Crystal Cathedral

Crystal Cathedral Choir Covenant Statement

March 15, 2011

As a part of an ongoing effort to grow the leadership—staff and volunteers—within Crystal Cathedral Ministries, choir members are now being asked to sign a covenant intended to clarify expectations placed on them as ministry leaders.  The covenant specifically states that all ministry leaders are expected to live a lifestyle exempt from sexual immorality (regardless of sexual orientation; see Ephesians 5:3-4) “--because these are improper for the Lord’s people.”

The church of Jesus Christ at large is grappling with the challenge of reconciling love and adherence to God’s Word, even those passages that challenge us.  As the church has been engaging in this sensitive dialogue, people that we care for deeply have been hurt.  We are sincerely sorry.  Those of us in church leadership ask for understanding as we seek to obey God and love all of His children.

It is true that our new choir covenant includes a definition of marriage that may have contributed to the hurt.  The definition is the one that our denomination, The Reformed Church in America, and the Crystal Cathedral adheres to, based on its understanding of the scriptures.  “Marriage is a covenant between a man and woman to live together in ‘holy wedlock’, i.e., with and before God as Scripture understands and describes that relationship.”   (Position Papers, General Synod Statements on Contemporary Issues, www.RCA.org)