Sermon: "The Baptismal Covenant in a New Church Year"
The Right Reverend Charles G. vonRosenberg
Third Bishop of East Tennessee

[This sermon by Bishop vonRosenberg was delivered using the following notes.]

I am grateful to be with you at St. Clare's once again, and I thank you for your welcome of me today. Further, I am grateful for your ministries here at St. Clare's - and, also, beyond this church, as you accomplish the work of our Lord in the world. Indeed, I give thanks that you lead your lives according to the Baptismal Covenant that we have with God.

This is the Baptismal Covenant that we all will have the opportunity to renew in just a few minutes. The Baptismal Covenant states the faith that we share - our faith, that is, in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. As a part of that Covenant, we also indicate our intention to lead a Christian life of worship, of repentance, and of service to others, in the name of Jesus Christ.

Amid the church challenges of our day, we may be tempted to divert our attention and energy away from what is basic to our faith. For that reason, as I travel about the diocese this year, I am upholding central aspects of our mission as the Diocese of East Tennessee - that is, mission and ministry that are consistent with the Baptismal Covenant.

In the year to come, therefore, we will emphasize four diocesan ministries in particular. Grace Point Camp and Retreat Center provides a wonderful resource for Christian nurture and spiritual formation for all Episcopalians and for others as well. Lay ministry development focuses the attention of us all on living lives consistent with the call and intention of the Baptismal Covenant. Outreach ministries with the people of Appalachia and with native Americans in South Dakota give us practical ways to respond to Christ's call to love our neighbors. Also, these outreach ministries offer us ways to "seek and serve Christ in all persons", to "strive for justice and peace among all people", and to "respect the dignity of every human being" - affirmations from the Baptismal Covenant.

The last year has been one of trial, of sadness, and of challenge for many Episcopalians - although not for all of us in East Tennessee. However, this year - with a concentration on the ministries I am suggesting - perhaps we can refocus our attention on the call of our Baptismal Covenant. …Also, notice the first letters of those ministries I am emphasizing - Grace Point, lay ministry development, Appalachia, and the Dakotas. You see that I am proposing a "glad" year for us in East Tennessee! On the one hand, I think we all need it. And, on the other hand, this attention will bring our lives in line with our Lord's call, through the Baptismal Covenant.

As I have considered more seriously the Baptismal Covenant in recent weeks, I also have become aware, once again, of how important the theme of covenant is throughout holy scripture. Interestingly, too, the idea of a covenant among Anglican churches worldwide was quite prominent in the Windsor Report of the Lambeth Commission, published several weeks ago. Indeed, as we concentrate more intentionally on the theme of covenant, then we find a means of access to a profound practice of our faith. A covenant is an understanding and an agreement between two parties. Once the two have agreed to their covenant, then certain behavior may be expected as a result. Such is the call implied by the Windsor Report, and understanding such covenants also is crucial in reading the Bible.

For instance, all of today's readings need to be understood within the context of the covenants involved in them. In the First Reading, we heard of the prophetic promise that Christians understand to be fulfilled in Jesus. "A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.' The promise continues with the familiar vision: "The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them." Supporting this prophetic promise is the covenant - the understanding - between God and the people of God. Simply put, God will put His spirit on the one designated to lead his people. Within that relationship - that covenant - both God and God's people have certain understandings and expectations related to behavior. And thus, at its best, the covenant means that God may depend on His people, and the people may depend upon God.

Similar themes involving the covenant between God and His people become clear in the reading from the Letter to the Romans. "Whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope. May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus." And then, the wonderful promise of the covenant expressed as a prayer at the reading's conclusion, "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Again, the covenant between God and His people offers assurance that each party to the covenant may have certain appropriate expectations of each other.

In the Gospel from Matthew, we encounter that wonderful symbol of the season of Advent, John the Baptist. In this very unusual character, we clearly perceive a fundamental reality of a covenant relationship. That is, John the Baptist proclaims both the promise of God and the subsequent expectations of the people. "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near." It is only within the context of a covenant - an agreement, a relationship - that John's pronouncements make any sense at all. Within the covenant between God and God's people, though, John's encouragement and his warnings make a great deal of sense indeed.

Therefore, I commend to you this morning the theme of covenant. That theme provides us with a significant viewpoint in our reading and study of holy scripture. And, in particular, the Baptismal Covenant identifies our understanding and agreement with God as individual Christians, as a church community, and as a diocese. We are all blessed by our covenant with God. May we also be blessings to God as we live into our covenant with Him! Amen.

Copyright © 2004 The Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee