National Alliance of Covenating Congregations within the United Church of Canada

Steps to Becoming a Covenanting Congregation

The first step has to be taken by some individual who has heard or read enough about the covenanting movement to become enthusiastic about it. That person may be the minister of a congregation, but it is usually a lay member. The minister, not being technically a member of the congregation, and being subject to the discipline of presbytery, may be reluctant to take the lead. A decision to join the covenanting movement needs to be made by the congregation as a whole, and needs strong lay support if it is to be of lasting significance. The manner of reaching the decision depends on local circumstances, but the following suggested steps may be found useful.

1. Write or call the National Alliance of Covenanting Congregations within The United Church of Canada, or one of its regional associations, to obtain such things a the printed Articles of Association, the constitution, several copies of the current information leaflet, and the NACC video "Keeping the Dream Alive"

2. If you still have questions after studying these, call back to get answers, until you are satisfied.

3. When you feel confident that you understand the nature and aims of the National Alliance, speak about it to some other of your influential friends in the congregation, to enlist their interest and support.

4. Once you feel that there is sufficient interest, send the appropriate board or committee a letter recommending that consideration be given to joining the National Alliance of Covenanting Congregations. In congregation with a consolidated board, the recommendation should go to the executive committee of the board, with enough information on which to base a useful discussion. If you are not a member of the committee to which your letter is addressed, ask for an opportunity to present and explain the proposal in person.

5. In speaking to the proposal, be sure of your ground, and if unexpected questions arise, promise to find the answers. If some members of the committee are hesitant, do not press for a decision at the first meeting, a people need time to think.

6. At some appropriate stage you should offer to obtain a speaker representing the NACC to come and answer questions.

7. When the committee has reached a positive consensus, seek a motion for the proposal to be sent forward to the Official Board for favorable consideration.

8. Be prepared to present the matter again to the Official Board, to answer questions again, and move slowly toward a resolution to present the proposal to the congregation. At this stage, the Board should decide what percentage will constitute a decisive vote. Abstentions should not be counted as votes.

9. Once such a resolution is passed at this level, be prepared to help draft an informative letter to be sent out to all members of the congregation. It is important that no member should be left in the dark about what is being proposed and why. At the same time, the chair of the Official Board or you or some other appropriate person should announce and explain, at a Sunday service, why such a letter is being sent out. The letter should provide the date and time of a special and informative congregational meeting (within a couple of weeks) at which the proposal can be explored without any vote being taken.

10. The special congregational information meeting should allow good time for discussion, so that everybody has time to have questions answered. It should be followed within a fairly short time by another special meeting, perhaps following immediately after a Sunday service, at which a vote will be taken.

11. The minister should not chair the meeting, and should not vote. This is a congregational matter. Some time should be allowed for last-minute questions and a summary clarification of the purpose of the meeting and the significance of the vote. The vote should be by secret ballot, with scrutineers, chosen beforehand, to count and announce the result. If possible, the announcement should be followed by some sort of celebration and opportunity for fellowship.

12. Word of the decision should be sent to the NACC and its nearest regional association, and the latter should be given the name of a contact person in the congregation to receive and distribute the newsletters and notices, gather news and handle other association information. Most congregations advertise their membership by noting it on their letterhead, their Sunday bulletins and/or on their signboard outside. Some have even run news about it in their local newspapers. It is important, once the congregation has become a member, to keep awareness of that fact alive among the members, among new arrivals, and among your neighbors.

This brochure is provided by the National Alliance of Covenanting Congregations within The United Church of Canada to any individual or congregation seeking to join with like-minded congregations in "Holding Firmly to The Faith" of the historic and traditional Christian faith and morals as set out in the statement of faith of The United Church of Canada. [Printed May, 1997 revised April 998].