CHAPTER THIRTEEN: Producing a Covenant

Producing a Covenant
Producing a covenant is normally the first decision made by the group. For this reason please read Appendix 8 on Consensus Decision Making. For more information on the leaders role in guiding the group through this stage look to Stage III, chapter 16 "Leadership in House Churches".

The covenanting process begins once there are two or three families which have expressed an interest in following Christ, normally as a result of a gathering meeting. We ask those who have expressed this interest to begin coming to another meeting to explore what it means to be church (Usually this meeting is on Sundays. In Muslim countries it would likely be on Fridays). Our experience shows that we need to strike while the fire is hot. Those who doubt or hesitate can come also, but eventually the reasons for their lack of commitment will be exposed and need to be repented of so that they can obey the Lord by being initiated into God's kingdom (Remember the order in Acts 2:37-41, repent, be baptized, be added). We encourage church planters not to count converts or believers, but kingdom people--those who have gone through all these three steps. Any hesitation in these three basic steps gives cause for hesitation in our assurance that they are in His kingdom. Many refuse to covenant because of past interpersonal scars which hold them in bondage. We need to exercise compassion as we gently draw them through their pain to healing. But it is only as they find their place in the body that they will find real maturity (Cf. Ephesians 4:11-16).

At the first community meeting we often introduce a reading schedule about the church (Appendices 4 or 5). Normally the meeting consists of a worship time and a teaching time. The men are asked to lead the group in worship and discussion. The format is kept simple enough for a new leader-in-training to handle. The teaching time is usually discussion format with the leader mostly asking good questions and then moderating the discussion. It should not take a lecture format whereby the church planter is the expert and the members merely feeders. The church planter may lead the discussion initially, but the men are expected to take responsibility for all aspects of the Community Meeting as soon as possible. The church planter always leads in a way that inexperienced leaders-in-training can imitate. He will prepare the new leaders as well as debrief with them for ongoing training.

Once the group knows what it means to be church, the group is asked to discern if it is God's will for them to start steps toward covenanting as a church. If two or three families agree, they begin drawing up a covenant, usually based on the "one another" verses of the Bible (See Appendix 9).

While they are working on the covenant they are usually going through the booklet Covenanting Together (Appendix 9A) both in their homes and during the teaching time of the community meetings. During the community meeting they discuss the covenant which they are writing. This takes several weeks if it is the first time the group has had this experience.

Often a group hesitates to commit themselves to a covenant. This is a big step--not unlike marriage. In the west covenants are seen as restricting personal freedoms (and they do), and we tend to view restrictions as evil. We liken the three stages of house church development to dating, engagement, and married planning for children because of this cultural barrier. Many of us hesitated to tie the marriage knot because we feared making a mistake. We learned, however, that a relationship does not stand still; it moves forward or it deteriorates. We tell this to a group that is hedging on covenanting. Relationships don't stand still. There will be some who go through the process but still hesitate before “signing on the dotted line”. This may unsettle others who are ready but want to wait until everyone is "on board". We encourage the group to "strike while the fire is hot!"

Apart from ongoing gathering (evangelism), the main activity during this second stage is writing the covenant. This gives great opportunity to expose brokenness as well as build community. THIS PROCESS IS AS IMPORTANT AS THE GOAL. Appendix 8, Consensus Decision Making, focuses on the process of decision making which leads to Unity. The church planter is encouraged to read through this and apply the principles as he goes through the steps. Keep an eye out for:


1. Strengths and weaknesses of the group uncovered by the process. How are their interpersonal skills? What problems do they have in resolving conflicts? How do they avoid conflict? Do they provoke additional conflict? The problems which are uncovered are likely to afflict the believers in their home as well as in their relationships in the world. Great shepherding opportunities arise as barriers are exposed. Don't be afraid of them! Welcome them as opportunities to prove the power of the Holy Spirit and the Word! At this stage your leaders may become evident.

2. Your own weaknesses in leading a group through the process. Facing weaknesses is necessary to grow as leaders. Leaders tend to over-control so that the outcome is assured. We find this is a poor way to avoid conflict and lacks dependence upon God. Usually there is a point during the writing the covenant where it looks like the group will dissolve. The church planter must be willing to let this happen. The group itself must "own" the covenant or it is worthless. If the church planter imposes his will on the group by assertion or manipulation, the resulting church will usually resent it and become impotent in the reproductive stage.

Appendix 10 gives a sample covenant. Notice that in accordance with the warning in Chapter 11 it avoids focusing on doctrine and focuses instead on relational expectations. The church planter can veto unwanted particulars in the covenant. But, once again, he should do so by influencing those who are taking the lead in the covenant writing. Often this involves sharing Chapter 11 of this section with them, as a paper.

Once the group has written the covenant and studied what it means to covenant, they set a date for a covenanting ceremony. This ceremony is usually the first official meeting of the community and includes a feast. Individuals sign their personal copy of the covenant. All sign another copy to be retained by a designated member. New members which covenant later will sign this as they covenant. Those unwilling to sign with the original group may continue attending. They must understand and are not able to receive all the benefits of community members (e.g. shepherding, and other types of care). Often participation in the Lord's Table is restricted to members.

Adding New Members
During the covenanting stage, new believers come to Christ as the gathering meetings continue. Each new believer must be brought through the initiation steps of Repentance, Baptism, and being Added to the covenant community. As new ones get saved, those who led them to Christ shepherd these new ones through the steps of covenanting. As mentioned above, we developed the booklet Entering the Kingdom for this purpose (Appendix 1). As members are added, they will need further discipleship. Once again the church planter should help other members do this discipling. We set up new discipleship chains for this (See Stage 3, Chapter 15).

A copy of a Covenant Signing Ceremony for new members is in Appendix 11 of this section.

Key Principles

1. The community itself should write the covenant based on the clear teachings of the responsibilities laid out for the church in the New Covenant (Testament).

2. The church planter needs to allow community dynamics to emerge during the covenant writing exercise.

3. The emerging leaders will show themselves as influencers for the group to follow Christ during this time. The church planter needs to allow this rather than try to control the outcome.

4. This will be a great time to grow in prayer and faith for all!

Questions for further discussion

1. What are some problems that can arise when working through a covenant?

2. What benefits are there to struggling through this process?

3. How can you make use of your emerging leaders in this process?