The University of Maryland Wesley Foundation

What are Covenant Disciple Groups?

Covenant Discipleship groups (or CD groups) consist of 4-8 people who meet regularly to hold one another accountable to Christ-like living. Together, the group members write a covenant of what commitments they are willing to make with regards to their discipleship. These commitments fall under four areas: Compassion, Justice, Worship, and Devotion.

It is the goal of these groups to strengthen each person's faith and living out of that faith by providing for them a place of encouragement and persistence. In this way, it is the ultimate goal that these groups might be a means of furthering God's kingdom in our midst through covenantal commitment to growing in and better exemplifying Christ's call to discipleship.

We usually meet two hours every other week, the exact times depending on the group members' schedules. If you have any questions or would like to be a part of a group, please contact Rev. Kim Capps.

Compassion

This area focuses on acts of service, caring for one another not only in seeing and meeting the needs of other persons, but of all creatures and the environment as well.

Some sample clauses:

• We will daily express our feelings of genuine appreciation to others.
• We will eat lunch once a week with someone sitting alone in the cafeteria.

Justice

These clauses address the need for us as followers of Christ to be active in seeking and doing all we can to correct injustices practiced in the church, our community, nation, and world.

Some sample clauses:

• We will learn about social issues so that we are equipped to stand up for social justice.
• We will dissociate ourselves from discriminatory slurs and jokes.

Worship

This component addresses our need to be involved in and supported by a larger community of faith. In celebration, we gather to honor the gifts of life and grace we have received.

Some sample clauses:

• We will be faithful in attendance and participation in worship each Sunday.
• We will seek to worship God in unexpected situations.

Devotion

This is a more inward focused aspect of discipleship, that of personal growth in spiritual disciplines such as prayer, reading of scripture, journaling, and even fasting.

Some sample clauses:

• We will include in our prayers our group members, our enemies, and those who visit UUMC and the Wesley Foundation.
• We will make the study of scripture a central part of our daily devotions.