A church covenant is a document outlining how we agree to live as a church. The church covenant is equal parts promise, summary of expectations, ethical statement, and biblical standard. We summarize how we promise to live together in the covenant.
It forms the ethics, or the moral principles, of our worldview and holds out a biblical standard by which we live. Our acceptance of this multifaceted document follows the practice of believers throughout the centuries who have pledged to God and one another to live out the gospel in community.
EBC Church Covenant
Having been brought, as we believe, by divine grace to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior; and, having been baptized by immersion, upon the confession of faith, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, we do now most joyfully and solemnly enter into covenant with one another as one body in Christ.
We engage, therefore, as the Holy Spirit shall enable us, to walk together in brotherly love; to exercise Christian care and watchfulness over one another; to participate in one another’s joys; to be slow to take offense, but always ready for reconciliation; to consider one another to provoke unto love and good works; and to forsake not the assembling of ourselves together.
We further engage to strive for the advancement of Emmanuel Baptist Church in grace, knowledge, and holiness; to promote its spirituality; to maintain unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace; to sustain its worship, ordinances, and doctrines; and to contribute to the financial support of the ministries of the church.
We further engage to maintain family and private devotions; to bring up our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord; to seek the salvation of our family and friends; and to avail ourselves of the great privilege of prayer for one another and all men.
And we further engage to walk circumspectly and watchfully in the world, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts; to be just in our dealings, faithful in our engagements, and exemplary in our deportment; to refrain from gossip, complaining, and excessive anger; to maintain a clear line of separation from all religious apostasy and all worldly and sinful pleasures, practices and associations; and, ever remembering our relationship to Jesus Christ our Lord, to seek amidst evil report a good report to live to His glory.