Entering the Covenant Community

When someone joins our congregation or is baptized our request of them is minimal -- to be sure. We simply ask them to affirm that Jesus is the Christ, the son of the Living God, and their Lord and Savior.

My commenter, John, who is also an elder in my church, asks what might be done to strengthen our covenant language. Perhaps a start might be this statement used by Jan Linn's congregation. I might add that Spirit of Joy Christian Church requires members to re-covenant each year -- or they're no longer members (which means they can't participate in decision making).

The statement is this:

I covenant with ____________ Christian Church and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) to become an active part of the worship, study, community life, and service of this congregation. I will strive to grow in my discipleship, offering my God-given time, talent, and resources to God's glory and the mission of the church. [In Michael Kinnamon and Jan Lin, Disciples, (Chalice Press, 2009) p. 18.]


What would happen if each of us, as church members, was required to affirm such a statement as part of our entrance into the community. Note that there isn't a doctrinal statement that must be affirmed, but rather a commitment to live and serve within a specific community and tradition.

Comments

John said…
Bob,

I love it. I do have a reservation though, that it might not go far enough. But it is a great start.

I will share this. I was once involved in a sensitive debate in the church. One of the proponents started their comment with: "I am relatively new here so I feel I can always just walk away but here is what I think...."

While I recall the position being taken, I remember only these words clearly. I remember them because they struck me at the time as tragically irresponsible, and terminal. On the one hand threatening - 'I will leave rather than work with my opponents,' and 'since I can leave, I have no incentive to guard my words - I will throw this verbal hand grenade and someone else can clean up the mess.'

So I think something needs to be said about commitment to uphold parish relationships and guard each other's dignity and work for compromise for the sake of continuing unity.

I don't know if that is asking too much, or if that is not simply my own personal issue. Perhaps my concern can be met by having members who are engaged in conflict begin each conversation by prayerfully reconfirming their commitment to unity and reconciliation as well as their willingness to make sacrifices to accomplish these ends.

John
Robert Cornwall said…
John,

Thanks for the thoughts -- I thought you might find it helpful. I think you are right -- we need to find a way of expressing our commitment to walk with each other, even when we're not of the same view (I hate the word opinion -- but that's my opinion).
Steve said…
Bob, I believe you are heading in the wrong direction with the covenanting statement cited in your blog. Such a statement reflects a very mature Christian's commitment. Requiring this commitment from a new Christian is asking more than they can bear. They have no understanding of what this means. Rather, we need to take a page from the Evangelicals who use the "discipling model" which requires the mature Christian to mentor the immature. I know this has been used in draconian ways, and can be very authoritarian and arbitrary, but insisting on spiritual maturity up front will only discourage those who might be led there slowly but surely. I can easily imagine a first question to be, “Hey, what’s this covenanting thing?” I know the statement is only asking for one "to strive to grow," but it is in areas they don't have any idea how it's done (discipleship, offering my God given time, talent, and resources to God's glory and the mission of the church).

(Or, we could adopt the discipling model of the Didache--Man O Man! Have we drifted away from discipleship or what!!!)

An additional problem with such a standard for membership is who will be the judge of what is an acceptable standard in meeting these conditions? In DOC congregations, we have no one we are accountable to. Until congregations find ways of being mutually accountable, we will continue to struggle with lukewarm members who could otherwise become stalwarts.
Anonymous said…
Start where we are, and then strive. How about small change?-

...and I will also, with God's grace, strive to maintain and grow in the gifts I share of my God-given...

Otherwise, it looks good to me.
Is this every year renewal as a group?

David Mc
Anonymous said…
Those are good points Steve.
This might be good for a current or returning christian.

Maybe we can insist the a new member give us a year probation, if they're pleased, they can then consider an additional covenant.

But no pressure for a year!

Darn, too late for me.

David Mc
Robert Cornwall said…
Of course, I was just throwing this out from the book. I like David's adjustments.

One thing I should note in response to Steve, is that Linn and Kinnamon are suggesting a time of instruction before membership -- so that people can make an informed choice.

The covenant statement as reproduced is for new members. There is another covenant that is signed each year. As I remember it from being in Jan Linn's seminar at the KC Assembly, they have people come up and sign during an annual covenant renewal service. They also suggest that you discern whether you're able that coming year to participate accordingly. If not, then don't sign. It's an interesting concept of intentional community. I'm not making a suggestion that we go that way, just raising the points of conversation!
Anonymous said…
Well, I'n new here, so I can just stick around and make sure it's done to my liking.

David Mc

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