2. Evangelical Covenant Church
SESSION TWO
The Mission of the
Evangelical Covenant Church

3. Explore the Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC):
OBJECTIVES
Explore the Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC): 
• History
• Distinctives and theology
• Structure and resource
Explore how the ethos of the ECC finds expression in our local church

4. What do you know about your family name?
FAMILY NAME DISCUSSION
What do you know about your family name?

5. MISSION OF THE ECC
Introduction

6. A DENOMINATION
Denominations are groups of local churches who collectively work together to fulfill God’s mission in the world.

7. THE ETHOS OF THE ECC
“Mission Friends” From the beginning Covenanters have sought to build a culture of friendship in Christ, pursuing the mission of God together.

8. THE COVENANT DESCRIBES ITSELF
“ The Covenant is not a church organization in the ordinary sense, but a mission society having churches as its members. These churches have consolidated together because of the missionary spirit which led them to missionary enterprises too large for any single church to undertake” —THE COVENANT’S DESCRIPTION OF ITSELF FROM THE 1893 WORLD’S FAIR

9. …among more populations …in a more caring and just world
THE MISSION OF THE ECC
…more disciples
…among more populations
…in a more caring and just world

10. Founded in 1885 by Scandinavian immigrants
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION
Founded in 1885 by Scandinavian immigrants

11. Consists of more than 850 congregations
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION
Consists of more than 850 congregations

12. Comprised of 11 regions called conferences
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION
Comprised of 11 regions called conferences

13. • One of the fastest-growing denominations
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION
• One of the fastest-growing denominations
• Diverse—33% of our congregations are predominantly non-white or multiethnic in their makeup.

14. PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION
Has mission partnerships around the globe in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, Middle East North Africa, extending the whole gospel around the world and impacting hundreds of thousands of people.

15. Offices of the ECC are located in Chicago
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION
Offices of the ECC are located in Chicago

16. What are some of the benefits of being a part of a denomination?
REFLECTION
What are some of the benefits of being a part of a denomination?

17. MMISION OF THE ECC
Our Roots

18. The Identity Question What makes the Covenant the Covenant?
CHARACTER DESCRIPTION
The Identity Question
What makes the Covenant the Covenant? 

19. THE ENDURING COMMITMENTS
OF THE COVENANT

20. • The Protestant Reformation • Pietism • Moravian mission
HISTORICAL INFLUENCES
• The Protestant Reformation
• Pietism
• Moravian mission
• Founding rationale

21. • The Evangelical Movement • The Global and Multiethnic Kingdom of God
CONTINUING INFLUENCES OF THE
EVANGELICAL COVENANT CHURCH TODAY
• The Evangelical Movement
• The Global and Multiethnic Kingdom of God

22. We affirm • the centrality of the word of God.
MISSION OF THE ECC: OUR CORE BELIEFS
We affirm
• the centrality of the word of God. 
• the necessity of the new birth.
• a conscious dependence on the Holy Spirit. 
• a commitment to the whole mission of the church. 
• the church as a fellowship of believers. 
• the reality of freedom in Christ.

23. • How does God’s word influence your life?
THE CENTRALITY OF THE WORD OF GOD
• How have you seen this belief in the centrality of Scripture lived out in our church?
• How does God’s word influence your life?

24. • How are you going deeper in Christ in your own life?
THE NECESSITY OF NEW BIRTH AND A
CONSCIOUS DEPENDENCE ON THE HOLY SPIRIT
• How have you seen our beliefs in the necessity of new birth and our conscious dependence on the Holy Spirit lived out at our church?
• How are you going deeper in Christ in your own life?

25. • How have you seen us being missional at our church?
A COMMITMENT TO THE
WHOLE MISSION OF THE CHURCH
• How have you seen us being missional at our church?
• How do you see the church helping you to reach the lost, help the hurting, and address the causes of that hurt?

26. • How have you seen us being connectional at our church?
THE CHURCH AS A FELLOWSHIP OF BELIEVERS
• How have you seen us being connectional at our church?
• What does it mean to you to become part of a community of faith?

27. The Reality of Freedom in Christ

28. Mission of the ECC and the Ministry of Our Church

29. Serves local congregations through five mission priorities:
DENOMINATIONAL OFFICES
Serves local congregations through five mission priorities:
1. Start and Strengthen Churches
2. Make and Deepen Disciples
3. Love Mercy Do Justice
4. Develop Leaders
5. Serve Globally

30. Our Conference

31. • Emphasizes what unites us • Affirms both infant and believer baptism
DISTINCTIVES OF THE ECC
• Emphasizes what unites us
• Affirms both infant and believer baptism
• Affirms women in ministry at all levels of leadership
• Growing in ethnic diversity

32. • Congregational polity
DISTINCTIVES OF THE ECC(CON’T)
• Affirms faithfulness in heterosexual marriage and celibacy in singleness as the Christian standard for human sexuality
• Congregational polity
• Discipleship means fully embracing evangelism together with compassion, mercy, and justice

33. • We strive to obey the Great Commandment and the Great Commission.
IN THE COVENANT
• We love God.
• We love God’s word.
• We love God’s world.
• We love God’s family.
• We strive to obey the Great Commandment and the Great Commission.