What We Believe


The Bible

We believe that the Scriptures are inspired by God, inerrant and authoritative, without error in the original writing, and the divine and final authority for all Christian faith and life.

The Trinity

We believe in one God, creator of all things, infinitely perfect and eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Salvation

We believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, born of the virgin Mary; we believe that Christ shed his blood on the cross, dying for our sins as a substitutionary sacrifice, and that he arose bodily from the grave and ascended into heaven; we believe that individuals find salvation only through faith in Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. Salvation is God's free gift to us but we must accept it. We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God's offer of forgiveness can anyone be saved from sin's penalty. When we turn from our self-ruled life and turn to Jesus in faith we are saved. Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his life by faith. (Romans 6:23, Ephesians 2:8-9, John 14:6, Titus 3:5, Galatians 3:26, Romans 5:1)

The Church

We believe that all true believers are members of the universal church regardless of organizational affiliation. As members of the universal church we believe God calls us to:

Baptism

Baptism is a public proclamation of faith and new life in Jesus Christ. It is an outward public testimony of an inward invisible transformation. (Matthew 28:19, Romans 6:4)

The Lord’s Supper/Communion

The Lord’s Supper consists of two elements: the bread and the cup. Those elements are symbolic of the body and blood of Christ. Communion is a memorial of Christ’s sufferings on the cross and a celebration of our salvation. It is an opportunity for a believer to remember and celebrate the forgiveness of sins and the salvation we have through Jesus Christ. (I Corinthians 11:23-26)

In all essential beliefs - we have unity.

"There is one Body and one Spirit. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of us all." - Ephesians 4.4-6

In non-essential beliefs - we have liberty.

"Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his master he stands or falls. So then each of us will give an account of himself to God. So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God." - Romans 14.1, 4, 12, 22

In all our beliefs - we show love.

"If I hold in my mind not only all human knowledge but also the very secrets of God, and if I have the faith that can move mountains-but have no love, I amount to nothing at all." 1 Corinthians 13:2

Shared leadership

We believe all believers are equipped with spiritual gifts that are given by the Lord for the express purpose of building up the church. These gifts are given irrespective of age, gender, race, background, or experience, and it is our conviction that these gifts be used fully for leadership and ministry. In some traditions, the roles of leadership and teaching have been reserved for men, but here both women and men are encouraged to exercise their gifts freely for the edification of the church.