We affirm our belief in the historic witness of the one, holy, catholic (that is, “universal”) and apostolic Church as revealed in the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, and summarized in the ancient Apostles’ and Nicene Creeds. As Presbyterians, we gladly embrace our Reformed Tradition which emphasizes the authority of Scripture, the sovereign grace of God, and the mandate to proclaim Jesus as Lord to the whole world. To this end, we subscribe to the Book of Confessions of the Presbyterian Church (USA) which includes, among others, both the Westminster Standards and the Heidelberg Catechism. Our Church is governed according to the Presbyterian Book of Order.
GOD. There is one God, without beginning and without end who is eternal, infinite, perfect, and glorious; unchangeable in His being and perfection; the Creator of all things, and the Sovereign of the Universe. God, perfect in love and righteousness, one in essence, existing eternally in the three persons of the Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
JESUS CHRIST. Jesus is the full and only complete revelation of God to humanity. He is God’s eternal and only-begotten Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered and was buried, and on Easter he rose again from the dead for us and for our salvation. Jesus is both fully human and fully divine, and by his life, death, resurrection and ascension to the right of the Father is our only mediator between God and man.
HOLY SPIRIT. The Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, is the breath of God, the Lord and Giver of Life. The Spirit convicts and persuades us to repent of our sin and confess Jesus as Savior and Lord. The Spirit bestows spiritual gifts on the Church so that it might be bold and convincing in its proclamation of the gospel. The Spirit is our Comforter, turning sorrow into joy, and is our Advocate, interceding for us through the Son to the Father.
HOLY SCRIPTURES. Everything necessary—the whole counsel of God—for understanding the glory of God, humanity’s salvation, faith, and life is set down in the pages of the Old and New Testament. The Holy Scriptures are the authoritative and infallible written Word of God. All things in Scripture are not always easily understood; yet those things which are essential for salvation, for a life rooted in Jesus Christ, are by the Spirit’s power on clear display to all.
HUMANITY. God, out of the His love and for His glory, freely created the world out of nothing. Man and woman, created in God’s own image, are the crown of that creation, blessed to live in fellowship with God, glorifying and enjoying Him forever. Tragically, our first parents voluntarily sinned, and by that willful choice sin and death entered the world, for all have sinned.
SALVATION. Out of God’s great love and mercy, He sent his only Son to rescue us from death, to atone for our sins, to remove our guilt, and to redeem us. Therefore, our only comfort is that we belong –body and soul, in life and in death—to Jesus Christ, who by his blood on the cross has fully paid for all our sins.
SANCTIFICATION. Saved through faith alone by God’s gracious act of declaring us righteous on the grounds of Jesus’ reconciling death on the cross, the Holy Spirit continues to perfect our repentance and nurture the new life implanted in us so that we might ever more fully transform into Christ’s image.
CHURCH. The Church is the Body of Christ. Its members are citizens and ambassadors of Christ’s Kingdom, sent to live in the world as resident aliens in the power of the Spirit, worshipping God, confessing His truth, proclaiming in word and deed the Good News of Jesus Christ, supporting one another in love, and giving themselves sacrificially to others in need. Its great mission is to make disciples who boldly announce the Lordship of Jesus Christ to all people and nations.
SACRAMENTS. The sacraments of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are outward and visible signs of inward and spiritual grace given to us and ordained by Christ himself.
RETURN OF CHRIST. We live in hope because one day Jesus will return, love and justice will prevail, and God will set the world finally and fully to rights.