Covenant Christian Coalition

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The Covenant Christian Coalition (CCC) is an international organization that advocates on behalf of evangelical Christian churches.[1] It was founded in Dallas, Texas in 2015 from where original members hail, but it also has an office in New York used for coordinating international efforts.[2][3] The CCC currently recognizes some 454 Christian denominations, 2,179,414 local churches, and approximately 718 million individuals.[4]

The CCC assists unaffiliated Christians find local congregations in which to place membership, funds orphanages throughout the developing world, and supports Christian schools and water well projects in South America, Africa, and other countries. The organization also lobbies for evangelical causes and values internationally. It has been reported that the CCC "is seeking to position itself as a conservative alternative umbrella group for evangelicals globally."[5]

History

The Covenant Christian Coalition was founded in 2015 over concerns about the theological and political positions of such organizations as the World Council of Churches and the World Evangelical Alliance—especially concerns about those organizations' changing positions on historic evangelical doctrines.[6][7] The CCC describes itself as "An international, Evangelical, post-denominational coalition of churches still faithful to Christ and the Gospel."[8]

From a theological and doctrinal perspective, the CCC emphasizes historical Protestantism, especially the Five Solas, the Gospel, the Invisible Church, and Conservative Christianity.

Numerous churches are associated with the CCC including Faros Christian Fellowship in the Canary Islands, pastored by Gerhard Zierl.[9] The church is a member of Vinelife UK.[10] Other member churches include Salvation Church of Christ in Kampala[11] and Iglesia Evangelica Discipulos de Cristo de Colombia in Bogotá.[12][13][14]

Subsidiary ministries include God's Song,[15] Hē Hodos,[16] and the organization's publisher Covenant Press.[17][18][19] Covenant Press runs a ministry called the Free Bible Project that provides free digital and print Bibles and it also publishes and distributes its own print Bibles.[20]

The CCC is registered with the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs[21] and the United Nations Economic and Social Council is slated to vote on consultative status for the CCC in the summer of 2018.

Membership

The Covenant Christian Coalition currently recognizes at least 454 Christian denominations, non-denominational groups, and Chinese house church networks, among which are over two million individual congregations. Altogether, it represents some 718 million individuals, making its scope larger than either the World Council of Churches or the World Evangelical Alliance.[22]

The Covenant Christian Coalition's members are primarily Protestant, and all evangelical, since membership requires agreement with its evangelical Covenant and seven tenets of belief called Convictions.[23] While churches and ministries can join the organization directly, denominations and church associations cannot. Instead, the CCC bestows honorary membership on those denominations that adhere to what the organization considers to be "core biblical doctrines" in an effort to estimate the number and extent of convictional evangelicals worldwide.[22]

Doctrine

The Covenant is a "universal, evangelical statement of faith that outlines the importance of biblical inerrancy, substitutionary atonement, and salvation through Christ alone." This creed is the official statement of belief of the CCC and is composed of twelve stanzas beginning with "We believe." It was intentionally written in broad, yet conservative language "to include most evangelical Protestants, while excluding various sects and denominations that the leadership fears seek to distort the gospel." Furthermore, "churches and ministries that join the CCC... have agreed to accept the Covenant and abide by the truths contained therein. The Covenant has thus become a key unifying factor in the movement."[11][24] Membership requires agreeing with its tenets either de facto or de jure.[25] Pastors and ministers can sign the Covenant and use it as a statement of faith at their church.[26]

Along with the Convictions and the CCC's constitution and bylaws, the Covenant forms the basis for the CCC's organization and doctrine.[25]

Leadership

The Covenant Christian Coalition is led by a voluntary team of church and ministry leaders called the Pastoral Council.[27] The egalitarian Pastoral Council maintains the organization's constitution and votes on amendments to the organization's governing document.[14][25]

Current Leaders

A few of the current leaders in the Covenant Christian Coalition are listed below.[24]

