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In our Episcopal tradition, the Baptismal Covenant is more than just a formal liturgy or a historical script. It is our "Owner’s Manual" for our Christian life. It moves us from a private, internal faith to a public, communal practice. The Baptismal Covenant can be found in our Book of Common Prayer, pages 304-305.
While the first half of the covenant focuses on what we believe (The Apostles' Creed), the second half focuses on how we behave. You could call it the "So what?" of our faith.
1. The Covenant begins with a strong foundation - The Apostles’ Creed
We begin by reaffirming our belief in the Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This isn't just an intellectual exercise; it’s an acknowledgement of the story we are stepping into. By saying "I believe," we align our personal narrative with the cosmic narrative of God’s creation, redemption, and sanctification.
2. After affirming the Creed, we make Five Vows: It's our active response.
We state what we believe in the Creed and then we are asked five questions that begin with "Will you...?" and we respond, "I will, with God’s help." That second part is crucial—we acknowledge that we cannot do this by our own strength.
Question 1: Will you continue in the apostle's teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers? This first vow assures that we stay connected with the community, we celebrate the Eucharist, and we pray for the needs of others. Faith is a community effort.
Question 2: Will you persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord? This vow causes us to own our mistakes. When we fall (not if), we must repent and return to the Lord.
Question 3: Will you proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ? Evangelism isn't just talking, it's living a life that makes people ask why we hope.
Question 4: Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself? We vow that we will seek the image of God in everyone, not just those who are easy to love.
Question 5: Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being? This is the "boots on the ground" of our faith, respecting the dignity of every human being.
3. Notice The Shift: From "Me" to "We"
The Covenant reminds us that baptism is our "ordination" as laypeople. In the Episcopal Church, we believe the ministry of the laity is just as vital as that of the clergy, perhaps even more so.
When we promise to "seek and serve Christ in all persons," we are looking past the political labels, the socioeconomic status, and the personal grudges. We are looking for the face of Jesus in our neighbor—and in our enemy; especially in our enemy.
4. The Challenge Of Respecting Dignity
The final vow is perhaps the most difficult: "Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?" This isn't a suggestion; it’s a covenantal requirement. It means that our faith must have hands and feet and voice. It means standing up for the marginalized and checking our own biases. It means that at the end of the day, love is not a feeling, but a decision to act for the well-being of another.
5. "With God’s Help"
We might look at these five vows and feel overwhelmed. How can we possibly respect the dignity of everyone? How can we constantly resist evil?
The beauty of the Covenant is in the response: "I will, with God's help." Grace isn't just the thing that gets us into the water; it's the power that keeps us swimming. We are a people of the promise, held together by the one who made the ultimate promise to us. Thanks be to God!
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