Our Articles of Faith

Chesterton
In keeping with our Presbyterian heritage, in our shared life of faith we seek a rare and delicate balance; struggling ceaselessly and creatively to fashion theological space sufficient to nurture individualized and particularized faith amidst a true community of believers.  With our eyes fixed firmly on the person of Jesus Christ, we seek an incarnational life together as a community of persons listening for his voice in Scripture and his guidance as it has found expression in the historical distinctives of his church. 

We Hold These Things Dear. . .

The Shema
Deuteronomy 6:4-5 (ESV)
Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.  You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
 
The Nicene Creed  ca. A.D. 381
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father God from God, Light from Light, True God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary and became truly human. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day He rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

God’s Love Realized in Jesus Christ

John 3:14-17 (NRSV)
And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.  For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.  Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Because They Guide Us to Our calling…

The Great Ends of the Church
ca. 1910, Presbyterian Constitution
  • the proclamation of the gospel for the salvation of humankind; 
  • the shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the children of God;
  • the maintenance of divine worship; 
  • the preservation of the truth; 
  • the promotion of social righteousness; and
  • the exhibition of the Kingdom of Heaven to the world.  
 
The Ministry of Reconciliation
2 Corinthians 5:17-20 (NRSV)
If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!  All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us.  So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

Because They Strengthen Us in Hope…

The Resurrection of Christ’s Church
John Calvin, Commentary on Micah 4:6 As cited by Karl Barth
 
Although the church is at the present time hardly to be distinguished from a dead or at best a sick man, there is no reason for despair, for the Lord raises up his own suddenly, as he waked the dead from the grave.  This we must clearly remember, lest, when the church fails to shine forth, we conclude too quickly that her light has died utterly away.  But the church in the world is so preserved that she rises suddenly from the dead.  Her very preservation through the days is due to a succession of such miracles.  Let us cling to the remembrance that she is not without her resurrection, or rather, not without her many resurrections. 
 
The Promise of Our Lord
Matthew 16:18 (ESV)
And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

And Because They Give Us Our Identity . . .

Think of us in this way, as servants of Christ and stewards of God’s mysteries.
1 Corinthians 4:1 (NRSV)