Welcome to Covenant5.org, the Web site of Covenant 5, a community of ministries in the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan educating and advocating for social justice. If you are concerned about peace, justice and dignity issues and want to do something positive about them, you are in the right place.
First, please consider joining one or more groups or issues of interest found in the green navigation menu. Then start adding to the discussions, sharing readings, resources, and informing your fellow members of projects and events they can get involved in. Thanks for joining us in living out the affirmative answer to our fifth promise in the Baptismal Covenant: “Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?”
The origin of Covenant 5 of the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan dates back to a meeting in 2002 in which Bishop Gibbs gathered those who were members of existing diocesan social justice ministries and others who had an interest in working for social justice. Bishop Gibbs envisioned a coalition of ministries who related to the fifth Baptismal promise.
Covenant 5 ministries have long had an emphasis on advocacy as a way to fulfill the gospel imperative of seeking justice, peace and equality. The definition of advocacy ministry as we understand it focuses on striving to formulate and implement public policy, and supporting grass-roots efforts for social change and other justice concerns. Examples include organizing or joining legislative advocacy efforts in conjunction with the Episcopal Public Policy Network, sponsoring educational events, and letter-writing campaigns.
Diocesan ministry members of Covenant 5 include Disability Awareness, Economic Justice Commission, Episcopal Peace Fellowship, Prison Ministry, and TBLG Concerns.