Our Covenant
Having been led as we believe by the Spirit of God to receive the Lord
Jesus Christ as our Lord and 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 Spirit, we do now in the presence of God 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, ordinances, doctrines, and discipline; 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 of and use of intoxicating drinks as a beverage; to use our influence
to combat the abuse of drugs and the spread of pornography; 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 one another in prayer; to aid one another in sickness and
distress; to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and Christian
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 where we can carry out the spirit
of this covenant and the principles of God's Word.