Gather 2025 reminded us that following Jesus means listening for his voice across cultures, generations, and geographies. Delegates, pastors, support staff, and other leaders from across the Covenant gathered—virtually and in person—June 26-28 in Orlando, Florida, for the 140th Annual Meeting of the Evangelical Covenant Church. Under the theme “Follow Me,” participants encountered Jesus’s invitation to discipleship across boundaries of race, ethnicity and nationality. To mark the anniversary, global leaders from Covenant denominations in 17 countries joined the gathering. Visa restrictions and travel barriers prevented some leaders from attending, so some of those churches sent representatives in their place.
Worship was led by Imer Santiago, a jazz trumpet player of Puerto Rican descent who has collaborated with figures such as Kirk Franklin and TobyMac. Santiago and his band led attendees in a multiethnic blend of worship music with gospel, salsa, and other Caribbean elements mixed with traditional CCM. Worship sessions and some items of Covenant business items are available on the Covenant’s YouTube channel.
Thursday
President Tammy Swanson-Draheim shared a renewed vision for the Covenant, emphasizing that we are “living into the kingdom of God through the prayerful, intergenerational, multiethnic, growing movement of churches served by women and men striving to follow in the way of Jesus by loving others as Jesus loves us.” She underscored our commitment to prayer, highlighted the importance of intergenerational ministry for youth and children, and called for deeper engagement in the multiethnic mosaic of the church. Click here to learn more about the Vision for Renewal.
Thursday afternoon, delegates broke bread with the global leaders during a fellowship lunch, where each guest was formally introduced amid cheers of welcome and affirmation. As Thursday evening’s worship session commenced, Rev. Siri Iversen (Norwegian Mission Covenant Church) shared a message from Acts 8:1–4, emphasizing both the suffering and incredible joy that come from living a surrendered life: “The power of the church often lies in the unknown, the unnamed, and the uncelebrated. We don’t serve the Lord to have a name; we serve the Lord for his name to be known,” she said. The service also included the installation of new leader: Heather Hernandez as vice president of Mission Services; Rev. Michael White as vice president of Mission Priorities; and Rev. Rob Peterson as president/superintendent of the Evangelical Covenant Church of Canada.
Friday
Friday morning’s devotions were led by Rev. Hirotomo Ochiai (Japan Covenant Church). His message of trusting the Lord and not leaning on our own understanding (drawn from Proverbs 3:5-6) was underscored by his testimony of accepting Christ as an eight-year-old and how that decision ultimately led to his father’s conversion: “He answered,” said Ochiai. “He made a path where I thought there was not going to be a path. He led a Japanese person to Christ, and if it’s possible with my father, he can do it with everyone else.”
Later, Grace Shim, executive minister of Serve Globally, and Deb Masten, director of global personnel, honored five global personnel for their commitment, passion, and service. Kim Delp was recognized for serving for 15 years in Ecuador, using her gifts as a nurse practitioner and supporting initiatives like the Santiago Partnership and the Home for At-Risk Children. Jeff and Darlene Anderson were celebrated for their seven years as regional coordinators for MENA (Middle East North Africa), fostering peacemaking through strategic partnerships. John and Letha Kerl were recognized for nearly 40 years of service across Africa, Latin America, and Europe, providing pastoral care, spiritual direction, and strengthening connections.
The Friday morning session included clergy vocational service recognition and other actions from the ordered ministry, led by Rev. Herb Frost, executive minister of Serve Clergy. Eleven new churches were welcomed into membership, and two church planters were commissioned into ministry, all representing both the growth and stability of the Covenant.
Friday afternoon, the Irving C. Lambert Outstanding Urban Ministries Award was presented to Pastor Kimberly Wright for her ministry in East Harlem, New York City. In receiving the honor, she said, “I’m grateful that I’ve been accepted into this denomination, that I’ve been encouraged, loved, and well cared for as I’ve ministered in my small corner of the universe.” Friday also included a report from Peter Hedstrom, president of National Covenant Properties, who said, “The collective impact we have had has led to more Covenant churches, more lives transformed, more connections with neighbors, more disciples, and more relevant community impact.”
Friday concluded with a worship service that included communion. Rev. Duale Langba, president of the Covenant Church of Congo, preached a message of unity from John 17, assisted by Craig Wickstrom, former global personnel to DR Congo. “Jesus prayed, ‘May they be one just as you are in me and I in you,’” said Rev. Duale. Later in the evening, there was vibrant singing and dancing from Congolese believers in the Shalom Choir of Des Moines, Iowa. The communion wafers were made by women redeemed from the red-light districts of Mumbai and Pune by the Hindustani Covenant Church, highlighting the transformative power of the gospel for those who are neglected and dishonored.
Saturday
Saturday morning’s highlight was the T.W. Anderson Outstanding Layperson Award, presented to Roger Rosengren for his lifelong faithful service to Alexandria Covenant Church in Alexandria, Minnesota, as well as his years spearheading construction and other special projects in rural Alaska. “To God be the glory,” said Rosengren. “This is just a humbling and awkward moment for me to accept such an award, as I consider countless people who out-serve me would be far more deserving.”
Additionally, there were a number of fiscal and budgetary reports, including those from Covenant Trust Company. The Evangelical Covenant Church received a “clean opinion” on its financial statements from Capin Crouse, with no new audit recommendations. The proposed fiscal budget for 2026 was approved, aimed at aligning the Covenant’s finances with missional and strategic objectives for responsible resource use and long-term sustainability. The meeting also addressed the removal of 19 churches from the roster due to closures, mergers, and withdrawals.
The 140th Annual Meeting concluded with the commissioning, ordination, and consecration of vocational ministers during evening worship. The sermon was delivered by Rev. Marco Ambriz of First Covenant Church of Oakland, California. He spoke of his upbringing in immigrant communities and the gift of recognizing the image of God in a different community when he served as associate pastor at a Korean Presbyterian church: “I want to tell you, there’s an aspect of being a pastor that does involve gatekeeping…to protect our church from people who intentionally come to harm the vulnerable. But we are also called to be gatekeepers from the inside out—not to keep people out, but to ensure that the doors of the kingdom remain open for more people to come in.”
As President Swanson-Draheim concluded the service, she returned to the theme, exhorting the new pastoral servants to “serve patiently, cheerfully, and with compassion, remembering that the work you are called to is God’s work, done in God’s name, to God’s glory…you must be prepared to be what you proclaim…be humble, yet bold and full of hope.”
The Delegate Summary is available here.
The 2026 Annual Meeting will be held June 24–27 at the Grand Hyatt Resort in Scottsdale, Arizona.
