As a church, we believe that it is our God-given vision to to be a harbor of God’s love and a beacon of Christ’s hope. Likewise, our church’s mission is to grow in Christ’s likeness.

A main way that we seek to live out our vision and mission is by working to embody our church’s core values, of which you will find a description below.

Acceptance: Romans 8:1-11

We believe:

• The Gospel of Jesus Christ is for everyone.
• God created all people in God’s image.
• God calls us to celebrate the diversity of people and gifts that comprise the body of Christ.

Our promise to the community:

• We will accept and respect one another in the fullness of God’s grace.

Freedom: 2 Corinthians 3:17

We believe:

• Freedom is at the core of who we are in Christ.
• Freedom in Christ includes the freedom of every individual to:
  • Read and interpret Scripture.
  • Discern the movement of the Holy Spirit.
  • Respond to God without pressure.
  • Be who they are through the expression of ideas, questions, and inquiries.
• As a church, we are free from outside authority.

Our promise to the community:

• We will exercise our freedom to witness for God.
• We will extend to individuals the same freedoms we enjoy.

Community: Matthew 22:39

We believe:

• That as the body of Christ, we are called by God to live together in community.
• In community, we study, worship, serve, fellowship, play, support one another, and hold one another accountable.

Our promise to the community:

• We will follow God’s command to “love our neighbor as ourselves.”

Compassion: John 13:35

We believe:

• Because of God’s great compassion for us, God calls us to have compassion for one another.
• That the world will know we are Jesus’ disciples by our love for one another.

Our promise to the community:

• We will build relationships on a foundation of love, care, and forgiveness for one another.
• We will extend Christ’s compassion to everyone, remembering that “just as you did it to one of the least of these, you did it for me.”

Initiative: Ephesians 4:1-6

We believe:

• Following the initiative of Jesus and the movement of the Holy Spirit, God calls us to make progress toward the fulfillment of Jesus’ vision “on earth as in heaven” – the Kingdom of God.

Our promise to the community:

• We will continue our tradition of community leadership, humbly illustrating the best of what it means to be “First”, “Anyone who wants to be first, must be the very last, and servant of all.” Mark 9:35.
• We will intentionally seek to apply Jesus’ vision to our future.

Spiritual Growth/Formation: Mark 12:30-31

We believe:

• God’s call is to love God with our whole being.
• God’s call is to love our neighbor as ourselves.
• That all we do, say, hear, and experience as individuals and as a community forms us, including: worship, missions, personal prayer and study, discipleship groups, and fellowship – even committee meetings.

Our promise to the community:

• We will faithfully follow Jesus, growing in Christ-likeness through our love of God and neighbor.

Fellowship: Acts 2:46

We believe:

• God calls us together to delight in one another.
• This community is our family.
• Our spirits receive nourishment as we gather in worship and around table to share food and story.
• Our hearts find healing in one another’s laughter and support.

Our promise to the community:

• We will share as we have received.
• We will receive the stranger as Christ.

Membership

In terms of church “membership,” there are a few different ways that people can seek official membership with our church: as a new believer, by transfer of membership, statement of faith in Jesus as Lord, and as an associate member. Below is a more detailed description of each.

New Believer:

• Profess Jesus as Lord.
• Participate in believers’ baptism by immersion, or in the case of special circumstances or needs, a different mode of baptism.
• Make a commitment to grow in Christian discipleship (through the life and ministries of this church).
• Encourage participation in a new member’s orientation.
• Endorse and make a commitment to live by the vision, mission and core values of this church.

Transfer:

• Transfer membership from another Christian church.
• Display a commitment to grow in Christian discipleship (through the life and ministries of this church).
• Encourage participation in a new member’s orientation.
• Endorse and make a commitment to live by the vision, mission and core values of this church.

Statement of Faith:

• Affirm a commitment to Jesus as Lord by statement of faith.
• Affirm or participate in believers’ baptism.
• Display a commitment to grow in Christian discipleship (through the life and ministries of this church).
• Encourage participation in a new member’s orientation.
• Endorse and make a commitment to live by the vision, mission and core values of this church.

Associate:

• Be a member of another Christian church.
• Display a commitment to grow in Christian discipleship (through the life and ministries of this church and one’s church of full membership).
• Encourage participation in a new member’s orientation.
• Endorse and make a commitment to live by the vision, mission and core values of this church.
• Be in fellowship and under the watch-care of this faith community during their limited residency in the area.
• Associate members shall have all privileges and responsibilities of membership in this church except voting in church sessions and having primary leadership over any ministries or committees.