What is the Evangelical Covenant Church?

The Evangelical Covenant Church teaches "Covenant Freedom" and allows diversity on views in some areas that many evangelicals do not. Let's discuss what they believe.

Chapters:
00:00 Pietist Background & Freedom
04:42 Theological Commitments
07:00 Sacraments
09:13 Scripture
11:16 Creation & Evolution
11:26 Salvation & Conversion
13:49 Penal Substitutionary Atonement
15:30 Arminian/Calvinist View
15:41 Entire Sanctification
15:57 Charismatic Theology / Spirit Baptism
18:51 Eschatology
21:16 Marriage & Gender
26:11 Divorce & Remarriage
26:58 Life Issues
27:49 Worship Style
28:05 Substance Abuse and Alcohol
28:22 Tithing
28:35 Doctrine of Discovery
29:44 Love Mercy Do Justice Social Programs
30:16 Church Polity & Government
31:31 Church Offices & Leadership
32:13 Women in Ministry
33:44 Statistics and Affiliations

[RobertRife]

An ordained Covenant minister, I'm grateful for such a succinct and warm-hearted synopsis of my tradition!

[deannajunkin]

I was involved in an ECC congregation in my mid-20's. I later went back to the LCMS and have remained LCMS to this day. Some things about this denomination were attractive to me at the time. Some things about it make me cringe now, nearly 20 years later. However, I will always have fond memories of that congregation. I have never met such kind people. I formed close relationships and felt supported by the pastor and the laity of that church. They were all amazing people.

[ThriftStoreBibles]

Thanks, it's great to see a video about the ECC and it touched on several things I learned when looking into it (and a few I missed!)

[heatherm]

Thank you for this! Just started attending a Covenant church and this video answered almost every question I had:)

[EarlSoC]

My old denomination before entering the Catholic church. No one knows it exists, and I still have a lot of fondness for it. Thank you for showing it some historical love.

I also heard "where is it written" all the time in that denomination, and I had no idea that it was specific to us. I still use it as a Catholic now.

[studogable]

Such an exhaustive overview! Congratulations on your rigor, mate.

[edeancozzens]

I grew up in a Covenant Church in Colorado that was started in 1923 by my Swedish ancestors and their friends and relatives. It was a very loving, grace-filled, and joyful experience for all of which I am very grateful. It gave me a very healthy view of God and Jesus. Loved it.

[rootsmoravian]

Thank you for making this video on the ECC. We're a relatively small denomination, but as a former president once said, we "punch above our weight class." The ECC is disproportionately influential in areas like church planting and racial righteousness.

[gaiusmarius]

Thank you for your patience, thorough research, and intellect! Could you please consider making the next video about Moravians and their approach to apostolic succession?

[dawnmichelle]

This has been a very interesting video on a denomination I didn't realize was related to the EFCA. Thank you for all your hard work! 💜

[professorfaber]

I spoke too soon. Good to see a video on the ECC, and a very thorough one at that!

[RepublicofE]

So it sounds like Pietism was basically Methodism for Lutherans.

[rosehammer]

Thank you for this video. I learned something new about a group I didn’t know existed. Have been reading a book called Creeds confessions and catechisms. Covers Anglican, Lutherans, presbyterian and Baptist. Reading the Belgic confession now and your video was perfect timing. I mention you and Ready to Harvest in my comments on other sites. You really give a clear understanding of the difference among the churches without being judgmental, critical or attacking.

[jefftitterington]

This sounds like sound thinking and worth investigating. Thank you!

[yourneighborkevin]

This is a really interesting group. It’s like they have a set of values guiding how they approach faith rather than a doctrine. It’s also wild that one of the most quoted documents in this video is a guide for camp counselors.

[dougmcconnell]

I was raised in the Covenant denomination and was the pastor of a Covenant church for ten years. As much as they tout "Where is it written?" it is just slogan. When I was questioned by denominational leaders who were fielding complaints against me for teaching that God was sovereign in his electing grace, I showed them "where it is written" in Romans 9 Ephesians 1 and elsewhere. One of my interrogators said "You seem to be quoting the Apostle Paul a lot." (Implying what? That Paul's writings were not on par with the words of Jesus.) I responded by saying "Jesus taught this doctrine as well. Would you like me to show you where?" I knew I had him in a corner. If he said "Yes show me where Jesus taught this doctrine." I would have turned to John 6 or Matthew 11:25-29 to show that our Lord did indeed teach the sovereign grace of God in election in which case it would have been clear that I was faithfully teaching the Scriptures. On the other hand, if he answered "No, don't show me." it would have been clear to everyone in the room, that they had no intention of submitting themselves to the word of God whether it came from the Apostle Paul or even Jesus the very Son of God. What actually occurred was that there was an awkward silence by the man who asked me the question until the district superintendent interjected by saying. "I think you are missing the point here." and then changed the direction of their inquiry. I hadn't missed the point at all. For these Covenant leaders, they had their own ideas and they had no intention of submitting to the authority of the word of God. Later I had my preaching license pulled for not being "theologically broad enough."

[kobe.talamantez]

Speaking of Pietists, you should do a video on the Association of Free Lutheran Congregations (AFLC)

[jchristus]

Can you please make videos about different missions organizations?

[creswell]

This guy is a walking encyclopedia of Christianity. I can trust what he says.

[emsdiy]

THERE IS POWER IN COMMUNION OR I WOULDN'T BE SAVED TODAY !