The Covenant of Mutual Respect was announced to the Colorado Springs community in a newspaper announcement in the Gazette Telegraph on April 4, 1993.  It was a signed covenant with 18 churches, ministries, or individuals.  Nearly every Christian who has read it for the first time in my presence looks up at me and asks, "What does it mean?"  That is a good quetion.  My take on it is that the covenant signers realized that religious-political polarization was taking place in Colorado Springs.  In response the signers of the covenant agreed to place their main doctrinal differences aside and focus on the moralism found in their Judeo-Christian traditions.  The problem is that not everyone who signed the covenant believes in salvation by faith alone or in the diety of Christ.  Perhaps the best way to find out the intent of the covenant to ask the signers themselves.  While current information is extremely limited, here is what I have so far.

The Catholic Herald, June 2, 1993 had the following article:"Evangelizing by some has created animosity"

COLORADO SPRINGS- The influx of Christian evangelical groups in Colorado Springs has diversified the community's religious offerings.  But it has also led to a potentially dangerous competitive situation between the various religious groups.   "The effort to evangelize by some communities was creating an atmoshpere of animosity," said Bishop Richard Hanifen of the Diocese of Colorado Springs.  About a year ago, Rabbi Howard Hirsch of Temple Shalom and Bishop Hanifen both found that Jewish and Catholic youth were being evangelized at school by other students of different faiths.  Terry McGonigal, director of the Institute of Youth Ministries for Young Life, agreed that other Christian youth were being evangelized in schools as well.

"We thought we could either go to war or go to peace, the latter of which is more in keeping with all of our Judeo-Christian traditions," Bishop Hanifen said.

...Youth leaders attended the first meeting June 26, 1992, to discuss whether the evangelization efforts were a problem, and determined they were.  On October 15, 1992, religious leaders gathered again, this time with leaders from churches and organizations involved.  "We looked at how we were going to get along, instead of becoming a new religious way," Bishop Hanifen said.

..."Our community has seen so much division, we thought people could benefit from a healthy statement from their religious leaders," Bishop Hanifen said.  So 18 religious leaders signed a "Covenant of Mutual Respect" agreement, reaffirming their Scriptual commitments to justice, mercy, righteousness and peace for all.

In my telephone conversation on April 1, 2003 with Mr. Lauren Libby of the Navigators, Mr. Libby stated that the Navigators signed the covenant in response to the political climate involving the gay community in Colorado Springs.

The following is a list of churches and ministries who signed the covenant.  My intent is to write each one and ask the following questions:  1) From your perspective, what event or series of events prompted the Covenant of Mutual of Respect, 2) what did you believe your church or ministry could contribute to the Covenant of Mutal Respect,  3) it has been over ten years since signing the Covenant of Mutal Respect - what has been the progress of the intended purpose,  4) what has your church or ministry done over the last ten years to further of Covenant of Mutal Respect, and 5) how did your participation in the Covenant of Mutal Respect further the gospel?  Note that most churchs and ministries have e-mail or a website that allows for inquiries, but not all.  The questions were mailed out to ministries and churches with e-mail or websites allowing correspondence during the week of 16-22 May 2004.  Hardcopies to churches without e-mail were mailed out during the first week of June 2004.  The results as of 22 August are as follows:

 International Students Inc - "I'm the longest serving employee at the ISI office and have no idea what you are referring to or in what capacity you are asking these questions.  Sorry but we're unable to answer your questions" - Denny Yoder.  Author's note:  I e-mailed Mr. Yoder and pointed out that the covenant was signed by then ISI president Dr. Gordon D Loux.  I referenced this website and that the covenant is viewable in pdf.  I received no further correspondance.

The First Congregational Church - "Mr. Zechiel, I do not have the capacity to access your website, but I can reply briefly.  1) furor over Amendment 2, 2) our support, 3) the "Covenant" or "Concerns Group" (of signers) met for ten years, but not in '03-'04, 4) I met with signers, 5) It bore witness to the greater oneness of the Body of Christ - Mr. James White.  

Payne Chapel AME Church - 3625 Marion Drive, Colorado Springs, CO  80909-4215

Focus on the Family - Colorado Springs, CO 80995  http://www.family.org

First Baptist Church - 317 East Kiowa Street, Colorado Springs, CO  80903 http://www.firstbaptist-cos.org

New Life Church - 11025 Voyager Parkway Coloradp Springs, CO  80921  http://www.newlifechurch.org

Village Seven Presbyterian Church - 4050 Nonchalant Circle South, Colorado Springs, CO  80917  http://www.v7pc.org e-mial: v7p@v7pc.org

The Navigators - P.O. Box 6000 Colorado Springs, CO  80934 http://www.navigators.org

Young Life - P.O. Box 520 Colorado Springs, CO  80901  http://www.younglife.org

First Lutheran Church -1515 North Cascade Avenue, Colorado Springs, CO  80907

First Presbyterian Church - 219 East Bijou Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80903-1392  http://www.first-pres.org  e-mail: mail@first-pres.org

Broadmoor Community Church - 315 Lake Ave, Colorado Springs, CO  80906-37017

First United Methodist Church - 420 North Nevada Avenue 80903 http://www.fumc-cs.org  e-mail: randyj@fumc-cs.org

Covenant Presbyterian Church - 2845 Parliament Dr, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80920-5106

First Congregational Church - 20 East Saint Vrain Street, Colorado Springs, CO  80903

International Students Inc. - P.O. Box C, Colorado Springs, CO  80901 http://www.internationalstudents.org   e-mail: friend@isionline.org

Here is a link for the Covenant of Mutal Respect in pdf.

respect.pdf