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Church to Church Covenant adoption to be proposed at convention

By Rob Blackaby
Canadian Southern Baptist Seminary President
Several years ago, when I was honoured to serve as the president of the National Leadership Board of our Canadian Convention of Southern Baptists, I initiated a discussion that ultimately resulted in the initial draft of a church covenant, introduced at our annual meeting in Cochrane in 2005.

As we prepare to meet in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island this July, I am pleased to observe the fruition of our earlier work. There is something powerful and motivational about a family of churches bound together in meaningful covenant; where we pledge fidelity, credibility, reliability, accountability, and permanence to both our Lord and each other.

The final draft of this church covenant resonates with the burden that gripped our board from the beginning. I believe that should the covenant be adopted by our churches this summer, it will be a significant symbol of our commitment to take responsibility for each other. It will be an indicator of our determination to be authentic, and remain connected to each other.

It will be an important reflection of the fact that we value the local church as the primary vehicle through which God is bringing redemption to His world, and that each church is critical in the economy of God.
In a world that is spiritually and morally adrift, it will act as a timely commitment to remain steadfast and immovable in our theological moorings and our sacred heritage. It will bolster our resolve to move forward together.