DOCTRINAL STATEMENT

              Doctrinal Confession

 

 

 

 Prologomena

In essential beliefs — there must be unity.

 “There is one Body and one Spirit...there is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 

and one God and Father of us all...”  Eph. 4:4-6

In non-essential beliefs — there must be liberty.

 “Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable 

matters...  Who are you to judge someone else’s servant?  To his own master 

he stands or falls...  So then each of us will give an account of himself to God...  

So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God.”  

Romans 14:1, 4, 12, 22

In all beliefs — there must be charity.

 “...If I hold in my mind not only all human knowledge but also the very 

secrets of God, and if I have the faith that can move mountains — but have 

no love, I amount to nothing at all.”  1 Cor. 13:2  

In teaching and applying beliefs — there must be integrity. 

In as much as the ministry of the Word must be entrusted to men proven 

competent in lifestyle, circumstance, and study, for the teaching and 

application of holistic counsel of the Word into the whole of life for those 

belonging to the Lord, the overseers of the Body must seek to honor God 

above all men in the administration of that counsel to the best of their 

ability.  The Word must be proclaimed without compromise or priority of 

social agenda according to God's purposes for it. 

"But you must speak what is consistent with sound teaching...with integrity

and dignity in your teaching.  Your message is to be sound beyond reproach...

demonstrating utter faithfulness, so that they may adorn the teaching of God 

our Savior in everything.  For the grace of God has appeared with salvation 

for all people, instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live 

in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age..."   "Proclaim the

message you originally received whether convenient or not...fulfill your 

ministry."  Titus 2:1, 7, 8, 10-12 also 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5.

 

Statement of Doctrine

1. The Holy Scriptures

I believe in the Protestant 

(66 books) Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments 

as the inspired verbal and plenary Word of God. I 

believe God superintended the work of human authors 

within the authoring process so that, using their own 

individual personalities, they composed and recorded, 

without error in the original autographs, His revelation 

to man.  All Scripture is authoritative and without error.  

Furthermore, I believe it is the supreme and final auth-

ority in all matters about which it speaks.  I believe the 

Scriptures are to be interpreted in a primarily literal 

and normal way.  I believe it is the teachers divine 

mandate to consider historical-cultural context, literary 

genre, grammatical construction, literary context, the 

possible applications that they original audience could 

have understood, and harmony with other scriptures as 

guidelines for interpretation.  I believe all of Scripture 

requires careful study and contextualization.  I believe 

that the Holy Spirit guides the believer into accepting 

the testimony of Scripture as truth, but that the believer 

has the responsibility to grow in maturity of the Word 

through careful study.  I believe that God's revelation to 

man is complete for the purposes God has for man, and 

that He speaks to man primarily through the Scriptures.

(Proverbs 2:1-5, 3:21-24; Matthew 5:18; John 10:35; 

Romans 12:2; I Timothy 4:6-16; II Timothy 2:15, 3:16-17,

 4:1-5; Hebrews 5:11-14; I Peter 1:23-25; II Peter 1:5-9, 

20-21; Revelation 22:18-19)

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2. The Godhead

I believe in one Triune God, existing 

in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, co-eternal 

in being, identical in essence, equal in power and glory, 

and having the same attributes of perfection.

(Genesis 1:2, 26; Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 45:21;

 Matthew 28:19; John 1:1-3, 8:58, 17:5, 11, 21-22, 24; 

Colossians 1:15-16)

           A.  The Father The Father is the ultimate authority

 and object of glory.  The Father is the supreme object of 

Christ's revelation.  (Matthew 5:16,6:9, 7:21, 10:32-33, 

11:27, 16:27, 20:23, 24:36, 25:34; John 17:1-12; 

Revelations 5)

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3. The Person and Work of Christ

I believe that the Lord Jesus, the eternal Son of God, became man, without 

ceasing to be God, having been conceived of the Holy 

Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, in order that He might 

reveal God and redeem the broken Image of God in 

man, and redeem sinful man through His life, death 

and resurrection.  I believe that He fully accomplished 

our redemption and secured it for all time, through 

His death on the cross as a volitional, vicarious, and 

propitiatory sacrifice.  I believe that our redemption, 

salvation, and hope of new life is guaranteed to us by 

His literal, physical resurrection from the dead.

