Covenant Affirmations
Why join this denomination? Because the Evangelical Covenant is a great match for who we are at Coastline Covenant Church. Below you will find the 6 Covenant Affirmations. You will notice how closely they match who you experience Coastline to be on a typical Sunday, but also who we are as described in our Vision and Mission. The beauty of the Covenant is that their values from day one are still their values today. They were formed of a passion for transformative faith, missions, and a pursuit of unity and love amongst those with differences in thought. They wanted to see Christians excited about scripture and choosing to live by it. They cared deeply about sharing their faith with the world around them. They saw the Spirit as a key member of the trinity, actively seeking His leading and guidance. And they wanted to find a way to live into Jesus’ call in John 17 to live unified, rather than in constant fighting. All of these are not only in alignment with who we are at Coastline, but the Covenant has actually shaped us. We too can trace our roots to Pietism and its renewed passion for scripture and the Spirit, and the need to gather as a family of believers.
Below are descriptions of the Affirmations, as well as coinciding views of Coastline Covenant. To see the Covenant Denomination pamphlet on their Affirmations, click here.
For more information on the Evangelical Covenant Denomination, go to their website, here.
“We stick to the basics. When new members join a local congregation of the Evangelical Covenant Church, they answer two questions: “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?’”
Affirmation 1: “We affirm the centrality of the word of God.”
“The Bible…is the foremost source of our knowledge about God. It was written by holy men of God at the command of God, and by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit for our instruction unto salvation…(it is) trustworthy in all its parts and possesses absolute authority in all that concerns Christian faith and conduct.”
The ECC places a high emphasis on scripture, seeing it as perfect, and the key component in their understanding of God. One of the big shifts that came from the Pietistic movement was the emphasis on the Word of God and a renewed love of Scripture. It is said that the power of the movement was in its “dynamic use of the Bible.” (3) This dynamic use still defines the ECC today. The ECC’s Constitution has a statement of faith, the same statement of faith you will find on Coastline’s own newly formed Constitution, and is written in the quote at the top, “We believe in the Holy Scriptures, the Old and New Testament, as the Word of God and the only perfect rule for faith, doctrine, and conduct.” In their document on Biblical Authority and Christian Freedom, this statement is explained through three descriptions which are summed up here.
The Bible is where God reveals himself to us, and the place where we meet with and understand His forgiveness. If he speaks in other ways, it is because those other ways are according to the Bible.
The Bible is a book of power that both judges and offers grace.
For a Christian community to be spiritually healthy it must be grounded and centered in Scripture, understanding it as the sustenance that feeds it. (4)
It is clear that the ECC sees Scripture as the key source of God’s communication and care for us. Axel Mellander’s quote on the right sums up their thoughts well. The Bible, inspired by the Spirit, is our source of, and authority in the knowledge of God and faith.
One of Coastline’s four values is, “Boldly Biblical.” We too believe Scripture is God-breathed and our primary source of knowing and understanding God. We are intentional in using Scripture as the source of all we do. As seen on our website, “We are a church who believes that the Bible reveals to us the character and purposes of God. Through its study we learn more about who He is, who we are in relationship to Him, and our place in the great story that He is writing.”
Affirmation 2: We affirm the necessity of the new birth.
“Not to stress conversion is to run the risk of making the Christian faith something less than a vital and personal relationship to Jesus Christ…To be converted is to know personally and from inside the meaning of the Gospel. It is to know the love of God in one’s own life…The consequence will be that the whole of one’s life will be the arena in which the implications of a new relationship to God are worked out.”
The founders of the ECC felt the necessity that members of its denomination profess a faith in Jesus. They had experienced the transformation of the Spirit and saw a notable difference in those that professed being “born again” to those who belonged to the state church in Sweden. Those who professed the new birth lived differently. They were passionate about Scripture, and about Jesus, and they made lifestyle choices that set them apart from the world around them. To be a member in an ECC church, you must answer yes to the question written at the top, “Do you confess Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and promise to follow Him as Lord?” Having a true faith in Christ, one that is evidenced through lifestyle and passion for Jesus is of utmost importance in the denomination.
Coastline also has in it’s new membership requirements a profession of Christ as Lord and Savior. While anyone is welcome to step through our doors, the church is ultimately a family of transformed, “born again” believers.
