Note One:
The subheadings in this menu category are not all doctrinal beliefs of Christian Covenant Church. Many are teachings that have come as a result of our open pulpit ministry from members of CCC

Doctrine:

Christian Covenant Church seeks to promote, teach and apply true biblical Christian doctrine. While we seek to be unified with one another in doctrine we do not require members to make a confession to any central body of doctrine beyond what we consider to be the core, fundamental and essential beliefs which define Christianity. Those points of doctrine contained in the Apostle’s Creed  are beliefs we consider absolutely necessary in order to be a Christian.

Beyond confession to these non-negotiable beliefs, we insist the foundation of a local church must be relational.  That is, a church should be defined by its relationship with God and the commitment of one member to another. Church affiliation should not be based on similarity of doctrinal beliefs, but by the mutual bond of Christian love and fellowship.  This bond, we maintain, can be achieved among any body of believers who are genuine Christians and who feel the call of God to commit to one another and the common work to which they are called. 

Church offices

We follow the biblical example of accountability in church organization. While eldership must be given respect and deference, as Christians and church members we all remain accountable to one another. No one is given unquestioned authority, but when the body bares witness to God’s calling upon someone to serve in an office, whether pastor, teacher, or deacon, the leadership provided by that person must be given careful consideration and special weight.

We believe everyone in the church body is called to be a minister. Whether as pastor to be a spiritual shepherd, or as encourager, or teacher, or by practical service, etc., we all are expected to further the gospel and serve the church as God makes us able.

Open Pulpit:

We believe that sharing an inspired message to the church during worship meetings is a sacred and sobering responsibility.  Much of what is spoken from our pulpit comes from our pastor(s), but anyone may have access to our pulpit when God leads them.  Whether to teach, preach, testify, pray, read scripture, etc., our members are encouraged to participate in sharing as God leads. 

This does not foster disorder in our meetings as those who are unfamiliar with this approach may expect.  To the contrary, by observing the biblical principles of accountability and judgment, the integrity of the pulpit is maintained.  Of course it is possible that something misguided could be spoken by anyone misinterpreting the leading of God or by lacking reverence for the process. When this happens (one or two times in 18 years) the offender can expect to be corrected either publicly or privately and future requests to address the church publicly may be denied. 

This has been our approach to public worship meetings from the beginning and has yielded much good fruit.  The practice of maintaining an “open pulpit” enriches public church meetings by acknowledging God’s calling on all Christians, and by discouraging a reliance upon the church’s pastor(s) to dispense all forms of ministry at all times and in all situations.