(Isaiah 53:4-5, 10-12; John 1:1-2, 14, 18, 17:3-8, 

25-26; Luke 1:35, 19:10; Romans 3:24-26, 4:25, 

5:12-21, 6:4; 1 John 3:8)

I believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is now in heaven, 

exalted at the right hand of God, where, as His people's 

High Priest, He fulfills the ministry of intercession and 

advocacy.(Hebrews 1:3, 3:1, 7:23-25, 9:24, 12:2; 

I John 2:1-2)

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4. The Person and work of the Holy Spirit

I believe the Holy Spirit is God who convicts the world of sin, 

righteousness, and judgment.  He also, in the present age, 

regenerates believers in Christ, baptizes them into the 

Church, indwells them permanently, seals them unto the 

day of redemption, bestows spiritual gifts upon each one, 

guides them into believing the testimony of Scripture, 

and unites believers in purpose for the exaltation of Christ 

and the glory of God.(John 14:16, 15:26-27, 16:7-15; 

I Corinthians 12:4-11, 13; Ephesians 4:3-16, 30)

The Holy Spirit equips each believer with spiritual gifts 

(at least one) for the express and singular purpose of 

edifying the Church by exalting Christ to the glory of 

God in manners consistent with the building up of 

individuals toward maturity in Christ, the preparation 

of the Bride to meet Christ in Maturity, and the faithful 

stewardship of the biblical teachings.

            Baptism of the Holy Spirit is the act of irrevocable 

adoption as a child of God by God the Father in Jesus Christ. 

In spiritual baptism, the Holy Spirit seals the believer as an 

anointed coheir with Christ for the redemptive, sanctifying 

work He will continue to perform until completion.

            The infilling of the Holy Spirit is the work and 

presence of God in the believers life and being as the 

believer continues to conform to the knowledge of the 

Image of Christ.  Indwelling of the Holy Spirit is necessarily 

evidenced by fellowship with God in the life and faith of 

the believer.

 

5. The Alienated Condition of Man(Sin) 

I believe that man was created in the Image and likeness of God.  However, in 

Adam's sin, the Image of God was tainted in man and human 

nature became corrupt, and sinful nature is inherited with 

human nature.  As such, all men have become alienated 

from God, and without God's grace through the righteousness 

of Christ to gain the intended position of fellowship with 

Him, all men are destined for eternal destruction.  Sin is so ingrained, that even after

the salvation experience, it continues to defile man and cause inner

spiritual turmoil that only the Gospel purpose and power can overcome (Romans 7).

(Genesis 1:26, 3:1-24; Psalm 14:3; Isaiah 53:6; Luke 19:10, 

Romans 1:21, 24-32, 2:1-16, 3:9-12, 23, 5:12; Ephesians 2:12)

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6. Salvation 

I believe that salvation is a gift of God's grace 

through faith (which is also a gift, not of our own contemplation) 

in the Lord Jesus Christ alone whose precious blood was shed 

for the forgiveness of our sins; of God's initiation and 

administration in whole, without consideration of human effort. 

(Matthew 19:26; John 1:12; Romans 5:2; Ephesians 1:7, 2:8, 

1 John 1:9)

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7. The Eternal Security of the Believer

I believe that all those who have genuinely put their trust in Christ as Savior and Lord 

have become new creations, and redeemed Image Bearers in 

Christ, and are kept eternally secure by the power of the Holy 

Spirit and the intercession of Jesus Christ.(John 10:27-30, 

17:19-20, 24; Romans 8:1, 29-30, 38-39; Ephesians 4:30; 

Hebrews 7:25; I Peter 1:5)

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8. The Church 

I believe that the Church is the universal Bride 

and Body of Christ. This Body is composed of all regenerated 

believers in Christ regardless of denominational affiliation or 

church membership.(John 3:29; I Corinthians 12:4-27; 

Ephesians 1:22, 5:23-30; Revelation 19:7)

I believe that the local church is an assembly of professed 

believers in Jesus Christ who have the privilege and 

responsibility to voluntarily join together in and for the 

purpose of equipping each believer to be obedient to God 

through vital, personal and corporate experiences: with Him, 

in His Word, with one another, and in evangelism.

