The Evangelical Church of America
We are members of the Evangelical Covenant Church of America. The Evangelical Covenant
Church is a rapidly growing multi-ethnic denomination in the United States and Canada with
ministries on five continents of the world. Founded in 1885 by Swedish immigrants, the
Evangelical Covenant Church values the Bible as the Word of God, the gift of God’s grace
and ever deepening spiritual life that comes through faith in Jesus Christ, the importance of
extending God’s love and compassion to a hurting world and the strength that comes from
unity within diversity. Click here for more information about church history and affirmations.
The Evangelical Covenant Church of America has always been more of a life movement than
a doctrinal movement. It takes its place among the non-confessional churches of the
Protestant Reformation. Affirmations like the following are not to be taken as creedal
statements. They are rather to be understood as true and valid descriptions of what our
church believes and cherishes as we continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of God.
Our creed is the Bible itself and therefore, all the following affirmations are subject to the
authority of the Word of God alone. We do value the historic confessions of the Christian
Church, particularly the Apostles’ Creed, but at the same time emphasize the sovereignty of
the Word over all creedal interpretations.
We are also an "evangelical" church which emerged during the spiritual awakenings in
Europe and America during the nineteenth century. Evangelicals have been characterized
by a number of significant emphases: (1) a strong insistence on biblical authority; (2) the
absolute necessity of the new birth; (3) Christ's mandate to evangelize the world; (4) the
continuing need for education and training in the Christian context; and (5) the inescapable
responsibility for the advancement of social justice. The text that was expounded at the
birth of the Covenant in 1885 sums up our relationship with other churches and
movements; "I am a companion of all who fear Thee." (Psalm 119:63.
Deerbrook Covenant Church
WE BELIEVE That the Bible is the inspired and authoritative Word of God and the only
perfect rule for faith, doctrine and conduct. We believe that scripture, in its entirety,
originated with God, and that it was given through the instrumentality of chosen men. .
Scripture thus at one and the same time speaks with the authority of God and reflects the
backgrounds, styles and vocabularies of the human authors. We hold that the Bible,
composed of the sixtysix books of the Old and New Testament, is unique and that there are
no other writings similarly inspired by God. (Matthew 5:18; 1 Corinthians 2:13; 2 Timothy 3:
16; 2 Peter 1:20-21 and Hebrews 4:12)
WE BELIEVE In one God, eternally existing in three persons; Father, Son and Holy Spirit -
each of whom possess equally all the attributes of deity and the characteristics of
personality. (Genesis 1:1; Matthew 28:19; John 1:1,3; 4:24; Acts 5:3-4; Romans 1:20;
Ephesians 4:5-6; and 2 Corinthians 13:14)
WE BELIEVE That Jesus Christ was born of the Holy Spirit, and born of the Virgin Mary, and
is fully God and fully man. (Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38; Romans 9:5; and Titus 2:13)
WE BELIEVE That God created human beings in His image to have fellowship with Him. We,
however, sinned and thereby incurred not only physical death but also spiritual death which
is separation from God. All human beings are born with an innate bent toward sin, and
become guilty sinners in thought, word and deed. (Genesis 1:26-27; 3:1-24; Romans 3:25;
5:12-18; and 1 John 1:8)
WE BELIEVE That God loves people so much that he took the initiative to reconcile people
to himself by sending His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus voluntarily paid for our sins according to
the scriptures by dying on the cross as a representative and substitutionary sacrifice; he
rose victorious from the grave on the third day; and all who believe in Him are justified on
the ground of His shed blood. He is the only mediator between people and God. (Isaiah 53;
Matthew 20:28; 28:6;Â John 3:16; Romans 3:24-26; 5:1; 10:9; 1 Corinthians 15:3,14; 2
Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 1:7; 1 John 2:2; and Hebrews 7:25)
WE BELIEVE In the necessity of the new birth for entrance into God's Kingdom. All who
come by grace through faith to accept the Lord Jesus Christ are born again of the Holy Spirit
and thereby become children of God. The salvation of humankind is wholly a work of God's
free grace and not the result of human works or goodness and must be personally
appropriated by individual repentance and faith. (John 1:12-13; 3:3,5; James 1:18; 1 Peter
1:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; and Galatians 2:16)
WE BELIEVE In the ministry and power of the Holy Spirit to work in and through individuals
