What we Believe
- We believe that there is one living and true GOD, eternally existing in three persons: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, equal in power and glory; that this triune God created all, upholds all, and governs all things.
- We believe that the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the Word of God, fully inspired without error in the original manuscripts, and the infallible rule of faith and practice. The Word of God is the foundation upon which this church operates and is the basis for which this church is governed. We believe that the Word of God supersedes any earthly law that is contrary to the holy scriptures.
- We believe in the person of God the Father, an Infinite, personal Spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love; that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men; that He hears and answers prayer; and that He saves from sin and death all those who come to Him through Jesus Christ.
- We believe in the person of Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles and teachings, his substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, perpetual intercession for His people, and personal, visible return to earth.
- We believe in the person of the Holy Spirit, who came forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify, and empower for ministry all who believe in Christ.
- We believe the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Jesus Christ and that He is an abiding helper, teacher, and guide.
- We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit and in the exercise of all Biblical gifts of the Spirit.
- We believe that all people are sinners by nature and, therefore, are under condemnation; that God regenerates based upon faith by the Holy Spirit those who repent of their sins and confess Jesus Christ as Lord.
- We believe in the universal church, the living spiritual body, of which Christ is the head and all who are born again are members.
- We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ committed two ordinances to the church: 1) baptism and 2) the Lord’s Supper.
- We believe in water baptism by full immersion and communion with all those who are in Christ.
- We believe also in the laying on of hands for the baptism of the Holy Spirit and the ordination of pastors, elders, and deacons, and for the receiving of the perpetuity of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
- We believe in the Second Coming of Jesus Christ which is His personal, visible return to earth and the establishment of His millennial kingdom, in the resurrection of the body, the final judgment and eternal blessing of the righteous, and endless suffering of the wicked.
- We believe in what is termed “the apostles’ creed” as embodying fundamental facts of Christian faith.
- Human SexualityLegitimate sexual relations are exercised solely within marriage. Hence, sexual activities, such as, but not limited to, adultery, fornication, incest, homosexuality, pedophilia and bestiality are inconsistent with the teachings of the Bible and the Church. Further, lascivious behavior, the creation and/or distribution and/or viewing of pornography, and efforts to alter one’s gender, are incompatible with the biblical witness.Marriage has been ordained (or established) by God.] This church recognizes marriage as exclusively the legal union of one man and one woman in which such union is a lifetime commitment.
- Marriage
Marriage is a union ordained by God. It was first instituted by God in the early chapters of Genesis, codified in the Levitical law, the Old Testament prophets compared it to a relationship between God and his people, examples of it are in the historical narratives, and, the wisdom (poetic) books discuss the unique unity of this relationship. Jesus explained the original intention and core elements of marriage, and several New Testament Epistles give explicit instructions on this union. Marriage is a typology of Christ and the Church. As such, the Church views marriage as a profound spiritual institution established by God. Due to the importance of marriage in the biblical witness, this church adopts the following policy.
Clergy:- Only duly ordained clergy shall officiate at marriage ceremonies conducted on church property.
- Clergy employed by the church shall be subject to dismissal and/or loss of ordination for officiating a same gender marriage ceremony.
Applicants:
- Applicants wishing to have a ceremony performed by a member of the clergy employed by the church, or to use the church facilities, shall affirm their agreement with the Statement of Faith and Conduct and shall conduct themselves in a manner that is consistent therewith.
- Applicants shall receive premarital counseling by clergy or counselors employed by the church or other persons who, in the sole opinion of the pastoral staff of the church, have appropriate training, experience, and spiritual understanding to provide such counseling.
Premises:
- Any marriage performed on church premises shall be officiated by a member of the clergy.
- Clergy officiating marriage ceremonies on church premises, whether or not employed by the church, shall affirm their agreement with the Statement of Faith and Conduct and shall conduct themselves in a manner that is consistent therewith.
- The clergy assigned by the church to implement the procedures contained in this Marriage Policy may, in his or her sole discretion, decline to make church facilities available for, and/or decline to officiate at, a ceremony when, in his or her judgment, there are significant concerns that one or both of the applicants may not be qualified to enter into the sacred bond of marriage for theological, doctrinal, moral or legal reasons.
- Qualifications: (board members, employees, volunteers)
Every minister, board member, employee, or volunteer shall affirm their agreement with the Statement of Faith and shall conduct themselves in a manner that is consistent thereto.(Note: For employees, the above qualifications must be a part of a written employment contract, i.e., consideration is exchanged by the parties. “At will” employment relationships will seriously undermine the religious organization’s ability to enforce moral conduct requirements.
- Qualifications: (members)
Every member shall affirm their agreement with the Statement of Faith and behave in a manner that is consistent thereto. - Religious Schools: (optional for students)
As a prerequisite for attendance and continued enrollment, students shall be in good standing and affirm their agreement with the Statement of Faith and shall conduct themselves in a manner that is consistent thereto. - Religious Schools: (option for parent/guardian)
At least one parent or guardian:- must be a Christian who is in agreement with the school’s Statement of Faith and is a member, or regularly attending, a local church;
- is not participating in practices that are in known violation of law, or are inconsistent with the school’s Statement of Faith including, but not limited to, the provision on human sexuality.