I believe that the local church is God's primary means of leading 

people to Christ and presenting each believer mature in Christ.

(Matthew 16:18-19, 28:18-20; Acts 2:37-47; Hebrews 10:25)

 

Baptism and the Lord's Supper

I believe that the Lord Jesus instituted the ordinances of baptism 

and the Lord's Supper to be observed by all believers until 

His return.(Matthew 28:19-20; I Corinthians 11:23-26)

 

9. The Second Coming of Christ I believe in the personal 

I believe in the imminent Pre-wrath coming of the Lord Jesus Christ for His own, the 

Church. "Pre-wrath" refers to “before God’s retributive anger on those who persecuted his saints” – not “before the wrath of Satan persecuting the saints”. (Zechariah 14:4-11; I Thessalonians 1:9-10, 4:13-18; 

Revelation 20:6)

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10. The Eternal State of the Redeemed

I believe in the literal bodily resurrection 

of all persons. Believers are to be resurrected as new physical

and spiritual Creations to enjoy eternal life with God; and 

unbelievers to experience judgment and then eternal destruction 

at the Hand of God in a literal Lake of Fire.

(Matthew 10:28, John 5:28-29; I Corinthians15:52; I Thessalonians 4:16; II Thessalonians 1:7-9; Revelation 20:4-6, 21:1-8)

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11. The Responsibility of Believers

I believe that all believers should seek to walk by the Spirit, not bringing reproach upon 

their Lord and Savior or His Bride and Body, the Church, and that

separation from willful sinful practices while conforming to His likeness 

is commanded by God (Romans 12:1-2; II Corinthians 6:14, 7:1; 

Galatians 5:16, 25)

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I believe that it is the obligation of every believer to witness 

by life and by word to the truths of Holy Scripture and to seek 

to proclaim the authentic gospel as they go out into all the world. 

(Acts 1:8; Romans 16:17)

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I believe that it is the responsibility of all believers to take 

part in the work of the Lord through prayer and to support His 

work (Kingdom Building) by whatever means the Lord has 

blessed them. (I Corinthians 16:2)

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I believe that Scripture teaches that the local church should 

have the priority of giving and supporting the work of 

Kingdom building and that individuals should primarily give 

and support the Kingdom work of the local church. 

(Acts 2:37-47; I Corinthians 9:11, 16:1-2)

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12.  Satan 

Satan is a literal fallen angel, the present "ruler 

of the air" and “this age”.  He is called The Accuser who stands before God accusing mankind and accuses God before mankind. I believe in his limited presence, knowledge, and power currently at work on earth to frustrate the purposes and 

glory of God among men.  He is very intelligent and presents often as an angel of Light and is supremely crafty in deception. He must still bow to the sovereignty of God in 

all things, and his eventual rebellion against that sovereignty 

will result in his ultimate destruction in the Lake of Fire (Gen. 3:1-5; 

Job 1:6-7; Luke 4:1-13, 10:18; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 2:2; 

Rev. 20:7-10)

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B. Covenant of Fellowship 

I believe it is incumbent of each believer to covenant together, recognizing dependence on the 

Holy Spirit for the following:

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1.  To walk together in Christian love;2.  To exercise Christian 

care and watchfulness over one another;3.  To pray with and 

for one another, sharing our burdens, sorrow, and joys;4.  To 

be thoughtful and courteous to one another, to be slow to 

take offense, and to be quick to forgive and to seek forgiveness;

5.  To guard the spiritual and scriptural purity, peace and 

prosperity of the Church and its growth in scriptural knowledge 

and godliness;6.  To assist, as the Lord enables, in the work 

of the Church, and to promote its usefulness as a witness to 

the saving grace of God in Christ Jesus;7.  To contribute, as 

the Lord directs, to the financial support of the church, the 

relief of the needy, and the evangelization of all peoples;

8.  To love and to pray for all believers in the Lord Jesus Christ;

9.  To engage regularly in study of the Word and prayer;

10.  To bring up such children as may be entrusted to our care 

in the nurture and admonition of the Lord;11.  To walk with 

integrity in the world, to provide all things honest in the sight 

of all men, to be faithful in lifestyle and worldview, exemplary 

in conduct, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts;12.  To 

endeavor by example, by word, and by prayer, to give witness 

of Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, that the Holy Spirit would 

work in these things to lead others to Him; 13.  To ultimately 

glorify God through the exaltation of Christ in the power of 

the Holy Spirit in everything as the primary purpose of life.