to bring conviction, repentance and conversion and then to sustain God's people as they
live and share this life of faith. (John 3:5-8; 16:8-11,13; Romans 8:16; 1 Corinthians 12:
11,13; Ephesians 4:3; Acts 2; 2 Corinthians 6:16; Galatians 5:16-25; and 1 Peter 1:10-12)
The Holy Spirit supplies all the enabling gifts for the Church and the individual in the Church
to exalt Christ in his body (Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 12; and Ephesians 4:1-16
WE BELIEVE In the importance of continuing growth in the grace and knowledge of Jesus
Christ for sound spiritual health. (Psalm 92:12,14; John 8:31-32; 2 Corinthians 3:18;
Ephesians 4:14-15; Philippians 1:6; and Hebrews 5:11-6:3)
WE BELIEVE In the observance of Baptism and the Lord's Supper as sacraments of the
church, expressly commanded by our Lord. They are visible signs of the invisible grace of
Jesus Christ. Since the Covenant Church is open to all believers, it recognizes both infant
and adult baptism as valid forms of that sacrament and includes the practice of both in its
ministry. (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 10:14-15; Acts 2:28-41,47; 8:36-40; 10:47; 18:8;
Romans 6:3-4; 1 Corinthians 12:13; and Titus 3:5-6) Those who partake of the Lord's
Supper should be professed believers, walking in fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
(Acts 2:42-46; and 1 Corinthians 11:23-29)
WE BELIEVE There is one church universal, comprised of all those who acknowledge Jesus
Christ as personal Savior and Lord from the days of the apostles until now. The local church
is a fellowship of believers characterized by mutual participation in and sharing of the new
life in Christ. We seek to devote ourselves to worship, prayer, teaching of the Word,
observance of baptism, and the Lord's Supper, fellowship, service to the body through the
development and use of talents and gifts and outreach to the world. All Christians are
commanded to participate in spreading the Gospel to all people groups. (Matthew 28:19-
20; Genesis 12:3-5; Romans 12:4-8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-6; Ephesians 2:19-22; 4:15-16)
Church membership is by confession of personal faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. It
is open to all believers. Considerations of class or race, education, or pedigree, wealth or
prestige do not enter. Uniformity in creedal details is not expected. what is required is that
one be "born anew to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."
(1 Peter 1:3). "The doors of the church are wide enough to admit all who believe and
narrow enough to. exclude those who do not, "said our forebears. We affirm no less today.
WE BELIEVE That God is the Creator of all life. (Genesis 1:27) Human life is a precious gift
from God, sacred and to be protected from the moment of conception. (Psalm 139:13-16;
51:5; Jeremiah 1:5; Isaiah 44:2,24; Luke 1:41; 2:12) We also believe the Church is called
to promote the stewardship of life and be actively compassionate in sharing the forgiveness
and healing offered in Jesus Christ. (1 John 1:9; Psalm 103:12; Matthew 5:7) (A more
detailed statement no "Abortion" is available.)
WE BELIEVE In the equal partnership of men and women in God's creation and in the full
participation of each in the various ministries of the Church. (Genesis 1:26-28; 2:23-24; 5:
1,2; Joel 2:28-32; Galatians 3:28; Romans 16:1-16) (A more detailed statement on "Women
in Ministry" is available.)
WE BELIEVE That other religions and ideologies" are not alternative paths to God, and that
human spirituality, if unredeemed by Christ, leads not to God but to judgment, for Christ is
the only way. (John 14:6)
WE BELIEVE That our hope is in the personal and imminent return of our Lord Jesus Christ
where Christians will be raised bodily to life, to live and reign with Him forever. The unjust
will suffer eternal separation from God. (John 5:28-29; 1 Corinthians 15; 2 Corinthians 5:
10; Matthew 25:31-46; Revelation 20:4-6; 11-15; Acts 1:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:16,17)
WE BELIEVE In the reality of freedom in Christ. This freedom creates a climate which allows
for differences of opinion in matters of interpretation, doctrine and practice within the
context of biblical guidelines and historical Christianity. (John; 8:31-32,36; Romans 14;
Galatians 5:1,13; 1 Peter 2:16; James 1:25)
We are members of the Evangelical Covenant Church of America. The Evangelical Covenant
Church is a rapidly growing multi-ethnic denomination in the United States and Canada with
ministries on five continents of the world. Founded in 1885 by Swedish immigrants, the
Evangelical Covenant Church values the Bible as the Word of God, the gift of God’s grace
and ever deepening spiritual life that comes through faith in Jesus Christ, the importance of
extending God’s love and compassion to a hurting world and the strength that comes from
unity within diversity. Click here for more information about church history and affirmations.
