Evangelical leaders in the Philippines have signed a “Covenant of Unity,” pledging to prioritize Christ-centered discipleship, avoid partisan divisions and maintain unity despite differing political views.
The covenant, released by the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches (PCEC), commits pastors, church leaders and affiliated organizations to keep discipleship at the center of ministry decisions, partnerships and public communications rather than partisan political engagement.
In a statement accompanying the covenant, church leaders said political disagreements can become sources of division and distraction if not approached with wisdom, humility and a commitment to biblical unity.
Signatories also affirmed that Christian unity does not require uniformity of opinion. The document states that believers should continue to honor one another despite political disagreements and maintain Christian fellowship.
The covenant calls on church leaders to avoid slander, divisive speech, misrepresentation and assumptions about the motives of others. Instead, it encourages humility, grace, respectful dialogue and charitable engagement rooted in biblical principles.
Another provision states that sermons, official church statements and institutional communications should remain focused on Scripture, discipleship and the Gospel rather than partisan endorsements, attacks or political campaigning.
While acknowledging that church leaders may hold personal political views, the covenant clarifies that such opinions should be identified as personal and not presented as official positions of the PCEC or the churches and organizations they represent.
The agreement also encourages churches to create respectful and pastoral spaces for political discussions, pursue collaborative ministry efforts across congregations and regions, and strengthen accountability through honesty, transparency, reconciliation and restoration.
According to the PCEC, the covenant reflects a broader effort to preserve unity within the evangelical community while advancing its mission of discipling the nation and bearing witness to the Gospel amid political differences.
The covenant emphasizes that the church’s primary calling is to make disciples of the Filipino nation in obedience to the Great Commission and cites Jesus’ prayer in John 17:21 that believers “may all be one” so that the world may believe.
The document was shared publicly through the PCEC’s official Facebook page as a declaration of the organization’s commitment to Christ-centered unity and cooperative ministry among evangelical churches in the Philippines.
