Evangelical Covenant Church

Q: Is the Evangelical Covenant Church Biblical?

Not gathered on divine ground. It describes itself as a communion of congregations, gathered by God and united in Christ. Its one article of confession is that Scripture is the Word of God and the only perfect rule. This verdict concerns the ground of gathering, not the salvation of any individual. Whoever truly believes on the Lord Jesus Christ is a member of the one body, wherever they gather; ‘[The] Lord knows those that are his’ (2 Timothy 2:19).

Pietist and Free Church · 1885 · United States and Canada

Established at Chicago on February 20, 1885, by Swedish immigrants known as Mission Friends, from a revival within the Church of Sweden. They first tried their own Lutheran synods in America, then organized apart.

Evangelical Covenant Church was formed in 1885. Evangelical Covenant Church continues today. Evangelical Covenant Church's institutional line runs back through Lutheran, Roman Catholicism to the post-apostolic church. No body on this tree is the assembly of Acts 2; where a body claims that, the claim appears in the claimed-lineage layer.

Between the post-apostolic church and Evangelical Covenant Church stand 3 divisions along the institutional line, counting separations and disputed forks, not mergers, renewals or national organizations.

At a glance

Formed: In 1885
Family: Pietist and Free Church
Region: United States and Canada
Cause tags: Governance
Also known as: Covenant Church; Mission Friends

What it teaches

The Covenant holds Scripture as the only perfect rule, and affirms the Apostles' and Nicene Creeds with the Word above any interpretation. From Pietism it stresses new birth and personal faith. It practices both infant and believer baptism, as a matter of freedom in Christ, and holds Communion as a sacrament. Men and women are set apart for ministry.

Scripture. The only perfect rule, with the Word above every creedal interpretation. (The Constitution and Bylaws for the Evangelical Covenant Church and The Rules for the Ordered Ministry, updated for the 140th Annual Meeting, June 2025, Preamble)
God. One God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (Covenant Affirmations, Covenant Publications, 2005, reprinted 2015, p. 16)
Salvation. New birth and new life in Christ, by grace alone through faith alone. (The Constitution and Bylaws for the Evangelical Covenant Church and The Rules for the Ordered Ministry, updated for the 140th Annual Meeting, June 2025, Preamble; Covenant Affirmations, Covenant Publications, 2005, reprinted 2015, p. 5)
Baptism. A sacrament and means of grace, not saving grace. Both infant and believer baptism are practiced. (The Constitution and Bylaws for the Evangelical Covenant Church and The Rules for the Ordered Ministry, updated for the 140th Annual Meeting, June 2025, Preamble; "Baptism in the Evangelical Covenant Church", covchurch.org, p. 1)
Lord's Supper. A sacrament commanded by the Lord, a visible sign of invisible grace. (Covenant Affirmations, Covenant Publications, 2005, reprinted 2015, p. 15)
Church government. Each congregation governs its own affairs, and commits to the shared decisions of conference and denomination. (Covenant Affirmations, Covenant Publications, 2005, reprinted 2015, p. 15)
Ministry. All members are called, and God sets apart certain men and women, with no superior status. (Covenant Affirmations, Covenant Publications, 2005, reprinted 2015, pp. 15–16)

Is the Evangelical Covenant Church Biblical?

Not gathered on divine ground.

February 20, 1885. Swedish immigrants known as Mission Friends established it at Chicago. The movement began in Sweden, inside a foundation that was part of the Church of Sweden. In America they tried their own Lutheran synods and then organized apart.

It describes itself as a communion of congregations, gathered by God and united in Christ. Its one article of confession is that Scripture is the Word of God and the only perfect rule. Congregations join if they accord with its Preamble, keep their constitutions in essential agreement with it, and answer to an Annual Meeting as its highest authority. It allows both infant and believer baptism for the sake of freedom in Christ. Still, it has made a communion of its own by constitution and Annual Meeting, beside the one body and not as that body (1 Corinthians 12:13).

“All local assemblies which are not gathered on the recognition of the whole body of Christ can only be sectarian.”
H. L. Rossier, What is a Meeting of the Assembly?, pt. 2

Sources: Evangelical Covenant Church History, covchurch.org resource page; The Constitution and Bylaws for the Evangelical Covenant Church and The Rules for the Ordered Ministry, updated for the 140th Annual Meeting, June 2025, Preamble; §§ 2.1, 4.2, 4.3, 7.1.

This verdict concerns the ground of gathering, not the salvation of any individual. Whoever truly believes on the Lord Jesus Christ is a member of the one body, wherever they gather; ‘[The] Lord knows those that are his’ (2 Timothy 2:19).

Meeting comparison

Row	A typical Covenant Sunday	The assembly meeting in Scripture
Gathered to	Those who believe, with people at every stage of belief welcome in church life.Covenant Affirmations, Covenant Publications, 2005, reprinted 2015, pp. 14–15	The Lord's name alone, on the ground of the one bodyMatthew 18:20; Ephesians 4:3–4; Rossier pt. 2
Who presides	Conducting worship is among pastoral duties.The Constitution and Bylaws for the Evangelical Covenant Church and The Rules for the Ordered Ministry, updated for the 140th Annual Meeting, June 2025, Rules § 9.1.b	The Lord Jesus, personally in the midst. No man presides.Matthew 18:20; Psalm 22:22; Rossier pt. 3; Kingscote pp. 10–11
Lord's Supper	A sacrament within the ministry of the word. Frequency isn't stated.Covenant Affirmations, Covenant Publications, 2005, reprinted 2015, p. 15	Every first day of the week. It is the main object of the gathering.Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 10:16–17, 11:18–26; Rossier pt. 4; Miller p. 95
Who administers the Supper	Those ordained to word and sacrament, and licensed ministers in pastoral settings.The Constitution and Bylaws for the Evangelical Covenant Church and The Rules for the Ordered Ministry, updated for the 140th Annual Meeting, June 2025, Rules §§ 3.1, 9.2, 9.4	No one. "The very idea of a person standing apart and claiming to administer it as a right alters and ruins the Supper."Kelly, in Huebner pp. 40–41
Who takes part audibly	Every believer takes part in worship and service, as a priesthood of believers.Covenant Affirmations, Covenant Publications, 2005, reprinted 2015, p. 14; The Constitution and Bylaws for the Evangelical Covenant Church and The Rules for the Ordered Ministry, updated for the 140th Annual Meeting, June 2025, Rules, Preamble	Brothers, as the Spirit leads, one by one. Two or three speak and the others judge.1 Corinthians 14:26–33; Rossier pt. 6; Kingscote pp. 12–13
Women	It has affirmed the ordination of women since 1976, and women serve at all levels.Called and Gifted, Commission on Biblical Gender Equality, Evangelical Covenant Church, p. 3; 2006 Women in Ministry, resolution adopted by the 121st Covenant Annual Meeting, covchurch.org	Silent in the assembly1 Corinthians 14:34–35; Kingscote p. 13
Order of service	Not documented	None arranged beforehand. Liberty of the Spirit, with dependence on the Lord.1 Corinthians 14:26, 33; Dennett Letter 6
Ministry	Ordained and licensed ministers, commissioned staff and consecrated global personnel.The Constitution and Bylaws for the Evangelical Covenant Church and The Rules for the Ordered Ministry, updated for the 140th Annual Meeting, June 2025, § 13.1	By gift, exercised in responsibility to the Lord. Not by election to an office.Romans 12:6–8; 1 Peter 4:10–11; Ephesians 4:11–12; Dennett Letters 4–5, 7
How ministers are appointed	A paper, a home-church recommendation, regional examination and two years of service, then vows and laying on of hands at the Annual Meeting.The Constitution and Bylaws for the Evangelical Covenant Church and The Rules for the Ordered Ministry, updated for the 140th Annual Meeting, June 2025, Rules §§ 3.3–3.5	Gifts are given by the risen Lord. Elders were appointed only by apostles or their delegates, and there are none today.Acts 14:23; Titus 1:5; Dennett Letters 4–5; Ruin pt. 2
Kinds of assembly meeting	Public worship, the sacraments, prayer and Bible study, and a yearly Annual Meeting.Covenant Affirmations, Covenant Publications, 2005, reprinted 2015, p. 11; The Constitution and Bylaws for the Evangelical Covenant Church and The Rules for the Ordered Ministry, updated for the 140th Annual Meeting, June 2025, § 7.2	Worship (the breaking of bread), prayer, and the open meeting for edificationRossier pts. 3–6
Who may break bread	No explicit rule was found. It describes the church as open to all believers, and a discipling guide says a believer forgiven through Christ may take part.Covenant Affirmations, Covenant Publications, 2005, reprinted 2015, p. 15; New Life in Christ: A Disciple-Forming Resource, covchurch.org, p. 14	Every believer not under scriptural discipline for walk or doctrineDennett Letters 6, 8; 1 Corinthians 5

Gathered to

A typical Covenant Sunday

Those who believe, with people at every stage of belief welcome in church life.Covenant Affirmations, Covenant Publications, 2005, reprinted 2015, pp. 14–15