The Church Covenant
The church is the executive part of the kingdom of Christ, members are in fraternal covenant under Christ, the Head and King.
The Church Covenant is a voluntary agreement entered into by members of a Baptist church whereby they promise to conduct their lives in such a way as to glorify God and promote the ongoing of the Lord’s church. Every member should study it carefully and refer to it often and seek to live up to it for it clearly outlines the obligations of church membership. The following Church Covenant with a few additions, is the general use by most Baptist churches.
Church Covenant:
Having been led, as we believe, by the Spirit of God, to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, and on the profession of our faith having been baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, we do now, in the presence of God, angels and this assembly, most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another as one body in Christ.
We engage, therefore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit, to walk together in Christian love; to strive for the advancement of this church in knowledge, holiness and comfort; to promote its prosperity and spirituality; to sustain its worship, ordinance, discipline and doctrines; to contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry, the expenses of the church, the relief of the poor, and the spread of the gospel through all nations.
We also engage to maintain family and secret devotions; to religiously educate our children; to seek the salvation of our kindred and acquaintances; to walk circumspectly in the world; to be just in our dealings, faithful in our engagements, and exemplary in our deportment; to avoid all tattling, backbiting, and excessive anger; to abstain from the sale and use of intoxicating drinks as beverage, and to be zealous in our efforts to advance the kingdom of our Savior.
We further engage to watch over one another in brotherly love; to remember each other in prayer; to aid each other in sickness and distress; to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and courtesy in speech; to be slow to take offense, but always ready for reconciliation, and mindful of the rules of our Savior to secure it without delay.
We moreover engage that when we remove from this place we will, as soon as possible, unite with some other church of like faith and order, where we can carry our the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God’s Word.
Amen.
That these obligations outlined in this Covenant are all Scriptural may be seen as follows:
I. Salvation and Baptism. (John 1:11-12; Matthew 28:19-20)
II. Duties to the Church.
1. To walk together in Christian love. (John 13:34-35)
2. To strive for the advancement of the church and promote its prosperity and spirituality. (Philippians 1:27; 2 Timothy 2:15; 2 Timothy 2:15; 2 Corinthians 7:1; 2 Peter 3:11)
3. To sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline and doctrine. (Hebrews 10:25; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 11:23-26; Jude 3).
4. To give it preeminence in my life. (Matthew 6:33)
5. To contribute cheerfully and regularly (1 Corinthians 16:2; 2 Corinthians 8:1-24).
6. To transfer my membership when I move and be active in church work wherever I live. (Acts 11:19-21; 18:24-28)
III. Duties in Personal Christian Living.
1. To maintain family and secret devotions. (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18; Acts 17:11)
2. To religiously educate the children. (2 Timothy 3:15; Deuteronomy 6:4-7; Psalm 78:5-7; 48:13)
3. To seek the salvation of the lost. (Acts 1:8; Matthew 4:19; Psalm 126:5-6; Proverbs 11:30)
4. To walk circumspectly in the world, to be just in our dealings, faithful in our engagements, and exemplary in our deportment (Ephesians 5:15:Philippians 2:14-15; 1 Peter 2:11-12)
5. To avoid gossip and excessive anger. (Ephesians 4:31; 1 Peter 2:21; Colossians 3:8; James 3:1f)
6. To abstain from the sale or use of alcoholic beverages (Ephesians 5:18:Habakuk 2:15)
7. To be zealous in our efforts for Christ. (Titus 2:14)
IV. Duties to Fellow Members.
1. To watch over one another in love (1 Peter 1:22)
2. To pray for one another. (James 5:16)
3. To aid in sickness and distress. (Galatians 6:2; James 2:14-17)
4. To cultivate sympathy and courtesy. (1 Peter 3:8)
5. To be slow to take offense, always ready for reconciliation. (Ephesians 4:30-32).
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