Pastor: by what common experience do we enter into spiritual fellowship and covenant relations with one another?
Congregation: Having been led, as we believe, by the Spirit of God to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior; and on the profession of our faith, having been baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, 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.
Pastor: What is the bond of our union with one another?
Congregation: We engage therefore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit, to walk together in Christian love.
Pastor: What are our privileges and duties of this Church?
Congregation: To strive for the advancement of this church in knowledge, holiness, and comfort; to promote its prosperity and spirituality; to sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline, and doctrines.
Pastor: What vows do we gladly make as stewards of what God entrusts to us?
Congregation: To contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry, the expense of the church, the relief of the poor, and the spread of the gospel through all nations.
Pastor: What gracious task do we humbly assume?
Congregation: We also engage to maintain family and secret devotion; to religiously educate our children; to seek the salvation of our kindred and acquaintances.
Pastor: To what manner of life and conversation are we solemnly pledged?
Congregation: To walk circumspectly in the world; to be just in our dealings, faithful in our engagements, and exemplary in our deportment; to avoid all tattling, backbiting, and excessive anger; to abstain from the sale and use of intoxicating drink as a beverage; and to be zealous in our efforts to advance the kingdom of our Savior.
Pastor: Since one is our Master, even Christ and all we are brethren, by what fraternal ministries are we to strengthen each other and adorn the teachings of our Lord and Savior?
Congregation: We further engage to watch over one another in brotherly love; to remember each other in prayer; to aid each other in sickness and distress; to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and Christian courtesy in speech; to be slow to take offense, but always ready for reconciliation, and mindful of the rules of our Savior, to secure it without delay.
Pastor: What is our agreement when we move from this community?
Congregation: We moreover engage that, when we remove from this place, we will as soon as possible, unite with some other church, where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God’s word.
Pastor: What benediction concludes our covenant?
Congregation: And now unto Him who brought again from the dead, our Lord Jesus Christ, be Power and Glory forever.
Amen