The Evangelical Covenant Church of America has always been more of a life movement than
a doctrinal movement. It takes its place among the non-confessional churches of the
Protestant Reformation. Affirmations like the following are not to be taken as creedal
statements. They are rather to be understood as true and valid descriptions of what our
church believes and cherishes as we continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of God.
Our creed is the Bible itself and therefore, all the following affirmations are subject to the
authority of the Word of God alone. We do value the historic confessions of the Christian
Church, particularly the Apostles’ Creed, but at the same time emphasize the sovereignty of
the Word over all creedal interpretations.
We are also an "evangelical" church which emerged during the spiritual awakenings in
Europe and America during the nineteenth century. Evangelicals have been characterized
by a number of significant emphases: (1) a strong insistence on biblical authority; (2) the
absolute necessity of the new birth; (3) Christ's mandate to evangelize the world; (4) the
continuing need for education and training in the Christian context; and (5) the inescapable
responsibility for the advancement of social justice. The text that was expounded at the
birth of the Covenant in 1885 sums up our relationship with other churches and
movements; "I am a companion of all who fear Thee." (Psalm 119:63.
Deerbrook Covenant Church
WE BELIEVE That the Bible is the inspired and authoritative Word of God and the only
perfect rule for faith, doctrine and conduct. We believe that scripture, in its entirety,
originated with God, and that it was given through the instrumentality of chosen men. .
Scripture thus at one and the same time speaks with the authority of God and reflects the
backgrounds, styles and vocabularies of the human authors. We hold that the Bible,
composed of the sixtysix books of the Old and New Testament, is unique and that there are
no other writings similarly inspired by God. (Matthew 5:18; 1 Corinthians 2:13; 2 Timothy 3:
16; 2 Peter 1:20-21 and Hebrews 4:12)
WE BELIEVE In one God, eternally existing in three persons; Father, Son and Holy Spirit -
each of whom possess equally all the attributes of deity and the characteristics of
personality. (Genesis 1:1; Matthew 28:19; John 1:1,3; 4:24; Acts 5:3-4; Romans 1:20;
Ephesians 4:5-6; and 2 Corinthians 13:14)
WE BELIEVE That Jesus Christ was born of the Holy Spirit, and born of the Virgin Mary, and
is fully God and fully man. (Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38; Romans 9:5; and Titus 2:13)
WE BELIEVE That God created human beings in His image to have fellowship with Him. We,
however, sinned and thereby incurred not only physical death but also spiritual death which
is separation from God. All human beings are born with an innate bent toward sin, and
become guilty sinners in thought, word and deed. (Genesis 1:26-27; 3:1-24; Romans 3:25;
5:12-18; and 1 John 1:8)
WE BELIEVE That God loves people so much that he took the initiative to reconcile people
to himself by sending His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus voluntarily paid for our sins according to
the scriptures by dying on the cross as a representative and substitutionary sacrifice; he
rose victorious from the grave on the third day; and all who believe in Him are justified on
the ground of His shed blood. He is the only mediator between people and God. (Isaiah 53;
Matthew 20:28; 28:6;Â John 3:16; Romans 3:24-26; 5:1; 10:9; 1 Corinthians 15:3,14; 2
Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 1:7; 1 John 2:2; and Hebrews 7:25)
WE BELIEVE In the necessity of the new birth for entrance into God's Kingdom. All who
come by grace through faith to accept the Lord Jesus Christ are born again of the Holy Spirit
and thereby become children of God. The salvation of humankind is wholly a work of God's
free grace and not the result of human works or goodness and must be personally
appropriated by individual repentance and faith. (John 1:12-13; 3:3,5; James 1:18; 1 Peter
1:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; and Galatians 2:16)
WE BELIEVE In the ministry and power of the Holy Spirit to work in and through individuals
to bring conviction, repentance and conversion and then to sustain God's people as they
