The Moravian Church has stood for basic religious principles for more than
500 years. Through these years the church has often put into written form the
precepts of its faith and practice in what is known as the Covenant for
Christian Living.
Moravians recognize the example of Christ's life and
proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord. Living the Christian life depends not only
on our own effort, but upon God our Father, who in Jesus Christ accepts us as
heirs of God and strengthens and sustains us.
In baptism we are united
with Christ in his death and resurrection, so we have died to sin and should
walk in newness of life. We realize that our Christian faith must continually be
nourished if it is to remain living and vital. Therefore, we desire to grow in
our Christian lives through family devotions, personal prayer and study, and the
opportunities for spiritual development offered by the Church.
We deem it
a sacred responsibility and genuine opportunity to be faithful stewards of all
God has entrusted to us: our time, our talents, and our financial resources. We
view all of life as a sacred trust to be used wisely.
Realizing that God
has called us from many and varied backgrounds, we recognize the possibility of
disagreements or differences. Often these differences enrich the Church, but
sometimes they divide. We consider it to be our responsibility to demonstrate
within the congregational life the unity and togetherness created by God who
made us one. How well we accomplish this will be a witness to our community as
to the validity of our faith.
Moravians support collegial experiences
with children of God in other Christian churches, and carefully avoid all
disputes, respecting opinions and ceremonies peculiar to one or another Church.
We recognize that through the grace of Christ different denominations have
received many gifts and that the Church of Christ may be enriched by these many
and varied contributions. It is our desire that we may learn from one another
and rejoice together in the riches of the love of Christ and the manifold wisdom
of God. We welcome every step that brings us nearer the goal of unity in Him. In
this fellowship we cooperate with other churches in the support of public
charities or Christian enterprises, which have a just claim upon us as followers
of the Lord Jesus Christ.
