CORE BELIEFS
At the heart of our core beliefs is the confession listed below.
This is where it all begins for us.
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What follows that confession of faith are supplemental statements of identity that demonstrate how we live out our faith in community.
We confess that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God and proclaim him Lord and Savior of the world, requiring nothing more - and nothing less -
as a basis of our life together.​
At First Christian Church, you will never be asked to confess your belief in any creed or statement of faith. The only confession you will ever be asked to make is that you believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God and that you proclaim him Lord and Savior of the world. That is it! No tests, no required classes, and no hidden agenda.
We hold the centrality of scripture, recognizing that each person has the freedom and the responsibility to study God’s Word within the community of the church.
At First Christian Church, scripture is at the heart of everything we teach and preach. However, you will not be told what the Bible "means" in a manner that closes off all other possibilities. Instead, you will be encouraged to grow in your understanding of Scripture through individual prayer and study that is strengthened and supported by participating in our congregation's Christian Education opportunities, Worship and Community sharing.
We hear a special calling to make visible
the unity of all Christians,
proclaiming that in our diversity we belong to one another because we universally belong to Christ.
Disciples are called together around one essential of faith: belief in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Beyond that, we believe in the individual freedom of Christians to follow their consciences guided by the Bible, the Holy Spirit study and prayer. This belief helps create a broad spectrum of believers in our church and we seek to honor our differences faithfully through unifying discussion instead of divisive debate. Wherever you are on the spectrum of life and Christian faith, you are welcome!
We gather for the Lord’s Supper as often as possible, experiencing at this table
the gracious forgiving presence of Jesus Christ.
The Lord's Supper is offered every Sunday and on special days such as Christmas Eve and Maundy Thursday. It is administered by the elders and deacons of the church, with an ordained minister usually presiding; however, this is not required and lay people often will preside. We believe that just as the love of Christ is open to all who would receive it, so is the communion table. Therefore, everyone who worships with us without exception is invited to partake.
We affirm the priesthood of all believers,
rejoicing in the gifts of the Holy Spirit,
that God has given for the common good.
We believe that God calls both ministers and laypersons to lead in ministry. Practicing a true “priesthood of all believers,” we seek to encourage members and friends of our church to be active in every aspect of ministry from worship leadership to community outreach.