Affirmation 3: We affirm a commitment to the whole mission of the church.
“the earth itself would ultimately be transformed through godly men and women serving God and neighbor, proclaiming Christ and relieving poverty and oppression.”
Before there was the ECC, there were the Mission Friends, named precisely for their passion for missions. The Mission Friends were continuing on the vision passed down from another founder of Pietism, August Hermann Francke. Franke was known for his incredible care for the poor, and for rallying others to do the same. He saw Christians living out their faith as a way to transform society. (6) The ECC in its inception meeting was already discussing missions. They supported missions that both proclaimed the good news and also cared for needs, starting with one missionary in New York, and quickly growing from there. In 1886 they formed a home in Chicago for the poor and sick, (7) began missions work in Alaska in 1889, moved into China in 1890 and today have ministries all over. To see how active they are today, click here. The ECC’s website describes its missions reach as this, “Through sending of personnel, training people through theological education, equipping local congregations, and cultivating global partnerships we serve globally in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and Middle East North Africa.” (8)
Missions is the place where Coastline seeks to grow. We’ve been passionate about caring for people locally by hosting community events and helping financially support the homeless ministry at St. Andrews. One of the great benefits of belonging to a denomination is that we can jump into the ministry that the denomination is already doing. Be on the lookout in the days to come as we make this our next area of growth.
“The Covenant Church stresses the church as a fellowship of believers…while corporate worship as a whole church is always important…the fellowship of believers is also critical...The church is not a hierarchy in which members have lesser or greater importance. It is a fellowship, a family of equally loved persons”
Affirmation 4: We affirm the church as a fellowship of believers.
The fellowship of believers is a value that also has been in the Covenant since day one. There was great importance placed on unity and the togetherness of faith. They were weary of the theological fighting that had gone on between differing viewpoints in Christianity and the separation that comes as a result. They also stress lay leadership, lessening hierarchy, and promoting equality and value of all. One covenanter said it like this, “your church family then is no optional extra for those who might like that kind of thing (Hebrews 10:25). Your “faith family” is absolutely essential. To neglect our spiritual relatives is to neglect our heavenly Father. (1 John 4:7-12)” (11)
This means ALL people are vitally important to the body. Women and men serve alongside one another, all ages are valued, and all races are not just welcomed, but needed in the body. The ECC holds this value so highly, that they pursue ways to break down barriers between races, care for and welcome in those on the margins, and work hard to find ways that minority viewpoints are heard and valued.
Coastline has the value “Fully Family” and you hear this probably more than any other value spoken of from stage. Most events that we do we measure according to how effective it was in bringing the family together. The imagery in scripture of the church being family is deeply important to us. Family cares for one another no matter what and every member of the family is valued and needed. And family indicates belonging. We want all to feel not just welcome for a day, but that they belong, that this church is their family. This also means that every member is needed to function. Everyone has gifts that they bring to the table. Our hope is that all Coastliners serve, because we are better when everyone is working together using the gifts God has given and the experiences God has given to care for the body.
“The Holy Spirit is...the presupposition for Christian life itself: there can be no communion with God apart from the enabling power of the Spirit...(He) is like the air we breathe and the light by which we see.”
Affirmation 5: We affirm a conscious dependence on the Holy Spirit.
The ECC not only believes the Spirit inspired the word of God, is the “mediator of the grace of Christ by which we have salvation” (13), and gives us gifts to function as the body of Christ, but they also believe that it is the Holy Spirit that works to transform and shape us to become more like Christ every day. It is because of this, that leaning on the Spirit is highly encouraged. There is a high value on “spiritual formation” or inviting the Spirit to transform and sanctify us. And seeking the Spirit to guide us, to reveal to us our sins, and to change us are common practices, particularly through prayer, journaling, and contemplation. They have a great training program and network of Spiritual Directors, and it’s common practice for congregants to meet with one for spiritual guidance. The Covenant is not necessarily charismatic in practice. Most likely you will not see, “widespread speaking in tongues and other manifestations in worship” (14), and yet those expressions do exist within its members, and the Spirit is active and moving in individuals.
Another of Coastline’s values is “Spirit Seeking”. We believe that God is active in the life of the believer through the ongoing presence of the Holy Spirit. This Spirit reveals Christ, reminds us of his teaching, and transforms us until we look and act more like Jesus. We also believe that the Holy Spirit is at work in the hearts of unbelievers, convicting, stirring, calling, and drawing people back into a restored relationship with him. As a church, we want to be a place where we are listening and ready for the Spirit's movement.
Affirmation 6: We affirm the reality of freedom in Christ.
“Covenant freedom...comes from people who know they did not earn and do not deserve God’s acceptance, people who know that their salvation is by grace through faith. It creates in them a humility that refuses to believe that they have the last word on truth.”
Covenanters are known for being unified around the core tenants of the faith, and allowing freedom of thought on “second-tier issues”. This stems from its founding in an era of much debate, argument, and division within Christianity, and a desire to live into Christ’s call for unity in John 17. While there is freedom, that freedom also has boundaries. Waldenstrom’s phrase “Where is it written?” is a key phrase that comes up time and time again. Frisk talks of Waldentrom’s deep respect for Scripture, saying that he sees it as “the source of all spiritual life”, and that one must read it “willing to learn the truth, not just confirmation of your opinions” (16). While there may be differences in interpretation, there are limits to the differences, because everything has to be clearly grounded in scripture.
The ECC has a pamphlet that explains its stance. You can read that here.
At Coastline, we also highly value unity and family over division. You are free to be with us, and disagree with us. And we even enjoy the dialogue that comes with the differences. Our desire is to hold Scripture high, and yet also hold love high. We do not back down from preaching truth, but we know that God-fearing men and women can land at different points on a variety of theological issues, and still love Jesus. And we desire to be a witness to the world by focusing on love rather than division.
Notes
1. “Beliefs,” Evangelical Covenant Church, accessed March 25, 2023, https://www.Covchurch.org./who-we-are/beliefs/.
2. Axel Mellander, “What We Believe and Teach,” in Covenant Roots: Sources and Affirmations, ed. Glenn P. Anderson (Chicago: Covenant Publications, 1999), 117-118.
3. Covenant Committee on Freedom and theology, “Biblical Authority and Christian Freedom”, (Chicago, 1963) 5-7.
4. Covenant Committee on Freedom and theology, “Biblical Authority and Christian Freedom”, (Chicago, 1963) 5-7.
5. Donald Frisk, The New Life in Christ (Chicago: Covenant Press, 1969), 18-22.
6. Gary R. Sattler, God’s Glory, Neighbor’s Good (Chicago: Covenant Press, 1982), 70.
7. Axel Mellander, “The Swedish Mission Friends in America,” in Covenant Roots: Sources and Affirmations, ed. Glenn P. Anderson (Chicago: Covenant Publications, 1999), 74.
8. “Serve Globally,” Evangelical Covenant Church, accessed March 25, 2023, https://www.covchurch.org/serve-globally/.
9. Gary R. Sattler, God’s Glory, Neighbor’s Good (Chicago: Covenant Press, 1982), 70.
10. A Family Matter: An Exploration in Believing and Belonging (Inquirer’s Class Manual of the Evangelical Covenant Church), in Glad Hearts, ed. James Hawkinson (Chicago: Covenant Publications, 2003), 92.
11. Wesley C. Swanson, “Are You Neglecting Your Church Family?”, in Glad Hearts, ed. James Hawkinson (Chicago: Covenant Publications, 2003), 85.
12. Donald C. Frisk, Covenant Affirmations: This We Believe (Chicago: Covenant Publications, 1981), 108.
13. Donald C. Frisk, Covenant Affirmations: This We Believe (Chicago: Covenant Publications, 1981), 108.
14. A Family Matter: An Exploration in Believing and Belonging (Inquirer’s Class Manual of the Evangelical Covenant Church), in Glad Hearts, ed. James Hawkinson (Chicago: Covenant Publications, 2003), 343.
15. Glenn R. Palmberg “Yesterday’s Seed is Tomorrow’s Harvest,” The Covenant Companion, (March 1997): 28.
16. Donald C. Frisk, Covenant Affirmations: This We Believe (Chicago: Covenant Publications, 1981), 26-27.