Brother Kenneth Summers read the report as follows:

Covenant: an agreement entered into by two or more parties, a solemn pledge, a promise.

The church covenant is found posted in about every church which believe as we do. Sixteen churches in England and America have left recorded their covenants from 1640 to 1853, which states much the same as we have posted in our churches today. Down through the ages, the Lord’s churches have had such covenant or creeds. First for the benefit of the body coming together as one, that every member might know that they are bound together in Christ Jesus as one for one cause. It is also a confession of our faith for each other and the world. Yet many of our people today say they made no agreement. This covenant is a legally binding contract to each member that gives himself or herself to the Lord and seals the agreement by baptism.

In the days of Adam, two parties are named (God and man), a condition is laid down, a promise of reward for obedience is clearly implied, and a penalty for transgression is threatened. We do not read of the two parties as coming to an agreement, nor of Adam as accepting the terms laid down. Nor do we read of such an agreement on the part of man in the case of Noah or Abraham. God and man do not appear as equals in any of these covenants. All of God’s covenants are of the nature of sovereignty disposition imposed on man. God is absolutely sovereign in His dealing with man, and has the perfect right to lay down the condition which man must meet in order to enjoy His favor. Matthew 28:19-20 is not only the great commission, it is Christ’s covenant with His church. Psalm 50:1-6 “The mighty God, even the Lord hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof. 2 Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined. 3 Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence; a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him. 4 He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people. 5 Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice. 6 And the heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God is judge himself.”

God and His church body has entered into a covenant with each member that would come into the body of Christ (The Church). The covenant is WRITTEN AND POSTED in a simpler and condensed form that we might know what is expected of us that we might enjoy fellowship with our God and His church.

Humbly submitted,
Elder Kenneth Summers
Elder Eddie Toney
Elder Jarvis Rippy

Motion and second to adopt report. Those speaking on the subject were Brother Kenneth Summers, Brother Eddie Toney, Brother Jarvis Rippy, Brother Bob Vanderpool, Brother Phil Creecy, Brother Ron Spurgeon, and Brother Billy Moran. Question and second called to end subject. Approved.