What We Believe
As members of the United Church of Christ (UCC), we are a unity in diversity. The beliefs of our members span the gamut. Basically, we subscribe to the motto of Eden Theological Seminary (attributed to Saint Augustine of Hippo):
In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things charity.
We encourage our members to think for themselves. Faith is a journey. The journey starts with you in relationship with God. Instead of providing our members with a strict set of doctrines to which they must adhere, we encourage them to wrestle with the tough spiritual and theological questions and come to a personal understanding of what they mean for their personal faith and life.
Although our members do not agree on every doctrine of the faith (e.g. the Trinity, the authority of Scripture, salvation, and such), we are united in a covenantal relationship. Regardless of how we understand the God revealed to us in Jesus Christ, we live in a relationship of reciprocal love, support, and care. We also believe, as James proclaims, that “faith without works is dead” (James 2:20). We also believe that we are called to live-out our faith by feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, and welcoming the stranger. In other words, “In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things charity.”
As a UCC congregation, we subscribe to the basic tenets of the Christian faith as outlined in the UCC Statement of Faith
United Church of Christ Statement of Faith in the form of a doxology
We believe in you, O God, Eternal Spirit,
God of our Savior Jesus Christ and our God,
and to your deeds we testify:
You call the worlds into being,
create persons in your own image,
and set before each one the ways of life and death.
You seek in holy love to save all people from aimlessness and sin.
You judge people and nations by your righteous will
declared through prophets and apostles.
In Jesus Christ, the man of Nazareth, our crucified and
risen Savior,
you have come to us
and shared our common lot,
conquering sin and death
and reconciling the world to yourself.
You bestow upon us your Holy Spirit,
creating and renewing the church of Jesus Christ,
binding in covenant faithful people of all ages,
tongues, and races.
You call us into your church
to accept the cost and joy of discipleship,
to be your servants in the service of others,
to proclaim the gospel to all the world
and resist the powers of evil,
to share in Christ’s baptism and eat at his table,
to join him in his passion and victory.
You promise to all who trust you
forgiveness of sins and fullness of grace,
courage in the struggle for justice and peace,
your presence in trial and rejoicing,
and eternal life in your realm which has no end.
Blessing and honor, glory and power be unto you.
Amen.
It is important to note that the Statement of Faith, which has been through many revisions in the past fifty years, is a testimony of our common faith, not a test of faith, as we find in the classical Christian creeds.
Lastly, because we believe in a God that extends an extravagant welcome to all people, we welcome and affirm all people into our fellowship regardless of their age, race, class, ability, religious understanding, gender identity, or sexual orientation.
No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here.
In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things charity.
We encourage our members to think for themselves. Faith is a journey. The journey starts with you in relationship with God. Instead of providing our members with a strict set of doctrines to which they must adhere, we encourage them to wrestle with the tough spiritual and theological questions and come to a personal understanding of what they mean for their personal faith and life.
Although our members do not agree on every doctrine of the faith (e.g. the Trinity, the authority of Scripture, salvation, and such), we are united in a covenantal relationship. Regardless of how we understand the God revealed to us in Jesus Christ, we live in a relationship of reciprocal love, support, and care. We also believe, as James proclaims, that “faith without works is dead” (James 2:20). We also believe that we are called to live-out our faith by feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, and welcoming the stranger. In other words, “In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things charity.”
As a UCC congregation, we subscribe to the basic tenets of the Christian faith as outlined in the UCC Statement of Faith
United Church of Christ Statement of Faith in the form of a doxology
We believe in you, O God, Eternal Spirit,
God of our Savior Jesus Christ and our God,
and to your deeds we testify:
You call the worlds into being,
create persons in your own image,
and set before each one the ways of life and death.
You seek in holy love to save all people from aimlessness and sin.
You judge people and nations by your righteous will
declared through prophets and apostles.
In Jesus Christ, the man of Nazareth, our crucified and
risen Savior,
you have come to us
and shared our common lot,
conquering sin and death
and reconciling the world to yourself.
You bestow upon us your Holy Spirit,
creating and renewing the church of Jesus Christ,
binding in covenant faithful people of all ages,
tongues, and races.
You call us into your church
to accept the cost and joy of discipleship,
to be your servants in the service of others,
to proclaim the gospel to all the world
and resist the powers of evil,
to share in Christ’s baptism and eat at his table,
to join him in his passion and victory.
You promise to all who trust you
forgiveness of sins and fullness of grace,
courage in the struggle for justice and peace,
your presence in trial and rejoicing,
and eternal life in your realm which has no end.
Blessing and honor, glory and power be unto you.
Amen.
It is important to note that the Statement of Faith, which has been through many revisions in the past fifty years, is a testimony of our common faith, not a test of faith, as we find in the classical Christian creeds.
Lastly, because we believe in a God that extends an extravagant welcome to all people, we welcome and affirm all people into our fellowship regardless of their age, race, class, ability, religious understanding, gender identity, or sexual orientation.
No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here.
