Membership
in a Covenant Church
1-
In 1620 the Pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock and brought
with them the idea that a congregation of believers ought to be
able to rule themselves. That was the beginning of the
"Congregational Way". For
three hundred years, Congregationalists have held to the ideal
of local congregations seeking the guidance of God themselves,
without the dictates and oversight of magistrates or
bishops. Congregationalists
are a covenant people, having no defined doctrinal statement
other than the Bible itself. We believe that the Word of God is
living and active and constantly ready to meet the needs of
people every day. We have resisted the temptation to “boil down"
the whole counsel of God into a few statements of dogma. The “Christian” name comes as a
relic of this church’s organization in 1831, as part of a post
Revolutionary War religious movement away from a church polity
with inherently British roots. Each member of a
Congregational-Christian Church is a minister along with all the
other members. It is our desire to reach out to one another and
to the world in the name of Christ with love, acceptance and
support.
2- Rites and Sacraments
Our church observes two sacraments - Baptism and the
Lord’s Supper. Infant Baptism is available to any who are intent
on raising their child in a covenant of faith. It is a “gateway”
sacrament, and membership is not required. Adults may be
baptized at any time, either by sprinkling or by full immersion.
Rebaptism is not generally practiced, but members are given the
opportunity to be rededicated to their baptismal vows. The communion table is open
to worshippers of all ages who love Jesus Christ and seek
forgiveness for their sins. On the first Sunday of the month, we
sit and are served bread and grape juice by the Deacons. We
partake simultaneously. We
practice at least four traditional rites – funerals or memorial
services, marriages, confirmation, and anointing of the sick.
3-
Theology
Three important theological concepts that distinguish the
East Freetown Congregational Christian Church - as a church in
the tradition of the Protestant Reformation are:
1. The authority of Scripture. We look to the
Word of God as his authority in our lives - and not to
traditions, legends and myths.
2. Salvation by grace. We are saved only by the
Grace of God and by the sacrifice of His Son Jesus, and not by
any of our own works by which we endeavor to earn salvation.
3. The priesthood of all believers. All have
direct access to the Father by virtue of the Holy
Spirit. We are all recipients of his gifts by the same
Spirit, and these gifts are to be used for his ministry.
“Faith-Freedom-Fellowship” is a long standing phrase of
the Congregational Way which describes our notion that, as a
non-credal, non-doctrinal church, each member is responsible for
his or her own understanding of Scripture, his or her own
responsibility to the Word, and the grace of being in fellowship
with others who might have received wisdom differently than
himself or herself.
The by-laws are a legal document that spells out how we
may organize and function as a body politic of people. The
primary function of any set of by-laws is to set parameters for
the duties, responsibilities and limitations of our being called
into community together.
The by-laws of the East Freetown Congregational Church
specify our name; our purpose for organizing - which is to build
up the Kingdom of God; our polity – which is to say that we are
independent of any other corporation or denomination; that we
are identified by a Trinitarian belief (indicating the divinity
of God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit); and that we are
gathered by a Covenant of Faith which lays out certain personal
obligations to the group.
In addition, the by-laws outline the different types and
means of membership there are; the function of the minister
(which is to be responsible for the spiritual welfare and
education of the church; and the document names the officers of
the church as Moderator, Assistant Moderator, Clerk,
Assistant
Clerk,
Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, Auditor, Communion Steward,
Historian, and Superintendent of Sunday School.
Then the bylaws describe the Boards and Committees of the
Church which are charged with the sundry responsibilities of the
community: Deacons (who assist in the worship services and
administering the sacraments); Trustees, (who have custody of
all church properties, permanent and invested funds, and have
general oversight of all monies and appropriate funds); and the
Board of Christian Education (which oversees Christian education
programs of the church); and the Executive Committee, comprised
of Boaard members and At-Large members.
In addition, there are committees formed for various
tasks including Missions, Sunshine, Flowers, Social, Visiting,
Nominations, Music, Finance, and Fund Raising.
First, you may ask “Why?” Why should you become a member
of the covenant? The answer has a lot to do with mutual
accountability.
In
God’s covenant with the people of Israel, He stated, “if my
people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and
pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I
will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will
heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14). You can see that the
people had some doing to do, and God had some doing to do, but
the relationship was a public declaration, which meant that all
members of the covenant could rely upon their mutual
accountability for support in receiving the blessings of the
covenant.
In a marriage covenant, the same public acknowledgement
of mutuality provides strength to the couple’s intentions to
have, hold, love and cherish each other.
