A question echoes through time. Are you living in Jesus? This sentiment encapsulates the spirit of the Evangelical Covenant Church.
The Evangelical Covenant Church has deep roots. It was established in Chicago in 1885. Swedish immigrants founded it. They arrived in America around the end of the Civil War in the mid-1860s. These immigrants were known as Mission Friends. Religious and folk renewal movements in Sweden nurtured them.
Mission Friends started organizing congregations. This happened in Iowa at Swede Bend. It also happened in Illinois at Galesburg, Princeton, and Chicago in 1868. Mission Friend activity began in Minnesota around 1866. By 1870, congregations formed in Swift and Kandiyohi counties. Soon, congregations appeared in the Twin Cities. They also appeared in surrounding counties, the eastern Dakotas, and western Wisconsin. These areas formed the Northwestern Missionary Association in October 1884. It is now the Covenant’s Northwest Conference.
During the 19th century, Mission Friends formed congregations. They created these within regional conferences. These conferences spanned New England, New York, and the Great Lakes states. They also included the Midwest and the West Coast.
But who were these Mission Friends or Covenanters? What led them to form new congregations and a denomination? The movement began in Sweden. It initially grew among followers of Carl Olof Rosenius. He was within the Evangelical National Foundation. Later, it grew among followers of Paul Peter Waldenström. They gathered in intimate religious meetings called conventicles.
These meetings evolved into local, regional, and provincial mission societies. Ordained pastors and licensed lay preachers led these societies. People warmly expressed their piety and convictions. They did this through spiritual songs, a passion for mission, and a commitment to personal experiences.
The Covenant Church in Sweden formed in 1878. The American denomination followed in 1885. Swedish Mission Friends and American Covenanters created a vibrant transatlantic movement. Immigration, the histories of Sweden and the United States, and the vitality of its leaders enriched it.
The Evangelical Covenant Church gathers believers. They share a mutual experience of new life in Christ. While without a formal confession, the church rests its identity on key affirmations. It affirms the Bible as the only authority in matters of faith. It also affirms the necessity of the new birth. The church is seen as a fellowship of believers. There is commitment to the whole mission of the church. A conscious dependence on the Holy Spirit is crucial. Finally, the reality of freedom in Christ is affirmed.
A young pastor named F. M. Johnson chose a powerful text for his 1885 sermon. It expresses the central commitment. “I am a companion of all who fear thee and of those who keep thy precepts.”
The Evangelical Covenant Church traces its roots to Pietism. This was a renewal movement in Sweden. The church continues to recognize core Pietist principles as central to its identity. Pietism emphasizes conversion, discipleship, and the shared calling of laity and clergy. It also emphasizes evangelism, mission, and institutional ministries of compassion.
Early Covenanters saw the Christian life as a lifelong pilgrim journey. It begins with baptism and continues through conversion. Covenant songs beautifully express this theme of pilgrimage.
So, as we stand before the Evangelical Covenant Church remember its history. Remember its commitment to faith, community, and mission. It is a beacon of hope. It welcomes all on their pilgrim journey.