Bible
The Bible is central to our relationship with God and each other. While there are some areas where sincere Christians agree to disagree, the Bible makes clear that certain truths are essential convictions of the Christian faith.
The Bible [all the books of the Old and New Testaments] is the true written message of God to us. We believe God inspired the authors of the Bible and it is therefore completely trustworthy. The Bible is the final authority on all matters to which it speaks. Its story tells us who God is, what He has done for us, and His desires for us throughout all ages. [Ps. 19:7-11, 119:105; 2Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21]
God
There is one God, who exists forever in perfect community as three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God created the universe by His power and word. God is all-knowing, all-powerful and ever present. He is the designer of creation, the speaker of revelation, the author of redemption, and the sovereign of history. The Father is the first person of the Trinity and the source of everything that God is and does. From Him Jesus was sent and from them the Spirit works in and through us. Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man. He was born of a virgin, died on a cross for the sins of man, was buried, rose from death, and ascended into heaven. He is head of the Church and is interceding for believers, and He will return again in body to reign over a new heaven and earth. The Holy Spirit convicts the world, and lives in, empowers, and encourages the believers in Christ. [Gen. 1; Deut. 6:4; Mt. 1:18-25; John 1:14, 8:40,58, 11:33, 16:8-14; Acts 1:9-11, 2:38-39; Rom. 5:8-10, 8:26; Eph. 5:18; Phil. 2:5-11; Col. 1:15-17; 1 Thess. 4:13 – 17; Heb. 1:8; 9:28]
Humanity and God’s Grace
Humans are created in the image of God, but like Adam and Eve, each of us has chosen to live independent of God’s leading and authority, (sin) to follow our own path in life. Living apart from God leads to death and eternal separation from Him. God, in His love, has always extended a choice for redemption and forgiveness. It is not earned by our good deeds but is made available by His sheer grace. His mercy is extended to us from the cross and a promise that all who believe in that work will enjoy and live in relationship with Him and all who believe forever. [Gen. 1:26; Rom. 3, 5:12-19; Eph. 2:1-3, 4:18-19]
Church
The Church is a local body of believers who have agreed to regularly meet together to love and serve each other, reach out to their community, worship Jesus, and live with Him at the center of their lives in all things. The Church celebrates two special rites: Baptism and Communion. Baptism symbolizes Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection and the new life we have in Him. Communion is a reminder of Christ’s death and looks forward to His return. [Mt. 3:13-17, 26:26-29, Rom. 6:3-5; 1Cor. 11:23-34 12:12-14; Eph. 1:22-23]
Marriage & Sexuality
We believe that every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity. Hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual, or group, are to be repudiated and are not in accord with Scripture or the doctrines of the church. [Rom. 12:9 – 21; Gen. 1:27; 2:22-24; Lev. 18:22; Matt. 19:4-6; Rom. 1:26-28; 1Cor. 6:9; Col. 3:18-19; Eph. 5:22-33]
We believe that the term “marriage” has only one meaning and that is, marriage sanctioned by God which joins one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture, and that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of that union. [Gen. 1:27; 2:24; Matt. 19:4; Mark 10:6 – 9; Eph. 5:22-33]
We believe that any form of sexual immorality, such as adultery, fornication, homosexuality, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, pornography or any attempt to change one’s sex, or disagreement with one’s biological sex, is sinful and offensive to God. [Acts 16:19 – 20; Rom. 1:18 – 32; 1 Cor. 6:9 – 20; 1 Thess. 4:3 – 5; Matt. 5:28]
We believe that in order to preserve the function and integrity of the local church as the Body of Christ, and to provide a biblical role model to the church members and the community, it is imperative that all persons employed by the church in any capacity, or who serve as volunteers, should abide by and agree to this statement of marriage and sexuality and conduct themselves accordingly.
We believe that God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking his mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. [1 Jn. 1:9]