Having been led, as we believe, by the Spirit of God, to repent, believe, and receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, having been baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit as his bondservants, we do now, in the presence of God, angels, and this assembly, most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another as one body in Christ.1
We will work and pray for the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, by the aid of the Holy Spirit, walking and bearing with one another in Christian love.2
We will seek the salvation of our kindred, acquaintances, and strangers who have not repented unto saving faith in Christ by praying for the spiritual awakening of the lost and by faithfully witnessing of the gospel both locally and to the remotest parts of the earth.3
We will strive for the edification of this Church in knowledge, wisdom, and holiness; to promote its fruitfulness, godliness, and reverence; to sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline, and doctrines; and to submit to its authority in accordance with the Scriptures and thus submit to and honor its elders.4
We will contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry of the Word, the expenses of the Church, the relief of the poor, and the spread of the Gospel throughout the world.5
We will not forsake the assembling of ourselves together, nor neglect to pray for ourselves and others, but will seek to minister with our God-given gifts and participate in exercising the authority of the Church in accordance with our roles.6
We will maintain family and private devotions, train our children in the Christian faith, and seek to demonstrate the love of Christ in all our household relationships.7
We will strive to watch over one another in brotherly love, remember one another in prayer, comfort one another in sickness and distress, walk circumspectly in the world, and be just in our dealings and faithful in our engagements.8
We will seek to abstain from immorality, lewdness, drunkenness, gluttony, revelries, envy, and other worldly pursuits contrary to the fruit of the Spirit or that jeopardize our own or another’s faith.9
We will cultivate Christian compassion and brotherly kindness, and strive to avoid all slander, talebearing, bitterness, unrighteous anger, clamor, and evil speaking; to be slow to take offense; to think the best of one another; and to always be ready for biblical reconciliation and mindful of the rules of our Savior to secure it without delay so far as it depends upon us.10
We will submit to biblically defined and regulated church discipline and we accept that refusing to communicate or to flee is to usurp the power of the Church and break this Covenant.11
We will, when we move from this place, if possible, unite with a church which upholds the Essential Doctrines for Salvation defined in the Church Constitution and where we can carry out the spirit of this Covenant.12
Footnotes
1. Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 9:23; John 1:12-13, 11:26; Acts 2:38; Romans 8:1; 1 Timothy 5:21; Hebrews 11:6, 12:22-24; 1 Peter 2:6
2. John 13:34; Romans 14:15; 1 Corinthians 13:1-13; Ephesians 4:1-6, 5:1-2
3. Genesis 12:3; Matthew 28:19; Luke 24:44-48; Acts 1:3-8
4. Proverbs 4:7; Romans 8:6, 13:1; 1 Corinthians 11:1; 2 Corinthians 12:11-13; Ephesians 4:11-12; Colossians 1:10; 1 Thessalonians 4:7-12, 18; 1 Timothy 4:7, 5:17; Hebrews 10:24-25, 12:28, 13:17; 3 John 2
5. Job 34:19; Mark 10:21; Luke 4:18; 1 Corinthians 9:1-27
6. Acts 2:42-47; Hebrews 10:25; James 5:16
7. Deuteronomy 6:1-9; Psalm 78; Jeremiah 10:25; Ephesians 6:1-4; Colossians 3:16; Hebrews 3:13
8. Micah 6:8; Matthew 18:15-20; John 13:33-34; Romans 12:15; Ephesians 5:1-21, 6:18; Philippians 1:9-11; Colossians 1:9-10; 1 Thessalonians 5:11; James 2:15-16; 1 John 4:7-8
9. Deuteronomy 21:20; Psalm 1:1-6, 101:1-2; Proverbs 23:21; Romans 13:13; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 5:3-12; Colossians 3:1-17; 1 Peter 4:3
10. Leviticus 19:16; Psalm 19:14, 34:13-14; Proverbs 26:20-26; Ecclesiastes 10:11; Matthew 5:21-26; Romans 1:30; Ephesians 4:29, 31; 2 Corinthians 12:20; Titus 3:1-2, 10; James 4:11; 1 Peter 3:8-12
11. Matthew 18:15-20, 28:19; Luke 17:4; 1 Corinthians 5:1-13; 11:27-32; 2 Corinthians 2:1-11; 1 Timothy 1:20; Hebrews 12:11; 1 John 2:19
12. Hebrews 10:25