What we believe
About God:
We believe that God created the universe out of nothing. We also believe that He is all-powerful, all-knowing, and omnipresent. We believe that God loves His people and His creation, and desires to have relationship with us. We believe that God is triune, being three distinct people - God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit - yet also being one God.
About Jesus:
Since God desired to reconcile us to himself, he came down to earth in the person of Jesus Christ, who willingly submitted himself to death on a cross our salvation and restoration. We also believe that Jesus is both fully God and fully human, that he was conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, and that He rose from the dead in victory. We await His return which signals the start of His kingdom, the end of sin and death, and the reign of peace, justice, and righteousness.
About Holy Spirit:
We believe that Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity, proceeding from God the Father and Jesus Christ. We believe that Holy Spirit is the advocate that Jesus promised would come after his ascension into Heaven. We believe that Holy Spirit works to convict people of sin and to lead them into a saving relationship with the Father, through Jesus Christ. Holy Spirit also works to guide, comfort, sustain, and empower the faithful.
About Spiritual Gifts:
Every child of God is filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, specially gifted to play a unique and valued role in the body of Christ. No one is without gift or purpose. Spiritual gifts are not our talents or skills. They are the grace of God at work in us, empowering us to match our deep passions with the world's deep need. The gifts are given to individuals, but they are given to build and strengthen community and to meet the needs of those around us. See 1 Corinthians 12 for a list of the gifts.
About the Bible:
We believe in the Holy Bible - both Old and New Testaments - as being the inspired word of God revealed by Holy Spirit to human authors. It should be read by those who follow Christ, as it is the true rule and guide for Christian faith and practice.
About the Church:
The Church is the body of Christ, both local and global. The Church is the place where believers gather to worship the Lord, and to be equipped for service in the world. We believe in the priesthood of all believers, where all Christians are called and equipped to take part in God's mission to restore the world to His original vision.
About Sin:
Sin is not a list of do's and don'ts, but rather a pervasive force in the world that is a result of the corruption of humanity. Sin is that which opposes God's work and will, and that which does not line up with His character. It takes many forms, but its power was broken by the victory of Jesus on the cross and his resurrection from the grave.
About Homosexuality:
We believe that sex is a gift from God to humanity, and that sexual relationships are affirmed in the context of monogamous, heterosexual marriage. However, we oppose the unequal treatment of people based on sexual orientation, as well as homophobia and heterosexism. We believe that homosexuality is a sin, but that all people deserve to be loved, and that homosexuality should not be treated differently than other forms of sin.
About the Sacraments:
We are a sacramental church that celebrates two sacraments - Baptism and Holy Communion. We believe that these are not merely symbolic actions, but are means of grace where Holy Spirit is mysteriously present to the participants. Baptism is the sacrament through which a person is made part of the body of Christ. Since it is God, not us, that is at work in baptism, we believe that it is appropriate to baptize infants. Communion is the sacrament through which God's presence among us is made real.
About Good Works:
We believe that salvation comes through grace alone, through faith. But we also believe that good works is a natural response to the grace that we have received. These works are us cooperating with God to help further His kingdom on earth until Christ returns in glory to fully establish his rule. Good works don't only manifest in financial or physical gifts, but also advocacy to eliminate evil and to bring about good in the world.
We believe that God created the universe out of nothing. We also believe that He is all-powerful, all-knowing, and omnipresent. We believe that God loves His people and His creation, and desires to have relationship with us. We believe that God is triune, being three distinct people - God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit - yet also being one God.
About Jesus:
Since God desired to reconcile us to himself, he came down to earth in the person of Jesus Christ, who willingly submitted himself to death on a cross our salvation and restoration. We also believe that Jesus is both fully God and fully human, that he was conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, and that He rose from the dead in victory. We await His return which signals the start of His kingdom, the end of sin and death, and the reign of peace, justice, and righteousness.
About Holy Spirit:
We believe that Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity, proceeding from God the Father and Jesus Christ. We believe that Holy Spirit is the advocate that Jesus promised would come after his ascension into Heaven. We believe that Holy Spirit works to convict people of sin and to lead them into a saving relationship with the Father, through Jesus Christ. Holy Spirit also works to guide, comfort, sustain, and empower the faithful.
About Spiritual Gifts:
Every child of God is filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, specially gifted to play a unique and valued role in the body of Christ. No one is without gift or purpose. Spiritual gifts are not our talents or skills. They are the grace of God at work in us, empowering us to match our deep passions with the world's deep need. The gifts are given to individuals, but they are given to build and strengthen community and to meet the needs of those around us. See 1 Corinthians 12 for a list of the gifts.
About the Bible:
We believe in the Holy Bible - both Old and New Testaments - as being the inspired word of God revealed by Holy Spirit to human authors. It should be read by those who follow Christ, as it is the true rule and guide for Christian faith and practice.
About the Church:
The Church is the body of Christ, both local and global. The Church is the place where believers gather to worship the Lord, and to be equipped for service in the world. We believe in the priesthood of all believers, where all Christians are called and equipped to take part in God's mission to restore the world to His original vision.
About Sin:
Sin is not a list of do's and don'ts, but rather a pervasive force in the world that is a result of the corruption of humanity. Sin is that which opposes God's work and will, and that which does not line up with His character. It takes many forms, but its power was broken by the victory of Jesus on the cross and his resurrection from the grave.
About Homosexuality:
We believe that sex is a gift from God to humanity, and that sexual relationships are affirmed in the context of monogamous, heterosexual marriage. However, we oppose the unequal treatment of people based on sexual orientation, as well as homophobia and heterosexism. We believe that homosexuality is a sin, but that all people deserve to be loved, and that homosexuality should not be treated differently than other forms of sin.
About the Sacraments:
We are a sacramental church that celebrates two sacraments - Baptism and Holy Communion. We believe that these are not merely symbolic actions, but are means of grace where Holy Spirit is mysteriously present to the participants. Baptism is the sacrament through which a person is made part of the body of Christ. Since it is God, not us, that is at work in baptism, we believe that it is appropriate to baptize infants. Communion is the sacrament through which God's presence among us is made real.
About Good Works:
We believe that salvation comes through grace alone, through faith. But we also believe that good works is a natural response to the grace that we have received. These works are us cooperating with God to help further His kingdom on earth until Christ returns in glory to fully establish his rule. Good works don't only manifest in financial or physical gifts, but also advocacy to eliminate evil and to bring about good in the world.