By Bishop Martin Wilson

(Special thanks to Bishop Freddie B. Marshall for his message at the HCMI Solemn Assembly 2025)

In today’s church culture, we preach covenant, but we rarely live it.

This is not a statement of judgment—it’s a confession, and I include myself. We have all, in some way, contributed to the erosion of what covenant truly means in the Body of Christ. We’ve traded connection for convenience, accountability for independence, and spiritual covering for self-governance. And the cost is clear: scattered leaders, isolated ministries, and a Church that often functions more like a network of independent contractors than a living, unified body.

Let’s be honest—covenant is not trendy. It demands loyalty when it’s inconvenient, submission when pride is screaming, and connection when disconnection feels easier. It’s not flashy. It’s not self-serving. It doesn’t build brands. But it’s biblical.

Covenant Isn’t a Contract—It’s a Commitment

In the Bible, covenant is God’s way of establishing trust, order, and protection. From Abraham to Jesus, covenant is not just a theme—it’s the backbone of relationship. And yet, in our churches today, covenant has often become conditional. Many leaders now treat spiritual alignment like a subscription service: they’re “in” until challenged, corrected, or held accountable.

Let’s call it what it is: when correction becomes offensive, and when feedback leads to withdrawal, that’s not covenant—that’s preference. And preference is unstable ground for any spiritual relationship.

The Apostolic Covering Is Not Control

There’s a growing discomfort with words like “submission,” “covering,” or “spiritual authority.” Too often, they’re mistaken for domination or control. But true apostolic covering was never about domination—it was about alignment. It’s a God-given safeguard for both leaders and those they serve.

When Paul corrected churches, he didn’t do so to control them—he did it to preserve their future. He corrected them as a father, not a tyrant. And they received it as sons, not consumers.

Today, many leaders want affirmation, not oversight. They want encouragement, not alignment. And I’ve been guilty myself—guilty of trying to offer covering where it’s no longer received. Guilty of continuing in relationships where the foundation of covenant no longer existed. Guilty of spreading myself thin to support leaders who no longer value or respond to spiritual oversight.

I Had to Shift

Recently, I made the difficult but necessary decision to dismantle Ecclesia, the fellowship of churches I oversaw. Not out of bitterness, but clarity. The spirit of fellowship was no longer alive in the way it needed to be. Leaders were disconnected. Covenant had faded. And I could no longer call myself a Presiding Bishop over what no longer wanted to be led.

I’ve chosen instead to focus my attention where covenant is still honored—my local assignment at Exalted Word Ministries in Charlotte, North Carolina. There, I serve men and women who have remained faithful, submitted, and connected—not because of obligation, but because of trust. They deserve my full mind, heart, and energy. They deserve a leader who is not scattered, chasing after silence.

Moving Forward

To those who still desire to walk in covenant, I say this: I’m here. I will cover those who want to be covered, but I will no longer cast nets where there is no draw. Covenant must be mutual, or it is meaningless.

Yes, times have changed. But God’s pattern hasn’t. Covenant is still His way of protecting ministries and preserving legacy. Without it, we may grow in numbers, but we shrink in strength.

My prayer is that we, as the Church, find our way back—not to tradition, but to truth. Not to religious formality, but to real covenant. Because the health of our churches, our leadership, and our future depends on it.

– Bishop Martin Wilson

Senior Pastor, Exalted Word Ministries

Charlotte, North Carolina