What We Believe
At Bethany Covenant, we offer freedom to one another to differ on issues of belief or practice in areas where the Bible allows for a variety of interpretations. As a Covenant church, we want to focus on what unites us rather than on what divides us.
The ECC was founded in 1885 by Scandinavian immigrants. Today it is one of the most ethnically diverse denominations in North America. The ECC is a fast-growing denomination in the United States. It has more than 850 congregations throughout the U.S. and Canada. These congregations are organized into 11 regions called conferences. The ECC has mission partnerships around the globe in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East North Africa, joining the global church in extending the whole gospel across cultures and around the world. The denominational offices are in Chicago.
- We affirm the centrality of the word of God.
- We affirm the necessity of the new birth.
- We affirm a commitment to the whole mission of the church.
- We affirm the church as a fellowship of believers.
- We affirm a conscious dependence on the Holy Spirit.
- We affirm the reality of freedom in Christ.
- Jesus' gift of the communion table, its weekly observance a celebration restoration to God individually and to one another as new family in Christ.
- Unity in the essentials of faith, and grace in the unessentials where the Bible allows for different interpretations. We encourage questions and conversations where we can grow from one another as iron sharpens iron.
- A commitment to nurture all the spiritual gifts. Every believer is gifted by God. Because no gift is restricted in scripture, as enumerated in 1 Corinthians 12, no gift shall be forbidden or limited in its expression on the basis of gender or age or ability. God uniquely supplies each community with gifts to be utilized in the building of His church. And any gift offered in obedience to God's call should be nurtured, appreciated and encouraged toward its full expression to the blessing of the church of which it is an integral part.
- Discipleship that happens best in community which we experience in weekly Sunday discussions, home groups, service to others and mentoring relationships. Through the application of spiritual practices such as prayer, generosity, Biblical knowledge, service and more, we strive to further every person's journey toward a life that increasingly reflects the love of Christ.