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New Church Plant Manifesto

            The driving rationale behind this new church plant is as follows: Alert everyone everywhere to the universal reign of God in Christ. There is too much church hurt resulting in lack of care due to a call to shepherd a ministry in lieu of a forgotten call to shepherd (oversee from a human stewardship) the individual sheep in the flock.

            We believe it’s time for a fresh expression of church - a community centered on God’s Restorative Justice - where Truth and Grace are not in tension, but in beautiful balance. To live out in community with others how God’s reign is immanent and that if we submit every area of life to it, we can experiences the promises of Freedom, joy, connection, wisdom, and mission the way he promised.

            Our desire is to pursue excellence in all things, offering our very best “with all our heart as unto the Lord” (Colossians 3:23). Yet, more than showcasing human effort - whether in vibrant expression and energy, or through restraint and discipline - we long for people to encounter the joy, energy, and fulfillment that radiate from living in the Light of God’s design. It’s this divine experience of power, commitment, acceptance, safety, and being seen - not just polished production - that we believe the world is truly searching for.

            The five foundational principles that this focus is built on are:

            Freedom, Joy, Connection, Wisdom, and Mission

            We envision a church with a culture created and maintained as both a sanctuary and a launchpad - a place where the soul experiences the promises of Freedom, Joy, Connection, and Wisdom and where together, we stoke the desire to multiply these experiences in Mission. Our community is rooted in the unapologetic timeless truths of Scripture but lived out in the character of Jesus, not tradition. Traditions can be good, but not when handed down as the Law of God and mixed in with Jesus’ teaching so as to confuse what Jesus said and what men thought about it (Matthew 15:9; Matthew 23:1-4). We desire to be propelled - surrendered but expectant - by the dynamic movement of the Holy Spirit. We will strive to teach, experience, and embody the following five principles in every facet of our communal life:

1. Freedom: Living in the Freedom that Christ taught and provided in His Life, Death, and Resurrection.

            Jesus provided the means of Freedom from the chains of sin, fear, and legalism through His redemptive life, work, death, and resurrection. Freedom CAN BE experienced Spiritually, physically, intellectually, creatively, emotionally, socially, as well as in purpose, gratitude, and stewardship! This freedom empowers us to live authentically, serve selflessly, and pursue our God-given purpose without hindrance. But it also invites Biblical accountability which is characterized by humility, gentleness, wisdom, love, and reverence. So many people don’t know about this, believe it really is a promise attached to salvation, or trust that it applies to them.  Some have wrong expectations of what the experience of Freedom will or “should” look like.  We want people to know and experience the joy of God’s provision in this promise! The difference in a missional -incarnational approach is that the following programs will go to the people.  We will strive to discover what people need and bring the freedom and wisdom of Christ to them in their situation and context.  The plant is not about planting a Sunday service.  It is about planting a community of people who are committed to missional training and then engagement toward multiplication.

            Scriptural Foundation:
"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free." — Galatians 5:1

            Application in Church Life:

• Developing programs that provide for and encouraging personal and communal spiritual disciplines that foster freedom in Christ (i.e., Counseling ministries, recovery ministries, transition ministries, prison and shut in visitation ministries, prayer groups and ministries, scholastic and professional development ministries (e.g. CRU), marriage therapies, financial freedom interventions).

• Promoting ministries that address and break societal and personal bondage (same as above).

• Creating spaces where questions and doubts can be expressed without judgment (i.e., intentional living, scheduled meetups, Alpha ministries, worship service awareness and intervention (e.g. prayer warriors who observe and are available for immediate conversation and prayer)).

2. Joy: Acknowledging, living in, and celebrating the Sovereignty of God.

We find our deepest joy in the unwavering truth that God is sovereign over all creation. This joy is not dependent on our circumstances but is rooted in the assurance that God is in control, working all things according to His perfect will, which results ultimately in His Glory, our good, and the world’s benefit. Our lives should honestly recognize the full spectrum of brokenness and we should participate in the full range of God-given emotions, but we will live as the Psalms prescribe for us to rest in and trust that He is working all things together for good eventually and that our final destination - in the processing of any experience - is to walk by faith and experience a “peace”/ joy that surpasses all understanding.

