About God
God has eternally existed as the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. God is the creator and sustainer of all things. God loves all creation and has created humankind in the divine image. God suffers with the victims of violence, injustice, prejudice, hunger, poverty, and illness. God is the judge of all, reigns over all, and is redeeming all creation.
About Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ is the incarnate Word of God revealed to humankind as the son of God and son of man. Jesus Christ is God’s picture of what it means to be a mature human being. He is the Messiah and Savior of the world. Jesus Christ has freed us of our sin and has given us the gift of whole life, eternal life, and salvation. He conquered sin and death in the Resurrection and is the Lord over all.
About the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is God’s presence and present activity in our midst. The Holy Spirit guides, comforts, and strengthens us. The Holy Spirit transforms, renews, and empowers us for the works of ministry. The Holy Spirit produces in us the fruits and gifts of God through our faith in Jesus the Christ.
About Human Beings
God created human beings in God’s image. Human beings can choose to accept or reject a relationship with God. All human beings need to be in relationship with God in order to be fully human.
About the Church
The church is the body of Christ, an extension of Christ’s life and ministry in the world today. The mission of the church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. the church is “the communion of saints,” a community made up of all past, present, and future disciples of Christ. The church is called to worship God and to support those who participate in its life as they grow in faith.
About the Bible
The Bible is sacred Scripture inspired by God through human authors. God was at work in the process of canonization of the sixty six books of the Bible. The Bible is our guide to faith and life as the Holy Spirit works in our thoughts, especially as we study them together, seeking to relate the old words to life’s present realities.
About Sin and Free Will
Humankind is fallen from righteousness and , apart from the grace of God through Christ, is destitute of holiness and inclined to evil. Humankind lacks the ability to please God but empowered for righteous living through the Holy Spirit.
About Salvation
Salvation has been made possible only through the reconciling work of God in Jesus Christ. Any one who accepts Christ’s finished work on the cross is saved and justified through faith.
About Baptism and the Lord's Supper
Baptism is a sign of new birth in Christ and a public profession of faith including infant baptism. Baptism marks the beginning of our lifelong journey as disciples of Jesus Christ. Through baptism, we are joined with the Triune God, the whole of Christ’s church, and our local congregation.
The Lord’s Supper is the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving the church offers to God for all God has done, is doing, and will do to save us and renew all things in Christ. Through offering ourselves in praise and thanksgiving, and through receiving the bread and cup—which the Spirit makes for us the body and blood of Christ—celebrating the Lord’s Supper together nourishes and sustains us in our journey as disciples of Jesus Christ.
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