Covenant Christian Coalition

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The Covenant Christian Coalition (CCC) is a global organization of evangelical Christian churches founded in 2015[1] in Dallas, United States, with headquarters in southern Manhattan.[2][3] The organization recognizes 2,179,414 local churches and approximately 718 million individuals at last count, from around 454 denominations.[4] The CCC helps unaffiliated Christians find local congregations, funds orphanages throughout the developing world, and supports Christian schools and water well projects in South America, Africa, and other countries. It also represents and advocates on behalf of evangelical Christians locally, nationally, and 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 Dallas, Texas, in 2015 as a response to what was perceived to be biblical, moral, and theological compromise on the part of other ecumenical organizations such as the World Council of Churches.[6][7] The organization's mission is "Promoting unity in the Invisible Church while delivering the only message with the power to save people" and is defined as "An international, Evangelical, post-denominational coalition of churches still faithful to Christ and the Gospel."[8] The CCC heavily emphasizes the Five Solas in doctrine, as well as 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.

Composition

The CCC currently recognizes at least 454 Christian denominations, non-denominational groups, and Chinese house church networks, among which are over two million individual congregations. At last count there were about 718 million individuals represented, which if the organization was a denomination would make it second only to the Roman Catholic Church in total membership.[22]

Membership

The Covenant Christian Coalition represents evangelical Christians broadly and those Protestant denominations and churches aligned with evangelicalism. While Protestant churches are the only affiliated congregations at present, there is nothing that inherently restricts even individual Roman Catholic, Coptic, or Eastern Orthodox churches from joining so long as they agree to the organization's Convictions[23] and the CCC's Covenant. 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]

Covenant

The Covenant, the CCC's official statement of belief, is composed of twelve stanzas beginning with "We believe" and is defined as a "universal, evangelical statement of faith that outlines the importance of biblical inerrancy, substitutionary atonement, and salvation through Christ alone." 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] Congregational leaders that formally sign the Covenant are encouraged to use it in place of, or supplementary to, their own statement of faith.[26]

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 (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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