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 Spirit, we do now, in the presence
of God, and the assembly, most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with
one another as one body in Christ.
We engage, therefore, by the aid of the Holy
Spirit to walk together in Christian love; 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; to
contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry, the
expenses of the church, the relief of the poor, and the spreading of the gospel
through all nations.
We also engage to maintain family and secret
devotions; to religiously educate our children; to seek the salvation of our
kindred and acquaintances; 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
of, and use of, destructive drugs or intoxicating drinks as a beverage; to shun
pornography; to be zealous in our efforts to advance the Kingdom of our Savior.
We further engage to watch over one another in
brotherly love; to remember one another in prayer; to aid one another 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.
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.