KANSAS CITY, MO (June 26, 2015) — Twenty churches from six conferences were removed from denominational membership this morning during the 130th Annual Meeting of the Evangelical Covenant Church.
Central Conference
Cross Fellowship, Inc., Chicago, Illinois. The church joined the Covenant in 2013 and had 20 members when it closed.
St. Luke Covenant Church, Morton Grove, Illinois. The church joined the Covenant in 2013 and had 55 members when it withdrew.
Great Lakes Conference
Connexions Church, Dexter, Michigan. The church joined the Covenant in 2009 and had less than 30 members when it closed.
Fellowship Covenant Church, Hudsonville, Michigan. The church joined the Covenant in 1988 and had less than 30 members when it closed.
Life Church: an Evangelical Covenant Church, Grandville, Michigan. The church joined the Covenant in 2009 and had less than 50 members when it closed.
Morningstar Church, Middleville, Michigan. The church joined the Covenant in 2011 and had less than 40 members when it closed.
Renovate Covenant Church, Muskegon, Michigan. The church joined the Covenant in 2009 and had 20 members when it closed.
Midwest Conference
Ecclesia Denver, Denver, Colorado. The church joined the Covenant in 2010 and had 17 members when it closed.
First Covenant Church, Sioux City, Iowa. The church joined the Covenant in 1873 and had 53 members when it closed.
Heartland Covenant Church, Springfield, Missouri. The church joined the Covenant in 1995 and had 83 members when it closed.
Northwest Conference
Cloverland Covenant Church, Maple, Wisconsin. The church joined the Covenant in 1920 and had 27 members when it withdrew.
Evangelical Covenant Church, Deer River, Minnesota. The church joined the Covenant in 1936 and had 6 members when it closed.
Maplewood Covenant Church, Maplewood, Minnesota. The church joined the Covenant in 1946 and had 35 members when it closed.
Pacific Southwest Conference
Alum Rock Covenant Church, San Jose, California. The church joined the Covenant in 1956 and had 5 members when it closed.
Bayside Church of Lincoln, Lincoln, California. The church joined the Covenant in 2008 and had 0 members when it closed.
Bayside Covenant Church of Plumas Lake, Plumas Lake, California. The church joined the Covenant in 2010 and had 0 members when it withdrew.
Bayside Covenant Church of Woodland, Inc., Woodland, California. The church joined the Covenant in 2007 and had 0 members when it withdrew.
Church of Philadelphia Covenant, San Jose, California. The church joined the Covenant in 1999 and had 13 members when it closed.
The Church at Long Beach, Long Beach, California. The church joined the Covenant in 2000.
Southeast Conference
Lighthouse Covenant Church, Tamarac, Florida. The church joined the Covenant in 1962 and had 13 members when it closed.
It concerns me when I see so many new churches close. I wonder if they were ready to join when they joined in the last 10 years. I know each church has its own story. I don’t know the story of any of these churches. Could more have been done to support these churches in their “infancy?” It makes me sad when any church closes although I do know that sometimes it is a good thing. It does concern me when a church joins the Covenant and then close their doors two years later.
Thie is indeed sad news for the congregations, the members who held it together during a difficult time and for the Covenant Church. I pray that the members of these closed churches will find new church homes and continue in service to our Lord.