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Indigenous foundations: The Covenant and Our Way of Life

The Covenant and Our Way of Life outlines the commitments, relationships and responsibilities that guide Sacred Circle, the self-determining Indigenous church within the Anglican Church of Canada. Rooted in the 1994 Covenant and renewed through ongoing discernment, it offers a shared vision of life in community shaped by prayer, healing, accountability and service. A recorded reading of the Covenant and a Gospel-based discipleship Bible study, based on the Seven Traditional Teachings, are also available to support engagement with this resource.

Suggested uses

  • Introduce parish or diocesan groups to the foundations of self-determining Indigenous Anglican identity
  • Support study circles preparing for Sacred Circle gatherings or learning about Indigenous governance in the Church
  • Guide reflection on the obligations and gifts of covenantal relationships in ministry

Key themes

  • Covenant-based relationships grounded in prayer and mutual responsibility
  • Self-determination within the Anglican Church of Canada
  • Commitments to healing, reconciliation and accountability
  • Shared principles for community life and leadership in Sacred Circle

Best suited for: those engaged in Indigenous ministry, parish and diocesan leaders, study groups exploring self-determination, educators looking for resources on Sacred Circle and anyone seeking a deeper understanding of covenantal life in the Indigenous Anglican context.

Cover of the Sacred Circle documents, "The Covenant and Our Way of Life"

Acknowledging the land and God’s creation

This acknowledgement is crafted in light of the Principles of Reconciliation by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, as we seek to live faithfully in Christ and in right relationship with all. 

We give thanks to the Creator for this land, its waters, forests and all living beings, and for the abiding presence of Christ among us. From coast to coast to coast, these have been cared for and nurtured by First Nations, Inuit and Métis through countless generations. 

We honour the enduring relationship Indigenous Peoples have cultivated with these lands and waters, and the treaties and agreements that reflect these sacred bonds. We acknowledge the harms caused by colonial expansion, through frameworks like the Doctrine of Discovery and structures like the residential school system. We recognize our past failures as a Church, including disruption of connections to the land and suppression of Indigenous spiritualities. 

Guided by the gospel of Jesus Christ, we confess our need for healing. We commit ourselves to seeking truth, pursuing reconciliation and nurturing harmony with all creation. We place our trust in Christ, through whom all things are reconciled to God. 

May God strengthen us to live faithfully as stewards of the Earth. Let us walk in love, justice and reconciliation, joining in God’s work to restore all creation.