What do you all think...

[Elle]

The pastor and elders of the church I attend are proposing to add a ''membership covenant'' that prospective members must commit too in addition to acknowledging their acceptance of Christ as Lord and Savior, baptism, and being in agreement with the church's articles of faith and constitution and by-laws. It hasn't been explained why it is felt necessary to add this additional commitment to membership requirements, and having been brought up in a strictly authoritarian style church, this kind of put out some red flags for me. Here's the basic summary:
"Having received Christ as my Lord and Savior and been baptized, and being in agreement with X's articles of faith and constitution and by-laws, I now feel led by the Holy Spirit to unite with the X church family. In doing so, I commit myself to God and to the other members of this church to do the following:
I. I will protect the unity of my church

[Elle]

Sorry guys - I hit submit before I was done -
I. I will protect the unity of my church
...by acting in love toward other members
...by refusing to gossip
...by following the leaders
(Rom 14:19, Rom 15:5, I Peter 1:22, Eph. 4: 29, Heb 13:17)
II. I will share the responsibility of my church
...by praying for its growth
...by inviting the unchurched to attend
...by warmly welcoming those who visit
(I Thes1:2, Luke 14:23, Luke 15:2)
III. I will serve the ministry of my church
...by discovering my gifts and talents
...by being equipped to serve by my leaders
...by developing a servant's heart
(I Peter 4:10, Eph 4: 11-12, Phil 2:4-7)
IV. I will support the testimony of my church
...by attending faithfully
...by livinig a godly life
...by giving regularly
(Heb 10:25, Phil1:27, I Cor 16:2, Lev 27:30)

This was presented as an insert in the bulletin today at church. The pastor has been preaching on each of these points for the past couple of weeks. He has been here for about 3 years, maybe 4. I have visions of members being hit over the head with this "covenant" if they don't tow the line, although that hasn't been a pattern since he's been here. Any thoughts? Thanks, Elle

[Hope 98]

Sorry guys - I hit submit before I was done -
I. I will protect the unity of my church
...by acting in love toward other members
...by refusing to gossip
...by following the leaders
(Rom 14:19, Rom 15:5, I Peter 1:22, Eph. 4: 29, Heb 13:17)
II. I will share the responsibility of my church
...by praying for its growth
...by inviting the unchurched to attend
...by warmly welcoming those who visit
(I Thes1:2, Luke 14:23, Luke 15:2)
III. I will serve the ministry of my church
...by discovering my gifts and talents
...by being equipped to serve by my leaders
...by developing a servant's heart
(I Peter 4:10, Eph 4: 11-12, Phil 2:4-7)
IV. I will support the testimony of my church
...by attending faithfully
...by livinig a godly life
...by giving regularly
(Heb 10:25, Phil1:27, I Cor 16:2, Lev 27:30)

This was presented as an insert in the bulletin today at church. The pastor has been preaching on each of these points for the past couple of weeks. He has been here for about 3 years, maybe 4. I have visions of members being hit over the head with this "covenant" if they don't tow the line, although that hasn't been a pattern since he's been here. Any thoughts? Thanks, Elle

Actually - that list is FULL of red flags with bells and whistles :eek: . In all honesty, I would run from that church as quickly as my legs would carry me.

Oddly enough - I can imagine some of the folks here telling me to run from the church I'm currently attending. In spite of some very serious differences over specific points of doctrine, I see most people living out God's love most of the time. I think I remember "The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse" in the should I stay or leave section, ask if grace had a chance. I believe it does. It may cost me a great deal, personally, but I'm prepared for that.

All that is to say that you may have insight into the church's "personality" that we don't, and you may see that grace has a chance. That "covenant" stuff though - it scares me big time.

[Jerry]

in addition to acknowledging their acceptance of Christ as Lord and Savior

Dear Elle,,,
Who do these people think they are???????I would RUN not walk to the neerest exit!!!!!They have obviously decided that Christs sacrifice isn't good enough.They are spiritually,moarly and intelectually inferior human beings.
Love Jerry

[Janice]

I definately see "red flags!"