  • Ibiso Igani, New Covenant Charismatic Church, Yenagoa, Nigeria
  • Aristeo Betil, Christian Life Center, Cotabato City, Philippines
  • Akanni Caleb, Christ Apostolic Church, Akure, Nigeria
  • Enrico Grutas, Fairview Temple of Worship, Quezon City, Philippines
  • Samson Rai, Manipur Baptist Convention, Imphal, India
  • Ekemode Olufunmibi, The Ambassadors Ministries Int'l, Nigeria
  • Samuel Sowemimo, Light of Covenant Parish, Dallas, United States
  • Patrick Reynolds, Christ Church, Worksop, United Kingdom
  • Eldho Rajan, St. Mary's Jacobite Syrian Church, Kundara, India
  • Chijioke Ozor, Covenant Chapel Worldwide, Ikotun, Nigeria
  • Carlos Perez, Bible Church of Christ, Barranquilla, Colombia
  • José Rodas, Esquipulas Community Church, Bogotá, Colombia
  • Gerhard Zierl, Faros Christian Fellowship, La Oliva, Spain[9]
  • Grace Kigozi, Salvation Church of Christ, Kampala, Uganda[14]
  • Weimar López, Iglesia Evangelica Discipulos de Cristo de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia[14]

References

  1. ↑ FaithSteet, www.faithstreet.com Covenant Christian Coalition, last accessed March 20, 2017
  2. ↑ Yelp, www.yelp.com Covenant Christian Coalition, last accessed March 20, 2017
  3. ↑ Google Maps, www.google.com Covenant Christian Coalition, last accessed June 20, 2017
  4. ↑ CCC, Coalition CCC main website, last accessed January 29, 2017
  5. ↑ For 3 European alliances, Evangelical-Catholic unity is going too far; WEA says it has not changed. Ecumenical News (February 1, 2018). Archived from the original on February 2, 2018. Retrieved on January 26, 2018.
  6. ↑ L’Alleanza evangelica mondiale conferma la sua posizione storica sull’unità. Riforma (January 18, 2018). Archived from the original on February 7, 2018. Retrieved on February 8, 2018.
  7. ↑ World Evangelical Alliance Responds to Charges it Has a Secret 'Ecumenical Agenda'. Christian Today (January 17, 2018). Archived from the original on January 26, 2018. Retrieved on February 8, 2018.
  8. ↑ Jesus Site, www.jesussite.com Evangelistic Ministries, last accessed June 20, 2017
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 About Us. Retrieved on February 8, 2018.
  10. ↑ Welcome to Vinelife Church Manchester. Retrieved on February 8, 2018.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Modern Evangelical Creed Unveiled. Digital Journal (January 13, 2018). Archived from the original on January 26, 2018. Retrieved on February 8, 2018.
  12. ↑ Recently Launched Christian Organization Sets Out to Change the World. World News (WN.com) (January 8, 2018). Archived from the original on January 26, 2018. Retrieved on February 8, 2018.
  13. ↑ Recently Launched Christian Organization Sets Out to Change the World. ABC 7 (January 8, 2018). Archived from the original on January 26, 2018. Retrieved on February 8, 2018.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 Evangelical Churches Launch New Worldwide, Interdenominational Movement. CBS 8 (January 8, 2018). Archived from the original on January 26, 2018. Retrieved on February 8, 2018.
  15. ↑ The entire Bible through video and music. Retrieved on February 8, 2018.
  16. ↑ Discover the truth about God.. Retrieved on February 8, 2018.
  17. ↑ The premiere publisher of up-and-coming Christian authors.. Retrieved on February 8, 2018.
  18. ↑ 500 Years. Covenant Press. ISBN 978-1973210047. 
  19. ↑ Some Things You Should Know, 2, Covenant Press. ISBN 978-1461009634. 
  20. ↑ About GetFreeBibles.com. Retrieved on February 8, 2018.
  21. ↑ United Nations Civil Society Database (January 26, 2018). Archived from the original on January 26, 2018. Retrieved on February 8, 2018.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 Official CCC Website, www.ccc.one Coalition, last accessed January 26, 2018
  23. ↑ (February 7, 2015) Convictions of the Covenant Christian Coalition. Covenant Press. 
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 (February 7, 2015) Covenant of the CCC. Covenant Press. 
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 (January 31, 2017) Constitution of the Covenant Christian Coalition. Covenant Press. 
  26. ↑ Official CCC Website, www.ccc.one Purpose, last accessed January 26, 2018
  27. ↑ The Gospel Coalition, www.thegospelcoalition.com Covenant Christian Coalition, last accessed March 20, 2017

External links

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