Evangelical -- but not exclusive.  The heart of the gospel is grace.  We believe grace is the only way to salvation; the Christian life is an experience of grace and the church is a community of grace. 

Rather than focus on a list of "Do and Don't," we welcome any baptized Christian into full membership on the profession of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. 

Biblical -- but not doctrinaire.  We believe decisions about faith, doctrine and conduct must be in accordance with Scripture.  We give prominence to what is clearly taught in the Bible, what has been commonly taught in the church since Pentecost, and what was reaffirmed in the Reformation. 

We also have the freedom to consider how  to interpret different passages of Scripture, and to discuss areas of disagreement.  We believe both clergy and congregation should be "Bible people," keeping informed about the message and content of Scripture in each generation. 

Congregational -- but not independent.  The Covenant has established a strong central identity without sacrificing the freedom of the local church. 

From its beginning, the Covenant has focused on a mission - proclaiming the good news about Jesus Christ - rather than on a system of government or a doctrinal position. 

Traditional -- but not rigid.  We do not seek change for its own sake.  But we don't give emotional or constitutional authority to church traditions. 

Our unity does not lie in having identical church traditions, but rather in having the same Lord, the same faith, the same baptism, the same God and Father of us all. (Ephesians 4:4-6)