What We Believe

When Jesus prayed for the Church in John 17, He prayed for our unity and proclaimed that it would show the world what God is like. Sadly, our history as the Church has been marked with division – much of it stemming from what we believe. As a Covenant Church, we try to approach theology in a way that breeds unity within diversity and faithfulness to the Scripture.

On the most basic level, when new members join a Covenant Church, they are asked only two questions about belief: “Do you confess Jesus Christ as your Savior, promising to follow him as Lord?” and “Do you accept the Holy Scriptures, the Old and New Testaments, as the word of God and the only perfect rule for faith, doctrine, and conduct?” They are then asked if they intend to live as faithful followers of Christ and members of the church and denomination.

That’s all. That is enough.

But on another level, of course, the answer is a good deal more complex. While the Covenant Church does not require adherence to any written creed, we take our theology very seriously, and our history as well. We are a Reformation Church, a part of the Church universal, and an Evangelical Church. In that heritage, we share certain central beliefs, which draw us together in faith and fellowship and make possible a freedom among us on more widely ranging issues. We describe those central beliefs as “Affirmations.” We hope that as you read these affirmations you will find yourself identifying with them in your own faith experience. If they raise questions for you or you would like to read further, we would encourage you to ask a pastor.