Our Denominational Affiliation
While our affiliation with Christ supersedes any denominational connection, we acknowledge that there are some things that individuals do best, there are some things that small groups do best, there are some things that churches do best and there are some things that church denominations do best.
A helpful denomination does at least five things
- It provides real, external accountability for our pastors
- It provides real, external accountability for our lay leaders and congregation
- It unites us with a network of believers who share resources and ideas
- It empowers us to accomplish things together that none of us could accomplish alone
- It assists with logistics (licensing, coaching, and various legal/compliance matters)
Emmanuel was planted by the Covenant family of churches
Founded in 1885 by Swedish immigrants, the Evangelical Covenant Church is now a multi-ethnic partnership of hundreds of churches in the United States. The Covenant is also affiliated with a larger, worldwide network impacting lives in more than 30 countries on five of the world’s continents.
Covenant World Mission sends missionaries to people who haven’t yet heard the Good News of Jesus Christ. Covenant Camps and Residences welcome and care for thousands of people each year. When disaster strikes, Covenant World Relief and Development, provide both emergency aid and ongoing support.
The Northwest Conference is our regional conference and includes about 140 churches in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, North Dakota and South Dakota.
Our Founding Pastor and Charter Members were drawn to the Covenant’s emphasis on “where is it written” and “how goes your walk” along with their multi-ethnic makeup, their emphasis on mission and development, and the remarkable unity and support that we observed.
Should the Covenant lose their way and drift too far away from the Biblical-based beliefs, values, and priorities that originally drew us in, Emmanuel’s Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws outline a process to seek a new denominational home (while retraining our assets).
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