Reading the Church Covenant with Grown-Woman Eyes

Having been led, as we believe, by the Spirit of God, to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, and on the profession of our faith, having been baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, we do now in the presence of God, angels and this assembly, most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another as one body in Christ.

We engage, therefore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit, to walk together in Christian love; to strive for the advancement of this church in knowledge, holiness, and comfort; to promote its prosperity and spirituality; to sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline and doctrines; to contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry, the expense of the church, the relief of the poor and the spread of the gospel through all nations.

We also engage to maintain family and secret devotions; to religiously educate our children; to seek the salvation of our kindred and acquaintances; to walk circumspectly in the world; to be just in our dealings, faithful in our engagements and exemplary in our deportment; to avoid all tattling, backbiting and excessive anger; to abstain from the sale and use of intoxicating drink as a beverage; and to be zealous in our efforts to advance the kingdom of our Savior.

We further engage to watch over one another in brotherly love; to remember each other in prayer; to aid each other in sickness and distress; to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and courtesy in speech; to be slow to take offense, but always ready for reconciliation, and mindful of the rules of our Savior to secure it without delay.

We moreover engage that when we remove from this place, we will, as soon as possible, unite with some other church, where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God's Word.

If you grew up in church, especially a Black church; then you already know Communion Sunday hits a little different. The white gloves come out, the deacons are crisp, the atmosphere shifts, and somewhere in the mix… we all stand up and recite the Church Covenant like we’re renewing vows we didn’t fully understand at age 12.

But now, as an adult Christian actually trying to live this thing out, the covenant looks a little different. It hits a little deeper. And it even raises a few questions. Because let’s be real, some parts don’t exactly fit our modern context.

Like the part about avoiding “intoxicating beverages.”

Let me just say this respectfully… I am a grown, bill-paying, responsible 29-year-old woman who will sip a margarita in peace.

Don’t all gasp at once. Shocker... I know. But does that make me less committed to God? Less serious about my walk? Less devoted to kingdom living? Absolutely not.

The deeper message of the covenant isn’t “don’t drink.” It’s: Live with discipline. Live with purpose. Live in a way that honors God and strengthens community. And that will always be relevant.

When we stand on Communion Sunday and say: “Having been led, as we believe, by the Spirit of God…” We’re essentially saying, “I’m here because God wanted me here. I’m part of this community on purpose.” That’s not just an old script... that’s identity.

As the covenant goes on, it talks about walking in love, being there for each other, supporting the ministry, raising our kids in faith, being kind, staying out of drama (Lord, help), and contributing to the work God is doing in the world.

Those values? Still everything. Still necessary. Still the blueprint for Christian life in 2025.

But there’s one part that really stands out as an adult... especially as someone who has experienced spiritual transitions, church shifts, and the whole “figuring out where I belong” journey.

Now the last paragraph… the one we don’t talk about enough...

“We moreover engage that when we remove from this place, we will as soon as possible unite with some other church where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant…”

This part right here? This is the permission slip most people don’t realize is built right into the covenant.

It says two powerful things:

1. Life changes, and sometimes that means changing churches.

2. Wherever you go, take God with you and stay connected to the community.

This ties exactly into my blog post “It’s OK to Leave Your Childhood Church.” Because so many of us grew up thinking that leaving the church we were raised in was betrayal. Disloyalty. Disrespect. A sign that something was “wrong” with us or our faith.

But the covenant basically says: “When you move on, move into a new community where you can keep growing.”

It’s not abandonment.

It’s not rebellion.

It’s a transition.

And transition can be holy.

Sometimes your childhood church was your foundation, but not your forever home. Sometimes God pulls you into a new season, a new ministry, a new city, a new calling, and it’s not only okay… It’s biblical.

You weren’t meant to stay stuck. You were meant to stay connected.

So what does this covenant look like for our generation: those of us who love Jesus, but also enjoy brunch, therapy, rest, boundaries, and not pretending?

It looks like:

• Loving people well

• Serving with intention

• Showing up for community

• Being spiritually accountable

• Growing in character

• Keeping your heart soft

• Managing your life wisely (including your drinks, amen?)

• Staying connected to a church where you can thrive

• And giving God your “yes” at every stage of your life

The words may be old, but the lifestyle they point to is timeless. You can recite the covenant on Sunday. You can sip a glass of wine on Friday. And you can still be devoted, committed, and deeply rooted in your faith. Because covenant is about the posture of your heart... not the performative image of your life.