A Ministers Covenant with God
I have been drafting up a covenant that we as ministers should think about doing. As we are here to pass on the Lord's knowledge and wisdom, we should place our own agendas before that of God. The following a is work in progress and is up for discussion.
Having, as we trust, been brought by Divine Grace to repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and to give up ourselves to Him, and on the profession of our faith, having been baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, we do now, in the presence of God, most solemnly and joyfully enter into a covenant with one another as one body in Christ.
We engage, therefore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit to walk together in love; to strive for the advancement of bible knowledge, holiness, and comfort; to promote its prosperity and spirituality; to sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline, and the relief of the poor, and to spread the gospel through all nations.
We will endeavour to bring up such as may at any time be under our care, in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, and by a pure and loving example to seek the salvation of our family and friends.
We will seek, by Divine aid, to live carefully in the world, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, and remembering that, as we have been voluntarily baptized, so there is on us as special obligation now to lead a new and holy life.
We will not forsake nor neglect to pray for ourselves and others. We further engage to watch over one another in brotherly love; to aid one another in sickness and distress; to cultivate sympathy in feeling and courtesy in speech; to be slow to take offence, but always ready for reconciliation and mindful of the rules of our Savior to secure it without delay.
Baptism
Baptism should be done at an age where the person being baptized will know and understand what is bring done. To baptise a child when it is a baby is wrong for the child is too young to know or understand the meaning of being baptized.
We will not require anyone to have a godfather or godmother to be baptized nor will we ask anyone to participate in any classes to be baptized. (When John the Baptist baptized people, he did not require anyone to go to classes or to attend any ritual beforehand. JB was not placing any requirements beforehand of any person who wanted to be baptized.)
Baptism is a sign that a person wants to be reborn and freed of sin. God will be the final judge of how a person who is baptized behaves and where they will end up once they pass away.
Marriage
We will not ask questions relating to why a couple wants to get married as it is a union that is between the two persons that want to be united in holy matrimony. We have no right to dictate that they must follow some rules. It is their marriage and not ours. We are not here to judge who is right for one another. We are only there to provide the service.
We will not talk about how a couple should or should not have their physical contact. That is up to the couple to decided what they do in the confines of their private lives and homes.
Special Privileges
We shall not seek to have any special privileges from any service that we provide. Nor shall we seek to have payment in return for providing our services. (Travel expenses can be provided for by donations.)
we shall not seek any special seat on any form of transportation or event. Nor shall we seek to have expensive cars, homes, special parking spaces and such greedy items. We are here to serve God and not our inward desires.
Free Services
We will not seek to obtain any free service courtesies provided by others. Just because we are ministers does not grant us the right to ask for others to provide us with free labour from others. We must pay for the work we want done to property. (We may ask for donations of labour and materials when it comes to rebuilding homes for the destitute and homeless.)
In the same token, we should not seek to have parishioners do extra tasks for us just to make work. People have lives to live and we should be careful not to take up their time and money away from them.
Community Outreach
We shall strive to go out to talk to others and not ask that they come to us. While it is meaningful to have parishioners come to a church to discuss matters, we should strive to go out into the community to see people in their environment. Then and only then, can we truly see their plight.
Do not take up the time of rich or poor people unless they have come to you for help. Seek to talk to those that seek your assistance. Those that want your attention will look for you and ask for your attention.
We will strive to work according to the schedules of others and not dictate that others follow our schedules. We should strive to schedule all activities to be coordinated with the schedules of those seeking our services.
Conclusion
Irregardless of where we are, we will unite with others where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God's Word.