create an open and safe space:

·        Speak up when we are hurt by someone, so no root of bitterness grows in our hearts. (Hebrews 12:15)

·        Practice kindness and compassion, forgiving one another easily and often because Christ forgave us. (Ephesians 4: 22)

Exemplify Christ:

·        Believe in and make positive investments in each others’ lives. (Colossians3:15-16)

·        Pray together, as a body, to be in submission to the Holy Spirit.  (1 Thessalonians 5:16-17)

When new members join a Covenant church, they are asked two questions about belief: “Do you confess Jesus Christ as your Savior and promise to follow him as Lord?” and “Do you accept the Holy Scriptures, the Old and New Testaments, as the Word of God and the only perfect rule for faith, doctrine, and conduct?” They are then asked if they intend to live as faithful followers of Christ and members of the church and denomination.

That’s all. That’s enough.

But on another level, of course, the answers are a good deal more complex. While the Covenant denomination does not require adherence to any written creed, we take our theology very seriously, and our history as well. We are a Reformation church, a part of the Church universal, and an evangelical church. In that heritage, we share certain central beliefs which draw us together in faith and fellowship and make possible a freedom among us on more widely ranging issues.

 

 

 

about the Covenant CHurch:

The Evangelical Covenant Church is a rapidly growing multiethnic denomination in the United States and Canada with ministries on five continents of the world. Founded in 1885 by Swedish immigrants, the ECC values the Bible as the word of God, the gift of God’s grace and ever-deepening spiritual life that comes through a faith with Jesus Christ, the importance of extending God’s love and compassion to a hurting world, and the strength that comes from unity within diversity.

The Evangelical Covenant Church is:

  • Evangelical, but not exclusive

  • Biblical, but not doctrinaire

  • Traditional, but not rigid

  • Congregational, but not independent

We affirm:

  • the centrality of the word of God.

  • the necessity of the new birth.

  • a commitment to the whole mission of the church.

  • the church as a fellowship of believers.

  • a conscious dependence on the Holy Spirit.

  • the reality of freedom in Christ.

questions?

If you have any questions about any of our beliefs (or anything else) please call us! We'd love to have an open and engaging conversation with you.

Our office number is (814) 371-7777.

 

(Portions of this page are adapted from the Evangelical Covenant Church denominational website: http://www.covchurch.org)