live and share this life of faith. (John 3:5-8; 16:8-11,13; Romans 8:16; 1 Corinthians 12:
11,13; Ephesians 4:3; Acts 2; 2 Corinthians 6:16; Galatians 5:16-25; and 1 Peter 1:10-12)
The Holy Spirit supplies all the enabling gifts for the Church and the individual in the Church
to exalt Christ in his body (Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 12; and Ephesians 4:1-16
WE BELIEVE In the importance of continuing growth in the grace and knowledge of Jesus
Christ for sound spiritual health. (Psalm 92:12,14; John 8:31-32; 2 Corinthians 3:18;
Ephesians 4:14-15; Philippians 1:6; and Hebrews 5:11-6:3)
WE BELIEVE In the observance of Baptism and the Lord's Supper as sacraments of the
church, expressly commanded by our Lord. They are visible signs of the invisible grace of
Jesus Christ. Since the Covenant Church is open to all believers, it recognizes both infant
and adult baptism as valid forms of that sacrament and includes the practice of both in its
ministry. (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 10:14-15; Acts 2:28-41,47; 8:36-40; 10:47; 18:8;
Romans 6:3-4; 1 Corinthians 12:13; and Titus 3:5-6) Those who partake of the Lord's
Supper should be professed believers, walking in fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
(Acts 2:42-46; and 1 Corinthians 11:23-29)
WE BELIEVE There is one church universal, comprised of all those who acknowledge Jesus
Christ as personal Savior and Lord from the days of the apostles until now. The local church
is a fellowship of believers characterized by mutual participation in and sharing of the new
life in Christ. We seek to devote ourselves to worship, prayer, teaching of the Word,
observance of baptism, and the Lord's Supper, fellowship, service to the body through the
development and use of talents and gifts and outreach to the world. All Christians are
commanded to participate in spreading the Gospel to all people groups. (Matthew 28:19-
20; Genesis 12:3-5; Romans 12:4-8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-6; Ephesians 2:19-22; 4:15-16)
Church membership is by confession of personal faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. It
is open to all believers. Considerations of class or race, education, or pedigree, wealth or
prestige do not enter. Uniformity in creedal details is not expected. what is required is that
one be "born anew to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."
(1 Peter 1:3). "The doors of the church are wide enough to admit all who believe and
narrow enough to. exclude those who do not, "said our forebears. We affirm no less today.
WE BELIEVE That God is the Creator of all life. (Genesis 1:27) Human life is a precious gift
from God, sacred and to be protected from the moment of conception. (Psalm 139:13-16;
51:5; Jeremiah 1:5; Isaiah 44:2,24; Luke 1:41; 2:12) We also believe the Church is called
to promote the stewardship of life and be actively compassionate in sharing the forgiveness
and healing offered in Jesus Christ. (1 John 1:9; Psalm 103:12; Matthew 5:7) (A more
detailed statement no "Abortion" is available.)
WE BELIEVE In the equal partnership of men and women in God's creation and in the full
participation of each in the various ministries of the Church. (Genesis 1:26-28; 2:23-24; 5:
1,2; Joel 2:28-32; Galatians 3:28; Romans 16:1-16) (A more detailed statement on "Women
in Ministry" is available.)
WE BELIEVE That other religions and ideologies" are not alternative paths to God, and that
human spirituality, if unredeemed by Christ, leads not to God but to judgment, for Christ is
the only way. (John 14:6)
WE BELIEVE That our hope is in the personal and imminent return of our Lord Jesus Christ
where Christians will be raised bodily to life, to live and reign with Him forever. The unjust
will suffer eternal separation from God. (John 5:28-29; 1 Corinthians 15; 2 Corinthians 5:
10; Matthew 25:31-46; Revelation 20:4-6; 11-15; Acts 1:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:16,17)
WE BELIEVE In the reality of freedom in Christ. This freedom creates a climate which allows
for differences of opinion in matters of interpretation, doctrine and practice within the
context of biblical guidelines and historical Christianity. (John; 8:31-32,36; Romans 14;
Galatians 5:1,13; 1 Peter 2:16; James 1:25)
Our Beliefs
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| Hearts on Fire...Hands at Work Connected to Grow and Serve |