THE COVENANT, COMMUNITY OF GRACE
Lincoln, Nebraska
August 16, 1981
(Ephesians 4 & 5)
WHO IS THE COMMUNITY OF GRACE?
The Church is not humanly formed or numbered, but is born of the Spirit as a community. The only leader of the Church here and in every place is Christ Jesus by the Eternal Spirit. We say together who we are--a part of Christ’s people, especially so, as lesbians, gays and others identified with us.
We see that the Bible says, "how good and how pleasant it is for us to dwell together in unity" (Psalm 133:1). We agree to join ourselves together by this promise through the gift of Christ, to love one another as Christ has loved us.
Through this promise, we who did not belong to anyone and have felt alone, now find a home--a spiritual home--in which to live and grow to become like Christ.
WHY DO WE COME INTO THIS PROMISE?
We come into this promise to one another in order to find encouragement and help, to give it, and to take our place in caring for one another as Christ has shown us.
Being a part of Christ and one another, we come to share, enjoy and support one another with the freedom to love God, others and ourselves.
We also come to show others that we are one person. We may not always agree in thought or teaching. But we can agree in the wonderful fact that through one Spirit we are brought together. Our of our promise to one another and with the help of Christ's Spirit, we agree to speak the truth in love and to seek to grow together in order to become like Christ our example.
WHAT DOES THIS PROMISE MEAN WE DO?
By everyone working together with the individual gifts given to each one by Christ's Spirit, we shall seek to uphold, strengthen and support each other through loving thoughts and deeds.
We shall own and accept both our needs as a community and the needs of all others. God has brought us into mutual harmony. We are a loved and forgiven people even before we were created male and female. Now we accept the ministry given to us, that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into the same harmony.
Through us Christ now invites others to lay hold of divine favor. God does not count our trespasses, nor hold them against us. They have all been forgiven. So all may come into harmony with God and others.
Individually in Christ we accept the call to fulfill the Scripture:
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
Because God anointed me to preach the
Gospel to the poor.
God has sent me to proclaim release
to the captives,
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set free those who are downtrodden,
To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord."
(Luke 4:18-19)
To fulfill this calling we shall seek good, not evil, that we may live more abundant lives. Thus justice shall be established and "shall run down like waters, and righteousness as a mighty and everflowing stream." (Amos 5:14, 24)
In the spirit of justice and righteousness we will respect what belongs to another. We shall do good with our own gifts and share with anyone in need.
We intend that our words be wholesome and positive so that according to the need of the moment, they may give grace to those who hear.
We shall by God's grace, recognize, encourage and celebrate the Holy Spirit in one another. It is by that Holy Spirit we are kept safe for the day or our full perfection.
We shall be forgiving, as Christ has forgiven us, kind, tenderhearted toward each other so that no bitterness, wrath, anger, or slander may be among us.
As copying God and more mature Christians, we promise to walk in love as Christ loved us. We give up our lives for each other.
As God's dear children, together we shall seek to be moral and pure, without greed, as saints should be. We shall be careful to watch our words and conversations so they may be fitting to the giving of thanks.
SUMMARY
We shall, the Community of Grace, as one person, seek to be the Christ of God both in, to and for each other and the world.
We give ourselves to be a reasonable, holy and lively offering, acceptable to God as our spiritual service. (Romans 12:1) By this may all know that we are Christ's disciples as we show our love for one another. (John 13:35)