As Historian of the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches (NACCC), I was asked by Mrs. Ann Kuester, Moderator of the NACCC to write a Covenanting Service that could be used to open the 2000 Annual Meeting of the NACCC in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
I looked at the Covenant of the NACCC that was affirmed at the first Annual Meeting of the NACCC held in Wauwatosa, WI on October 25, 1956, and at the original Salem Covenant of 1629 and the Enlarged Salem Covenant of 1636. Drawing on these resources I wrote a Covenant. Then working with the Rev. Gary Pierce, Pastor, Pilgrim Congregational Church, Green Bay, we modified that original effort and finalized the Covenanting Service which follows.
If you take the time to read through it, you will discover the principles that ought to be in a Church Covenant, the principles what bind members of a congregation together in the Word and Service of Jesus Christ. What applies to a congregation may also apply with modifications to citizenship in America. This month we celebrate the Fourth of July, the anniversary of the founding of our country. What better way to affirm our membership in church and country than by re-owning the covenants which bind us together.
COVENANTING SERVICE
In the old covenant, God chose Israel to be a special people of faith, and to obey the law. Our Lord Jesus Christ, by his death and resurrection, has made a new covenant with all who trust in him. We stand within this covenant and we bear his name.
On the one side, God promises in this covenant to give us new life in Christ. On the other side, we are pledged to live not for ourselves but for God.
As gathered Congregational Christian Churches we affirm this covenant God made with us. Historically we have been a covenant people, both with God and with each other.
We who are present here today, members of the National Association of Congregational Christians and the congregations we represent, having found by sad experience how dangerous it is to take lightly the covenant we have made with our God and with one another: and how prone we are to wander into other paths, even to the relaxation of our first love in entering into fellowship: Do therefore solemnly in the presence of the Eternal God, both for our own benefit, and the benefit of those which shall be or may be joined with us, renew that covenant that was accepted at the beginning of our National Association:
“Therefore We, the churches by our delegates here assembled in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, this 25th day of October 1956, do covenant in this National Association of Congregational Christian Churches to walk together in the ways which God anciently revealed to our fathers, and in such further ways as He may yet reveal to us, the present form and purposes being hereinafter stated.”
And we do more explicitly in the name and reverence of God, profess and formally affirm our determination to walk as followers of God through the power and grace of our Lord Jesus.
1. We affirm the Lord to be our God, and ourselves his people.
We do so covenant
2. We give ourselves to the Lord Jesus Christ, and the word of his grace, for the teaching, and sanctifying of us in matters of worship, and conversation, resolving to be united with him alone for life and glory; in polity, and in worship.
We do so covenant
3. We promise to walk with our brethren and sisters in this association of churches with all watchfulness and tenderness, to follow the rule of the Lord Jesus, and to bear and forbear, give and forgive as he has taught us.
We do so covenant
4. In public or in private, we will willingly do nothing to offend the reputation of the association, but will be willing to take advise for our selves and ours as occasion shall be presented.
We do so covenant
5. We bind ourselves together to promote the advancement of the gospel in all truth and peace with our sister churches, using their counsel as need shall be:
We do so covenant
6. We hereby promise to carry our selves in all lawful obedience to principles and practices that we mutually cherish, knowing-how well pleasing it will be to the Lord, that men, women and children should have encouragement in their lives.
We do so covenant
7. We resolve to establish ourselves in the Lord by using our particular gifts of the Spirit to create harmony and community as sister churches.
We do so covenant
8. We also promise to our best ability to teach our children and one another the knowledge of God and his purposes, so that all may serve him by the strength of our Lord Jesus Christ, whose death and resurrection sealed the new covenant with us.
We do so covenant
The following is not part of the Covenanting Service but is the preamble in a book in which the delegates may sign their names.
In acceptance of these principles upon which our covenant relationship is founded, we sign our names in this book to be shared with all of the congregations of National Association of Congregational Christian Churches who are not able to be present here this day.
Prepared by Rev. Leslie Shultz and Rev. Gary Pierce, Modified from the Salem Covenant of 1629 and the Enlarged Covenant of 1636