“Covenant isn’t just a promise we make; it’s how we choose to walk together in faith, in person and online.”
I usually write about clergy “stuff” in this column. I know that’s expected, but sometimes I wonder about the readership. Then I’ll get a text message, an email, or even a phone call in response to something I’ve written, and I’m reminded that people are paying attention. Those moments of connection matter. They matter because I have been in face-to-face contact with that person, shared a conversation, or prayed together at some point, and that history shapes how we hear and respond to one another.
Recently, Rev. Dr. Gloria and I talked about covenant relationships within the Southwest Conference and the role of Zoom meetings in our work as associate conference ministers. We agreed that Zoom has its place. It allows us to connect across miles, keep commitments when travel isn’t possible, and maintain steady communication in ways that were not as easy before. But as helpful as it is, it can also make it easy to forget the importance of gathering in person. Do you remember pre-COVID, when meetings, visits, and worship happened almost entirely face to face? Those interactions shaped our sense of community in ways a screen cannot fully capture. At the same time, technology has opened doors for those who cannot travel, live far away, or face health challenges, making it possible for them to participate more fully in the church's life.
That’s where covenant comes in. It gives our gatherings, whether in person or online, meaning and purpose. A covenant is more than an agreement. We commit to God and each other, rooted in shared values and a willingness to walk together in faith. Covenants are not kept alive through words alone; they grow stronger through presence. When we meet face to face, we experience the small moments that do not always come through on a screen: the warmth of a handshake, the comfort of shared silence, the encouragement in a smile.
Living in covenant means choosing to be accountable for what we say and how we show up. It means investing in trust, even when it takes time and patience to build. It calls us to listen deeply, speak truth in love, and extend grace when we disagree. These habits shape healthier relationships in our churches, Conference work, and personal lives.
I want to be clear: Technology can help us honor our covenants, but it should never replace the human connection that makes them real. When we take the time to be together—in worship, in conversation, or in service—we renew the bonds that remind us why we entered into covenant in the first place. That shared commitment sustains our ministries, deepens our friendships, and strengthens the body of Christ.
I am so grateful that a covenant is not a one-time promise. It is an ongoing choice to nurture the relationships God has entrusted to us, in person whenever possible, and always to draw closer, not drifting apart, and let it be so.