Q: Understanding the Covenant Church

Sanctuary is a part of The Covenant Church , a diverse and growing multiethnic denomination deeply rooted in Scripture and centered on the transforming love of Jesus Christ. The Covenant began over 135 years ago as a movement of immigrants who valued freedom in Christ, life in community, and a deep commitment to mission. They called themselves “Mission Friends,” and they focused less on the doctrinal arguments of the day and more on personal faith in Christ, with Scripture as the center of their life together. Today, The Covenant includes more than 850 congregations throughout the U.S. and Canada, mission partnerships around the globe in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East, making it a global church committed to extending the whole gospel of Jesus across cultures and around the world. As a Covenant Church, we major on the essentials of the Christian faith while making room for honest questions, cultural differences, and varied expressions of worship. We’re united not by uniformity, but by shared faith in Jesus, a high view of Scripture, and a desire to pursue justice, compassion, and reconciliation in our cities and neighborhoods. For more information about The Covenant Church, go to www.covchurch.org .

Question 1

Our Vision

Accepted Answer

The Sanctuary is an urban, multiethnic, multiplying movement, reconciling people to God and one another.

Urban means that we are culturally connected to city life in all of its complexity, diversity, and energy. Yet those who do not live in the city are welcome to be part of our vibrant community.

Multiplying means that we want to help fulfill the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) by making disciples of all different kinds of people.

Reconciling means that we are committed to breaking down barriers that were built up due to race, class, culture, gender and other factors, and to building meaningful relationships through our differences.

Because of the unique challenges and potential in North Minneapolis, we base our ministry and outreach efforts here, giving this community priority when we consider our use of resources.

Question 2

Our Purpose

Accepted Answer

To grow as a multiethnic, multigenerational community of Christ-followers, demonstrating God’s love from North Minneapolis, throughout the city, to the whole world.

Question 3

Our Mission

Accepted Answer

To make and develop followers of Jesus Christ who:

Continually study and practice God’s word (we are biblical)
Worship God with our whole lives (we are devotional)
Cultivate loving relationships across race, economic status, gender or any potential barrier (we are connectional)
Help to spread the Good News of Jesus in word and also deeds of compassion, mercy, and justice (we are missional)

The terms “biblical,” “devotional,” connectional,” and “missional” are shared by the entire family of The Covenant Church, the denomination to which we belong.

Question 4

What does it mean to be Black Led & Black Centered?

Accepted Answer

Since our beginning, we have been an intentionally multiethnic church, committed to making disciples of people of different ethnic backgrounds. Even so, as a central strategy of being a church in, of and for North Minneapolis, we’ve lived into this commitment: “we will work to ensure that, in every season, there is an intentional and proactive commitment to an agenda for the Christ-centered, holistic empowerment of the African-American community.” Practically, that means that Sanctuary will root itself in the rich history, traditions, and values of the Black Church as a means of blessing North Minneapolis. In order to do so, we believe that there is particular wisdom in being led by an African-American Lead Pastor who is well versed in the history, traditions, and practices of the Black Church and the broader global, Black Christian traditions. This leader and those with whom they share ministry responsibility must be committed to the ongoing work of learning to lead from this perspective while maintaining a firm commitment to the multiethnic, multicultural identity of our church and the broader Kingdom of God. This Lead Pastor will help ensure that our values and “ways of being” are informed by the Black Christian experience and ripple outward to intentionally include the diverse perspectives and stories of other ethnic and cultural groups, as well.

Question 5

Understanding the Covenant Church

Accepted Answer

Sanctuary is a part of The Covenant Church, a diverse and growing multiethnic denomination deeply rooted in Scripture and centered on the transforming love of Jesus Christ. The Covenant began over 135 years ago as a movement of immigrants who valued freedom in Christ, life in community, and a deep commitment to mission. They called themselves “Mission Friends,” and they focused less on the doctrinal arguments of the day and more on personal faith in Christ, with Scripture as the center of their life together. Today, The Covenant includes more than 850 congregations throughout the U.S. and Canada, mission partnerships around the globe in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East, making it a global church committed to extending the whole gospel of Jesus across cultures and around the world.

As a Covenant Church, we major on the essentials of the Christian faith while making room for honest questions, cultural differences, and varied expressions of worship. We’re united not by uniformity, but by shared faith in Jesus, a high view of Scripture, and a desire to pursue justice, compassion, and reconciliation in our cities and neighborhoods.

For more information about The Covenant Church, go to www.covchurch.org.

As a Covenant Church, we major on the essentials of the Christian faith while making room for honest questions, cultural differences, and varied expressions of worship. We’re united not by uniformity, but by shared faith in Jesus, a high view of Scripture, and a desire to pursue justice, compassion, and reconciliation in our cities and neighborhoods.