Our Roots
Our Dream
Our Covenant
At the center of Mennonite teachings are the basic Christian beliefs, among them the belief that the Scriptures are our guide to faith and life; that Jesus calls us to live in harmony with everyone; and that Jesus calls us to serve humanity lovingly and sacrificially. Historically this has meant a refusal to use violence and to participate in military service, as well as a substantial ministry of relief and development through the Mennonite Central Committee. Since the Committee's founding in 1920, thousands of people, most of them volunteers, have served under its auspices in many countries around the world. The Committee engages in agricultural and technical development programs, as well as programs of material aid, disaster service, and projects dealing with immigration, peace, social and native concerns.
Though European in origin, close to one-half of the total Mennonite family is to be found, currently, in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
At the heart of the "Guiding Principles" is our Congregational Covenant:
Believing that God's love and forgiveness extends to all who
will receive it, and that Jesus calls us to repentance and
faith in him as Saviour and Lord,
We covenant to confess our sin, to strive to live in
holiness, and to share our faith.
Believing that the new life in Christ brings us into a new
relationship with God and humanity,
We covenant to pray for grace to love, to make peace,
and to forgive.
Believing that Jesus calls us to follow him and to be a part
of his living body, the Church,
We covenant to follow Jesus Christ in common faith and
to be in fellowship with all believers everywhere.
Believing that to gain spiritual maturity we must will to do
what the Scriptures teach concerning the will of God,
We covenant to discern the will of God, to live by it
in the strength of God's Spirit, to read the
Scriptures, to listen to the Spirit and each other, to
exhort and correct each other in love and prayer, and
to undertake for each other's needs.
Believing that God has given gifts to each one of us, and
that our gifts are to be used to build up the body of Christ
and to equip us for the service of God,
We covenant to build our congregation by accepting
tasks according to our respective gifts, and by
assisting each other.
Believing that God is worthy of our adoration and praise,
We covenant to meet in regular worship, and to be in
prayer and worship in our private lives.
Believing that God's will is revealed to us, that this
revelation has been recorded by people throughout the ages,
and that this revelation is for our inspiration,
understanding, guidance and correction,
We covenant to study the Scriptures, the history of the
Christian Church, and to discern in contemporary life
and events the revelation of God.
Believing that all the things that we have belong to God,
that we are stewards of them, that the Scriptures warn
against selfishness, greed, and materialism, and instruct us
to use our time, talents, and money to support and build up
the Church and to serve Christ,
We covenant to give generously of our resources, so
that it is of sacrifice to ourselves, an expression of
devotion to God, and a sharing with those in need.
Believing that we are called to make manifest God's love and
mercy through both proclamation and demonstration, to make
known through our words and deeds the good news of
forgiveness and restoration,
We covenant to participate in the mission of the
Church, and to share through acts of evangelism and
service the good news of God's love, mercy and will for
all humanity to live peaceably and justly. May our
covenant be acceptable to God, and may we fulfill it in
the service of God. May God grant us the grace to do
so.
You may wish to check out the Mennonite Confession of faith.
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