            Scriptural Foundation:
"The joy of the Lord is your strength." — Nehemiah 8:10

            Application in Church Life:

• Incorporating testimonies and stories of God's faithful sovereignty in ministry.

• Organizing church and community events that foster joy and fellowship by expressing trust and faith (i.e., worship events, prayers events, service projects, engagement projects (attending civic sessions, community festival presence, etc.).

• Creating an emphasis on worship which encourages artistic expressions (music, dance, art) as forms of joyful worship.

3. Connection: Living authentically human.

            We are designed for relationship - first with God, then with one another. Our church should be a tapestry of diverse individuals woven together by love, mutual respect, and a shared commitment to grow together in Christ. We recognize that authentic connection extends beyond our congregation, reaching out to those who may not share our faith but share our humanity as Image Born creatures.

            Scriptural Foundation:

"Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves." — Romans 12:10

            Application in Church Life:

• Establishing small groups that meet regularly for study, prayer, and support.

• Facilitating mentorship programs that connect different generations.

• Engaging in community service projects that extend our connection beyond church walls. Supporting the human needs of those nominally and dogmatically different from us.

4. Wisdom: Pursuing God's Truth

            We seek a wisdom that transcends human understanding - a divine insight that shapes our lives and our community. This heavenly wisdom is characterized by purity, peacefulness, gentleness, considerateness, mercy, good fruits, impartiality, and sincerity. It guides us to live authentically, make just decisions, and foster an environment where truth and love coexist. In a post-Christian, deconstruction age, many people are rightly skeptical of absolute claims and wisdom is often associated with the negative connotations of condescension, control, and gatekeeping.  We want people to experience the love, compassion, goodness, perfection, and power of God’s wisdom so they KNOW they can trust Him!

        Scriptural Foundations:

• "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you." — James 1:5

• "But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere." — James 3:17

        Application in Church Life:

• Teaching: We provide biblical instruction that emphasizes God's wisdom, encouraging members to seek and apply it in daily life. We allow God’s word to explain life and not the other way around (I Corinthians 1:25-30).

• Decision-Making: Our leadership and congregation strive to make choices rooted in divine wisdom, reflecting the qualities outlined in James 3:17.

• Community Engagement: We approach our neighbors with gentleness and mercy, aiming to be Spirit-led and sincere in our interactions.

            By embodying this wisdom, we aspire to be a church that not only understands God's truth but lives it out, impacting our community and beyond so that Jesus is seen and glorified above any human tradition or transient landscape.

Teaching the Word: Awakening Joy Through Truth

            We are committed to teaching the Word of God in a manner that ignites excitement and discovery. Our aim is to inspire individuals to explore those four promises of Scripture, experiencing the transformative power of God's truth in their lives.

            Recognizing that historical interpretations have sometimes been limited by tradition, we embrace the wealth of insights available through contemporary scholarship and discoveries, such as the Dead Sea Scrolls and other ancient manuscripts. These resources provide deeper understanding and clarity, allowing us to present Scripture in its rich, original context and understanding.

            We seek to move beyond denominational affiliations that may have perpetuated inaccuracies, choosing instead to align our teachings with the authentic message of the Bible. This approach fosters a faith experience that is both joyful and liberating, reflecting the true nature of the Bible’s presentation of “holiness” as intended by God. We will not perpetuate wrong ideas simply because “everyone accepts it at face value”

            Holiness, as portrayed in Scripture, is not about rigid legalism but about living in the freedom and joy of being part of God's family. We strive to cultivate a community where this understanding of holiness is lived out daily, free from judgment, but accountable and full of grace.

            By embracing these principles, we aim to create a church environment where individuals are encouraged to grow in their faith, explore the depths of God's Word, and experience the joy and freedom that come from a genuine relationship with Him.

Accountability: Living Faithfully in God's Love

            We affirm the importance of biblical accountability - not as a means of control or judgment, but as a mutual commitment to spiritual growth, grounded in love and guided by the Holy Spirit. Historically, accountability has sometimes been misapplied, leading to legalism and fear. We acknowledge these missteps and commit to a restorative approach that reflects God's grace and truth. We must honor His instruction – what He says is wrong is wrong, what He says is the right way is the right way - but we must do so in love. That is His command, not a watered down appeasement of any cultural issue (John 13:34-35; I Corinthians 16:14).

