Visiting Covenant Presbyterian Church

One aspect of my quest to become a better ally includes exploring some of the people and places in my community who have publicly expressed welcome to their LGBTQ neighbors. As part of this effort, I am visiting all seven churches who added their name to the Equality Springfield billboard project.

Covenant Cares! Downtown. Mission Driven. Inclusive.Those are the words that greeted us on the front of the church bulletin as we were warmly welcomed on a very cold morning. This is the language that has been chosen to capture the mission and vision of the church. In our short time with this congregation, we saw abundant evidence of all these factors.

We saw, without question, how much Covenant cares for our community. Their commitment to the downtown area speaks of their central location in the city, but also their strong historical roots in this place. Their mission drives their activities, which are many. And in all they do, they seek to be as inclusive as possible, welcoming in people from all backgrounds and experiences.

My wife and I had the opportunity to visit Covenant on a very important Sunday: the final Sunday for Rev. Ray Stewart, who is retiring from his position as minister. Rev. Stewart began serving as Pastor of  Covenant back in 2007, and since then he has worked closely with the people of Springfield in various capacities.

Due to these special circumstances, Sunday's sermon included a bit of a retrospective, looking back on some of the marvelous things Covenant Presbyterian Church has been a part of over the years. Covenant has a long history of work among the poor and marginalized, including collaboration with organizations such as Rainbow Table, Interfaith Hospitality Network, Open Hands Free Store, and Safe Harbor House. There are always a variety of small groups, books studies, outreach efforts, ministry activities, and opportunities for creative expression. And, a series of annual events creates a rhythm of warmth and welcoming throughout the year.

The annual Alternative Christmas Market provides a place for neighbors to shop for Christmas gifts while raising money for a variety of worthy causes. This year, Covenant raised $12,745 through this effort. The proceeds were distributed among charities and ministries (all of whom were listed in the church bulletin).

Covenant Presbyterian Church is also instrumental in the organization of the annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Service. This is a time when people from different faith backgrounds come together in worship, including practitioners of Judaism, Islam, various Christian traditions, and other faith groups. Rev. Stewart's farewell sermon reminded everyone present, "We are a church that seeks to build bridges, not walls."

I could talk at length about the impressive scope of community involvement, both official and unofficial, coming out of Covenant Presbyterian Church. For the sake of brevity, allow me to summarize it like this: Covenant Cares.

What struck me about Rev. Stewart's comments, during this final sermon, was their wider focus on the community, outside the church walls. Some ministers might be tempted to focus only on those activities that have happened within church itself, or events that took place under their own personal guidance, but Rev. Stewart took time to talk about the city of Springfield at large.

There is much to be celebrated in this city, said Rev. Stewart. From the hard work and dedication of local business leaders, to arts and culture of Springfield, to our diverse community of immigrants... all of these factors make our community great. Rev. Stewart took time to celebrate various members of the congregation for the various works and initiatives they are involved in outside the church walls. The farewell sermon invited us to look to the past, remembering all the things which brought us to this point. Then came an invitation to look forward to all the new things still yet to come.

Another sign of the inclusive nature of this church was the presence of a sign-language interpreter on the platform for the duration of the service. Rev. Stewart took time to celebrate the work of the Clark County Deaf Community, which members of the church helped to create. Covenant has strong connections with the deaf community, including a variety of efforts to build relationships and resources for the hearing-impaired. Covenant also houses a preschool for young children and a lifeskills program for people with special needs.

In his final remarks, Rev. Stewart took a moment to acknowledge the beautiful, awe-inspiring sanctuary which serves as the central focal point of the church's collective worship.

It is here, in this sanctuary, that people gather for Sunday worship. Here is the space where numerous weddings and celebrations and concerts and vigils have taken place. Here is where hope and pain and triumph and struggle become interwoven, representations of the complex lives of those who enter.

The word sanctuary, in essence, means "safe place." By declaring their church to be inclusive, Covenant is using their sanctuary space to its fullest potential, welcoming in any and all people who need a place of refuge.

Rev. Stewart gave an illustration during his remarks, capturing the sacredness of such a space. He told of a friend who gave a tour of the church to a group of children. When they entered the cavernous room, the man whispered to the children, "Hush. Listen. You will not often encounter a space like this, where you can rest in the silence and be awe-inspired."

Sanctuaries are sacred. We need more sanctuaries. We need neutral spaces, welcoming spaces. We need spaces where people from all walks of life can come together without fear of judgement, alienation, or isolation. The people of Covenant Presbyterian have dedicated themselves to the tireless work of welcoming, and we are better for it.

For several years, Covenant Presbyterian Church has been a participant in the Equality Springfield billboard project in support of LGBTQ people, sending a message to the watching world that every person is welcome to worship and fully participate in the life of the church. No matter who they are, no matter who they love. 

Congratulations Rev. Raymond Stewart, on your forthcoming retirement! Thank you for your years of service at Covenant and in the Springfield community.

And thank you Covenant, for your continued welcoming presence, for your tireless acts of service, and for your hope-filled vision for this city. We are a better city because of you.