Likewise, as a continuing worshipper who has not
expressed publicly a desire to join in this covenant of faith,
you have made no public commitment to the mutual accountability
“with” others in their desire to be as Christ to one another.
In our church, the names of new members are announced
from the pulpit, and then, a week later, they stand and recite
the litany of the covenant, followed by the “right hand of
fellowship”. It’s that easy.
6 –
Covenant
Heartily believing that the Scriptures were given by the
inspiration of God, and that they are profitable for doctrine,
for reproof, for correction, and for the instruction in
righteousness, and also that Christian freedom requires that
they be interpreted by individual judgment, we covenant together
to accept the Bible as our supreme standard of faith and duty,
and to recognize as Christians and worthy of our fellowship, all
who devoutly love the Lord Jesus Christ and sustain a life of
Christian piety as taught by the word of God.
Anxiously desiring that all differences which separate
Christ's people may be removed, and that there may be one flock
and one Shepherd, we covenant together to layside all
distinctive and party names, and taking our title from the great
Head of the Church, to be known simply and only as Christians.
Furthermore, realizing that the success of each church
depends upon the consecration of its individual membership, we
covenant together to attend the services of the church, to
contribute according to our means to its support, to labor
together to maintain its peace and harmony, and in every way
promote its temporal and spiritual welfare; looking for our
reward to the peace of God which surpasses all understanding and
to the Crown of rejoicing laid up for all who love Christ's
appearing.
7 –
Ritual of Membership
Introduction
Minister:
In 1620 the Pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock and brought with
them the idea that a congregation of believers ought to be able
to rule themselves. That was the beginning of the
"Congregational Way”.
For
three
hundred years, Congregationalists have held to the ideal of
local congregations seeking the guidance of God themselves,
without the dictates and oversight of magistrates or bishops.
Congregationalists are a covenant people, having no
defined doctrinal statement other than the Bible itself. We
believe that the Word of God is living and active and constantly
ready to meet the needs of people every day. We have resisted
the temptation to "boil down" the whole counsel of God into a
few statements of dogma. Congregationalists are thus required to
think about their own faith individually and to construct their
own belief system and to respect the belief systems of others.
Each member of a Congregational Church is a minister
along with all the other members. It is our desire to reach out
to one another and to the world in the name of Christ with love,
acceptance and support.
Invitation
Deacon:
Dearly beloved, the Scriptures teach us that the Church is the
household of God, the body of which Christ is the head. Among
its privileges are incitements to Christian character from
hearing God's word, sharing in Christ's commands, and the
enjoyment of the blessings of the gospel. Seeking admission into
this fellowship, the following persons come now to enter into
solemn covenant with this church and with God. They will kindly
come forward.
The Deacon calls forth the candidates by name and
indicates whether they are joining by:
1.
Letter of transfer (for those who have been active in another Christian
church and feel led to transfer membership to this body of
faith.)
2. Re-affirmation of faith (for those who
have previously professed faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and
joined a Christian church, but have become inactive in church
involvement)
3. Affirmation of faith (for those who have
never publicly professed their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord)
Litany of the Covenant
Minister:
Do you confess that you are saved by the sacrifice and
resurrection of Jesus Christ?
Candidates:
I am thankful for God's everlasting mercy and for His great gift
of salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord.
All:
We covenant and agree
together to see, to know, and to do His Holy Will, and to
promote the triumph of our Savior's Kingdom over the world.
Minister:
Do you accept the authority of the Holy Bible?
Candidates:
I heartily believe that the Scriptures were given by the
inspiration of God, and that they are profitable for doctrine,
for reproof, for correction, and for the instruction in
righteousness, and also that Christian freedom requires that
they be interpreted by my individual judgment.
All:
We covenant together to
accept the Bible as our supreme standard of faith and duty,
and to recognize as Christians and worthy of our fellowship,
all who devoutly love the Lord Jesus Christ and sustain a life
of Christian piety as taught by the Word of God.
Minister:
Are you willing to go forth known to the world as a Christian?
Candidates:
I anxiously desire that all differences which separate Christ's
people may be removed, and that there may be one flock and one
Shepherd.
All:
We covenant together to
lay aside all distinctive and party names, and taking our
title from the great Head of the Church, to be known simply
and only as Christians.
Minister: Do you acknowledge that the success
of each church depends upon the active support of its individual
membership?
The Congregation stands.
All: We covenant together to attend the services of the
church, to contribute according to our means to its support,
to labor together to maintain its peace and harmony, and in
every way promote it's temporal and spiritual welfare; Looking
for our reward to the peace of God which surpasses all
understanding and to the Crown of rejoicing laid up for all
who love God's appearing.