Our model is drawn from Jude 3, 20-21:

“”…earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” [in the first century – not by methodist, Baptist, catholic, or presbyterian pastors – and how the Jews originally received and understood the Old testament.]

"But you, beloved, build yourselves up on your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit; keep yourselves in the love of God; look forward to the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life."

This passage outlines a framework for accountability that is:

• Faith-Building: Encouraging one another to deepen our understanding and application of God's Word.

• Spirit-Led Prayer: Engaging in prayer that seeks alignment with the Holy Spirit's guidance.

• Love-Centered: Fostering relationships that reflect God's Sovereign love, offering support and correction with compassion.

• Hope-Oriented: Maintaining a forward-looking perspective, anchored in the mercy and promise of eternal life through Jesus Christ. 

            In practice, this means creating a community where members feel safe to share struggles, celebrate victories, and hold each other accountable in a manner that is edifying and grace-filled. Our goal is to cultivate an environment where holiness is pursued not through fear or obligation, but through a joyful response to God's love and mercy.

5. Mission: Cultivating a Spirit-Led, Replicable Movement

            Our mission is not to build a centralized institution or a brand-driven mega-church. Instead, we aim to create a transformative experience of faith—rooted in freedom, joy, connection, and wisdom—that naturally inspires others to replicate and share.

            We are committed to fostering communities that embody the essence of God on mission, where believers gathered in homes or shared spaces to receive life transformation through submission to the reign of God in Christ; where they shared life together, and multiplied organically through the power of the Holy Spirit. This approach aligns with the concept of Missio Dei—the understanding that mission originates from God and that the church is an instrument of His mission.

            Scriptural Foundations:

• Matthew 28:19–20 – Jesus commissions His followers to make disciples of all nations, baptizing and teaching them to obey His commands. This Great Commission underscores the call to disciple-making and the expansion of God's kingdom.

• Acts 1:8 – Jesus tells His disciples they will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon them, enabling them to be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. This verse highlights the Spirit-empowered mission to spread the Gospel globally.

• 2 Timothy 2:2 – Paul instructs Timothy to entrust the teachings to reliable individuals who will, in turn, teach others. This verse emphasizes the importance of discipleship and the multiplication of faithful leaders.

• Acts 14:21–23 – Paul and Barnabas preach the Gospel, make disciples, and appoint elders in various cities, demonstrating the practice of establishing and strengthening local churches.

            Our goal is to cultivate a movement that is:

• Spirit-Led: Empowered by the Holy Spirit, we seek to discern and follow God's direction in all aspects of our mission.

• Replicable: We aim to create models of church life that can be easily reproduced in diverse contexts, allowing the movement to grow organically.

• Community-Centric: Focusing on authentic relationships and shared experiences, we prioritize the development of close-knit communities that reflect the love of Christ.Wikipedia

• Mission-Oriented: Every member is encouraged to live missionally, embracing their role in God's redemptive plan and actively participating in the spread of the Gospel.

            By embracing this mission-focused approach, we aspire to see a multiplication of communities that are not bound by possibly stifling traditional structures but are united by a shared commitment to live out the transformative power of the Gospel in their everyday lives.

Leadership: Reflecting God's Heart and Promises

            In our church community, leadership is not a position of prestige but a calling to embody the transformative promises of God. We believe that leaders should be living testimonies of the freedom, joy, connection, and wisdom that come from a deep relationship with Christ in mission.

            Historically, the Church has sometimes prioritized worldly qualifications - such as business acumen, age, popularity, or academic credentials- over spiritual maturity and experiential faith evidenced by authentic fruits of the Spirit. However, Scripture emphasizes these qualities (i.e., love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, goodness, self-control, humility, integrity, and a heart aligned with God's purposes for freedom, joy, connection, and wisdom. Many people have memorized scripture, led Bible studies, and even preached to others’ acclaim; yet from a fruit- tested perspective they were not spiritually mature or qualified to be overseers.

            As Paul outlines in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9, leaders are to be above reproach, self-controlled, hospitable, and faithful - to outsiders as well as insiders.

