Our Core Beliefs

We come from different Christian traditions, nationalities and generations.  We do not fully agree on all matters of doctrine or practice; however, we are bound together by beliefs that we see as most central and vital to our Christian faith.

THE NICENE CREED
We believe in one God, 
    the Father, the Almighty,
    maker of heaven and earth,
    of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,  
    the only Son of God,
    eternally begotten of the Father,
    God from God, Light from Light,
    true God from true God,
​    begotten, not made,
    of one Being with the Father;
    through him all things were made.  
    For us and for our salvation
        he came down from heaven,
        was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary
        and became truly human.
        For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
        he suffered death and was buried.
        On the third day he rose again
        in accordance with the Scriptures;
        he ascended into heaven
        and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
        He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,  
        and his kingdom will have no end.  
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
    who proceeds from the Father and the Son*,
    who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified,  
    who has spoken through the prophets.
    We believe in one holy catholic** and apostolic Church.
    We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.  
​    We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen. 

Note |  * The Eastern churches do not including the words "and the Son".
** The word "catholic" in the creed does not refer to the Roman Catholic
​church exclusively, but means "universal".
​
MARK 12:28-31
THE TWO GREAT COMMANDMENTS
The Two Great Commandments One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?"

​"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."

NIV  |  Mark 12:28-31

JOHN 17:20-26
THE HIGH PRIESTLY PRAYER​
My prayer is not for them alone.  I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.  

May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.  I have given them the glory that you gave me,  that they may be one as we are one --I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity.  Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. 

Father,  I want those you have given me to be with me where I am,  and to see my glory,  the glory you have given me  because you loved me before the creation of the world. 

Righteous Father,  though the world does not know you,  I know you, and they know that you have sent me.  I have made you known to them,  and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.

NIV text  |  with our formatting