Beliefs
WHAT DO WE BELIEVE?Though we are a congregation with diverse backgrounds in church traditions, we are Reformed Protestant Christians. This means that we find our roots in the Reformed tradition, which was articulated during the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century by reformer John Calvin. This tradition includes other Protestant denominations such as the Presbyterians, Reformed Churches and the Disciples of Christ. Though our beliefs are similar, we govern ourselves in a Congregational style.
Our beliefs are not held because they are Congregational or because they conform to the United Church of Christ, but because they are Christian. As such, we believe in these tenets of the Christian faith:
We believe in the real presence of God, revealed as Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer.
We believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and savior, liberator and advocate, host and prophet.
We believe the Bible, Old and New Testaments, to be the authoritative human witness to God’s relationship with the world.
We believe the Church to be the body of Christ, commissioned to do the work of Christ in the world.
We believe that as Christians we have a special obligation to work for justice, peace, caring for the poor and oppressed and offering life to all people.
We believe that the earth and all that is in it (including us) belong to God and we are responsible for caring for it.
We believe in the ability of every Christian to have immediate access to God through Christ.
We believe in the worship of God as our central activity and from which all else comes.
We believe in the two sacraments that Jesus taught: Baptism (of infants and believers), and the Lord's Supper or Holy Communion (for all people of any age).
We believe that Jesus welcomed everyone into his circle of grace and that no one is outside the realm of God’s love.
We believe that we do not have all the answers, but are willing to live the questions together as individuals, as a church community, and as members of the world community.
We believe that our unity is in our diversity that infuses us with new ideas, talents and enthusiasm and we encourage debate and discussion about how our faith informs controversial issues that impact us and our world.
