Ravenswood Evangelical Covenant Church
What is an Evangelical Covenant church?
On one level, the answer is quite simple. 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 is enough.
But on another level, of course, the answer is a good deal more complex. While the Covenant Church 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.
We describe those central beliefs as "affirmations," and they are outlined in the document available for download below.
Covenant Affirmations
The purpose of Covenant Affirmations is to make clear the values and principles that have guided the Evangelical Covenant Church since its founding in 1885.
Click here to read the 17 page booklet "Covenant Affirmations" or see the preview video to the Covenant Affirmations DVD.
Other Identity Documents
Constitution of the Evangelical Covenant Church
Constitution of the Covenant Ministerium
Rules for the Ordered Ministry
Ethical Principles for Covenant Ministers
Policy on Baptism
A Theology of the Child
A Biblical and Theological Basis for Women in Ministry
Called and Gifted
Divorce and Remarriage: A Policy Statement
More information can be found at the Evangelical Covenant Church's website http://covchurch.org.
- Evangelical, but not exclusive
- Biblical, but not doctrinaire
- Traditional, but not rigid
- Congregational, but not independent
On one level, the answer is quite simple. 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 is enough.
But on another level, of course, the answer is a good deal more complex. While the Covenant Church 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.
We describe those central beliefs as "affirmations," and they are outlined in the document available for download below.
Covenant Affirmations
The purpose of Covenant Affirmations is to make clear the values and principles that have guided the Evangelical Covenant Church since its founding in 1885.
Click here to read the 17 page booklet "Covenant Affirmations" or see the preview video to the Covenant Affirmations DVD.
Other Identity Documents
Constitution of the Evangelical Covenant Church
Constitution of the Covenant Ministerium
Rules for the Ordered Ministry
Ethical Principles for Covenant Ministers
Policy on Baptism
A Theology of the Child
A Biblical and Theological Basis for Women in Ministry
Called and Gifted
Divorce and Remarriage: A Policy Statement
More information can be found at the Evangelical Covenant Church's website http://covchurch.org.