COVENANT OF PURPOSE AND DIRECTION for THE CHURCH OF THE SERVANT

December 20, 1972

Within the framework of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we the people of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the Servant, attempting to provide a meaningful religious experience for all individuals, an open church, and a means for facing all issues that arise in our life, do set forth this covenant. In order to arrive at a better parish self-understanding, a focus of direction, a coordination of efforts, and a fuller understanding of what Jesus Christ has called us to be, we set forth the following purposes which are vital and relevant to us at this point in our history.

Those purposes are:

• To share the Good News of Jesus Christ by calling people to live and inviting them to grow through experiencing Him in each other.
• To integrate the Christian styles of living and beliefs with our relationships and experiences, being sensitive to the needs of our time.
• To provide an atmosphere of warmth, fellowship and love in which each individual and his contribution are needed.
• To be a strongly person-oriented church in our life, program, ministry and outreach, in the belief that institutions, traditions, innovations, symbols, rituals and structures are only important in that they build people and keep the Faith alive.
• To subscribe to the concept that a faith without works is not viable and alive, and thus be constantly challenged as Doers as well as Believers of the Word. We will strive to implement actively these listed purposes in our lives and the program of this Church.
• To encourage and expect participation by all members of this church, at the level of their capacity, and to advocate and practice the concept of shared and rotating leadership and responsibility in all phases of church life.
• To confront, deal with, and seek to eliminate prejudice in race, ethnic background, age, sex and all of the other forms.
• To provide forms of worship which grow out of our life together, and that meet the individual needs of our members. The development of that worship will be sensitive to the need for involvement and participation of all.
• To provide a meaningful Christian Education program using any techniques that are effective. And that while operating within a Christian framework, we will be tolerant of all philosophies in hope that such an atmosphere will be conducive to better learning and living.
• To create and implement a financial program that will allow and encourage people to commit themselves to this area of church life at whatever level they can, and to have that commitment appreciated and respected.
• To call and contract as Rector a person who will continually challenge us, and who will be actively committed to the purpose, goals and direction of this church.
• To examine this church’s direction, purposes and goals not only when the need arises, but routinely and to provide a structure for such a re-examination.