[Florence]

So, what happens if you express a concern and it gets twisted into being rebellion against the leadership? What happens if you and another church member are both involved in a situation and need to discuss how to respond? A "leader" overhears a part of your conversation and jumps to the conclusion that you are gossiping. Are you allowed to share your concerns with one another in order to decide if it warrants taking to the leadership? What happens one day when you are preoccupied with your mother's recent illness and walk right past a visitor without giving them a "warm welcome" and someone notices? What if you were "equipped to serve" in some other place - a prior church, a seminar, college, etc., but not by the leadership of this particular church? Are you then unfit for service? Do you need to spend time being "re-equiped"? What if you are extremely naturally gifted? Will you be forced to sit under the tutelage of someone who knows less than you do before you can serve because they wear the badge of "leader"? What does "giving regularly" really mean? Can you give 5 cents each week and call that "regular" or do they want a copy of your tax records so they know how much you "owe" them each week? And, of course, the "protect the unity" clause is the most troubling. Is this a muzzle for anyone who might have a question, concern, or opinion that is different from the leadership? Does the leadership welcome dialogue that might mean that they have to defend the direction they are "leading"? Or do they prohibit such questions and only want a building full of "yes" men and women?

While you might be able to say, "This is not a problem with our current pastor(s)/leadership," what happens in a few years when the pastor leaves or grows a little more authoritarian, the leadership changes, etc.? And why do these things need to be put into a document and signed? Are they going to next start handing out quarterly report cards? "Let's see, for gossip you get a "C+." Giving a "B-" and inviting the unchurched an "F." Better start measuring up!!!

I think I would make an appointment with the senior pastor, sit down and tell him my concerns, probably get labeled as contentious, rebellious, and not a team player, and head for the exit. On the other hand, if we sit down and talk and he is able to hear my concerns and understand that there is potential for abuse to occur, I might at least stick around long enough to see whether the idea gets dropped.

Florence

[Ontheroad]

Wow.....just the word "covenant" makes me want to cringe. :eek: My former pastor used that word as a weapon to keep people in line anytime someone had a question or concern or anytime he felt the least bit like his authority was being threatened and to try to keep people from leaving the church. We were told there is NO good reason for breaking covenant. We never signed anything, but he had us verbalize it and he preached on it often enough.

In reading the wording of the covenant, I have to wonder what is the motivation behind implementing it. It seems fear-driven and control-driven. I think a good way to test the waters would be to ask this very question - what is the precipitating factor for initiating the covenant? Also, ask other questions like this, too:
What happens to a member who doesn't choose to sign the covenant: are they blackballed - either literally or figuratively? Would they be shunned, considered second-class members, or treated with suspicion or contempt?

What happens to members who are perceived to be breaking this covenant in any way in the future?

What happens when a member feels God leading them to another church? Would the be free to do so, or would they feel and be treated like they would be breaking a "binding" "contract"?

Do they really want members who walk under fear of breaking the covenant ?

If when these questions are asked, the pastor reacts in a loving, humble and sincerely gracious way, then maybe I'd consider staying. If he is the least bit defensive, angry, or brow-beating, RUN!

I think it is VERY wise of you to be cautious about this. I feel huge red flags going up on this one.

[Ontheroad]

One more thought.....Isn't a covenant reciprocal and two-way? All I read is where the members make vows to obey leadership, protect unity, give regularly of time, talent, and money, etc. etc etc. Where is the part that details the pastor's and leadership's responsibility to the members? Where is the part that has them promise to look after and treat the members in Godly ways?

This seems very one-sided and controlling. Without it being reciprocal, it just seems like a control measure and not a two-way "covenant" (shudder, shudder).

[Elle]

Thanks everybody - that's pretty much what I thought too. I'll be speaking to the senior pastor tomorrow morning. Please pray that I will have a clear understanding of what direction to take. Hugs, Elle

[Doug64]

It seems like our former church had some type of "agreement" they asked the members to "agree" to that was similar. I think the intent (expressed anyway) is that you are building unity. As was stated by several, it may be more than that.


Doug:cool: