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lbeck
Registered Member

Date Joined Aug 2004
Total Posts : 11

Posted 8/24/2004 6:18 AM (GMT -6)

Okay, I'll admit up front that I've got an agenda here. My church is asking those of us taking leadership positions to sign a "covenant" as a prerequisite to holding leadership positions. This is something new. Sheets to sign were distributed without much fanfare during a recent leadership conference put on by church staff. There are a dozen or so points that, by signing, we acknowledge our belief and concurrence. About half of these items are things that I believe to be essential to our faith, like belief that Christ died for our sins, rose from the grave, etc. However there are some items which I believe are open to interpretation and "non-essential." I didn't sign the covenant and have not been approached by anyone about it.

Well, I guess that I'm going to need to get into some specifics here. The church in question is a large Southern Baptist church. As many of you probably know, the issue of women in leadership roles has come into question at the Southern Baptist Convention. I don't want to debate that issue here, but that is one of the items in the "covenant." It's also an issue that is open to some interpretation (e.g., which positions are leadership?). There are other non-essential items on the list.

The issue that I do want to raise is whether signing something like the "covenant" is tantamount to taking an "oath," in Mt. 5:33-37 (Sermon on the mount). Here Jesus says not to make an oath (NIV).

I'm not normally a confrontational person, but I'm considering making this an issue on a personal basis in the following way. I am an ordained deacon and have served several terms in our church. A requirement that we have is that deacons have to rotate off after 3 consecutive years and, if nominated after the "fallow" year, go through an interview just like new deacons. I'm planning (if nominated) on revealing that I didn't sign the covenant and consequently believe that I am ineligible for the office of deacon.

My problem with the covenant is that I interpret it as an oath. Is this correct? My underlying concern is that I’m seeing a drift towards legalism in our church. I’m willing to debate any issue on its merits, but balk at the idea of having to sign a covenant containing non-essential generalities that I’m not sure that I agree with en-toto.

I’d like to limit responses to the “is it an oath, and is it okay” question, rather than responses that present alternatives to signing the covenant, perceptions of my “hidden agenda,” etc.

I’m enjoying this forum and have come to respect the theological perspectives that I read here. Your help is appreciated.

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Lee

Sahid
Megistered Rember

Date Joined Jun 2004
Total Posts : 2013

Posted 8/24/2004 9:19 AM (GMT -6)

I take the command not to take oaths differently. If you are referring to the Sermon on the Mount, I think the issue is about swearing by something rather than just letting your words speak for themselves. For this reason I don't have a problem with signing a document listing some of my beliefs. However, I do think that churches which require their leadership to hold to certain core beliefs should keep the focus on Christ crucified. Everything else is peripheral. If a group wants to limit the beliefs that it's leadership is allowed to hold, that's their perogative, but if that group is identifying itself in Christ.... well then the only requirement should be to know "Jesus Christ and Him crucified".

So, if you believe everything on it, I'd say it's ok to sign the covenant. I'd also say it's ok to abstain on the grounds that the congregation does not have the authority to require any belief from it's leadship except Christ crucifed. But if you don't hold all the listed beliefs, it's a no-brainer, you shouldn't sign it.

Watch me fly. Freedom like wings and I will use them. Freedom like wings and I will spread them wide. - Stavesacre

lbeck
Registered Member

Date Joined Aug 2004
Total Posts : 11

Posted 8/24/2004 10:39 AM (GMT -6)

quote:
But if you don't hold all the listed beliefs, it's a no-brainer, you shouldn't sign it.

Thanks, Zach

I guess on examination of my problems with the covenant, it really centers on my lack of comfort on all of the stipulations. On further reflection of my own feelings, I'm thinking that the oath thing may be a cop-out. I just don't like someone holding my feet to the fire on things that may be important to them but not to me.

I'm still struggling with this. I think one of my problems is that I'm a strong proponent of the "priesthood of the believer" concept (as a Baptist-to-Baptist I don't need to explain). I believe that my conclusions on the non-essentials should be determined between me and God, hopefully with divine guidance of the Holy Spirit. I don't like the "my way or the highway" approach.

Well, maybe I'm going a little overboard, but I guess I'm still too much of a rebel to not resent someone telling me how to believe on the non-essentials.

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Lee

Sahid
Megistered Rember

Date Joined Jun 2004
Total Posts : 2013

Posted 8/24/2004 11:16 AM (GMT -6)

I feel you. The non-essentials seem to be what makes someone a Southern Baptist any more. What happened to soul competency and the priesthood of the believer?

Watch me fly. Freedom like wings and I will use them. Freedom like wings and I will spread them wide. - Stavesacre

rossfadeinout
Registered Member

Date Joined Oct 2002
Total Posts : 428

Posted 8/25/2004 6:46 AM (GMT -6)

quote:
The non-essentials seem to be what makes someone a Southern Baptist any more. What happened to soul competency and the priesthood of the believer?

Answer -- Al Mohler Wink

"Let us remember how common the folly is of going from one faulty extreme into the opposite." -Thomas Reid

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