“It was a sign,” says Steve Pedersen, laughing and noting that Zion’s favorite team had gone 0-2 prior to the church’s vote.
Following their worship service, members of the 153-year-old congregation (founded in 1853) voted overwhelmingly to join the denomination. The church has roughly 300 in average attendance.
Zion left the United Church of Christ in January and had contacted several denominations in its search to find a denominational home that reflected its values, Pedersen says. “We thought (the Covenant) was the best fit for us theologically and the way we practiced our Christian faith.”
Pedersen said his mother had grown up in the Covenant, but his family attended a non-denominational church after moving to a city that had no Covenant church. He added that his mother probably is in heaven cheering the decision.
Pedersen wrote on his web blog that “This was a great day in the history of Zion as it affirmed its desire to not be an isolated independent church, but in fellowship and mission with a larger body of believers who contend for the historic, orthodox Christian faith long delivered to the saints. The Jordan River has been crossed and we are bound for Canaan Land!”
After the vote, an “afterglow” party was held to celebrate and watch the Packers game. The top photo shows the pastor with a celebratory cake identifying the congregation as the Zion Evangelical Covenant Church. The lower photo shows some of the children joining in the festivities.