            We acknowledge that accountability has not always been practiced in the Spirit's strength, leading to legalism or abuse. Therefore, we commit to a model of accountability rooted in love, grace, and mutual edification, as exemplified in Jude 1:20-21:

"But you, beloved, build yourselves up on your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit; keep yourselves in the love of God; look forward to the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life."

And the wisdom of James 3:17:

"But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere."

In this light, our leaders will:

• Live the Promises: Actively experience and model the principles of freedom, joy, connection, and wisdom along with the other fruits of the Spirit in their daily lives as much as possible.

• Embrace Servanthood: Lead with humility, prioritizing the well-being and spiritual growth of the community over personal ambition.

• Foster Inclusivity of the Gospel (not social agenda): Recognize and honor the shared humanity of all individuals, extending grace and understanding to both believers and non-believers without compromising truth.  We can love without affirming sin.

• Pursue Continuous Growth: Remain open to learning and transformation, allowing the Holy Spirit to refine our character and leadership, and acknowledge when and where we have been wrong.

Annual Submission for Review: In our pursuit of authentic church leadership, we recognize that many contemporary models of church polity have deviated from biblical principles. Scripture consistently presents a framework of shared leadership through a plurality of elders, emphasizing mutual accountability and servant-hearted oversight. Passages such as Acts 14:23 and Titus 1:5 illustrate the appointment of multiple elders in each congregation, underscoring the collective responsibility in shepherding God's people (as opposed to simply governing a corporation and monitoring the pastoral staff).

            However, modern practices often elevate a single pastor above other elders, or elevate an entire board of elders over the pastoral staff.  Both models create hierarchical structures that resemble secular corporate boards more than the servant leadership modeled by Christ or the first century church. This concentration of authority can lead to a lack of accountability and a departure from the collaborative oversight and service-orientation intended in the New Testament.

            To align with God's design, we must restore a model of church leadership that reflects the early church's example -where elders serve collectively, hold each other accountable, and lead with humility and integrity. They must all submit to accountability in some way. We believe we can look for and select leaders more in line with God’s design and submit to better polity. This approach will better foster a healthy, vibrant community that honors Christ and effectively shepherds His flock.

            By adhering to these principles, our leadership aims to reflect God's heart, guiding our community into a deeper, more authentic relationship with Him.

Worship, Outreach, and Unity: Embracing a Holistic Church Life

Seeker-Sensitive, Not Seeker-Centric

            We are committed to creating a welcoming environment that is sensitive to seekers - those exploring faith - without compromising the depth and truth of the Gospel and the rest of Scripture narrative. Our services aim to be inviting and accessible yet remain centered on Christ and the edification of believers.

As noted by GotQuestions.org, seeker-sensitive refers to churches that strive to make the church experience comfortable and non-threatening to the unsaved, with the hope that they will embrace the Gospel. We amend this to mean “so that they have the opportunity to hear the Gospel and experience its promises without man-made constraints”.

Worship as a Way of Life

            Worship extends beyond music and Sunday services; it is a lifestyle of honoring God in all we do. Living a life of worship involves aligning with the Holy Spirit and delighting in God's will. Our daily actions, decisions, and interactions should reflect our devotion to God, transforming every aspect of our lives into acts of worship.

Elevating Musical Worship

            While worship encompasses our entire lives, musical worship holds a significant place in our gatherings. Historically, we have emphasized an imbalanced priority of the Word, which commands worshipful response, while at the same time limiting the opportunity of that corporate response as a component of equal value to YHWH from His redeemed. In both the Old and New Testaments, music played a vital role in expressing praise and adoration. We aim to cultivate musical worship that is both heartfelt and skillfully offered, recognizing its power to encourage, embolden, teach, and unite the congregation and glorify God. To this end we believe it must also be theologically stewarded.

Liberty and Grace in Non-Essentials

            We uphold the principle: "In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity." This means that while we stand firm on core doctrines of the Christian faith, we allow freedom and grace in secondary matters. As Ligonier Ministries explains, in non-essentials, liberty is granted so that all might follow their consciences under the Word and Spirit. This approach fosters a community marked by love, understanding, and mutual respect, even amidst diverse perspectives.

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