OUR BELIEFS

All Scripture is self-attesting, and being Truth requires our unreserved submission in all areas of life. The infallible Word of God—the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments—is a complete and unified witness to God’s redemptive acts culminating in the incarnation of the Living Word, the Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible, uniquely and fully inspired by the Holy Spirit, is the supreme and final authority on all matters on which it speaks. On this sure foundation, we affirm these additional essentials of our faith.

  1. We believe in one God, the sovereign Creator and Sustainer of all things, infinitely perfect and eternally existing in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. To Him be all honor, glory and praise forever!

  2. Jesus Christ, the living Word, became flesh through His miraculous conception by the Holy Spirit and His virgin birth. He who is true God became true man united in one Person forever. He died on the cross a sacrifice for our sins according to the Scriptures. On the third day He arose bodily from the dead, ascended into heaven, where, at the right hand of the Majesty on High, He now is our High Priest and Mediator.

  3. The Holy Spirit has come to glorify Christ and to apply the saving work of Christ to our hearts. He convicts us of sin and draws us to the Savior. Indwelling our hearts, He gives new life to us, empowers and imparts gifts to us for service. He instructs and guides us into all truth, and seals us for the day of redemption.

  4. Being estranged from God and condemned by our sinfulness, our salvation is wholly dependent upon the work of God’s free grace. God credits His righteousness to those who put their faith in Christ alone for their salvation, thereby justifies them in His sight. Only such as are born of the Holy Spirit and receive Jesus Christ become children of God and heirs of eternal life.

  5. The true Church is composed of all persons who through saving faith in Jesus Christ and the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit are united together in the body of Christ. The Church finds her visible, yet imperfect, expression in local congregations where the Word of God is preached in its purity and the sacraments are administered in their integrity; where scriptural discipline is practiced, and where loving fellowship is maintained. For her perfecting, she awaits the return of her Lord.

  6. Jesus Christ will come again to the earth-personally, visibly, and bodily-to judge the living and the dead, and to consummate history and the eternal plan of God. “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” (Rev. 22:20)

  7. The Lord Jesus Christ commands all believers to proclaim the Gospel throughout the world and to make disciples of all nations. Obedience to the Great Commission requires total commitment to “Him who loved us and gave Himself for us.” He calls us to a life of self-denying love and service. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Eph. 2:10)

  8. These Essentials are set forth in greater detail in the Westminster Confession of Faith. 

We also uphold the Westminster Confession of Faith as a confessional document. That Confession, along with more information about beliefs and position papers, can be found in the Beliefs section of the EPC website (www.epc.org). The Bible is our ultimate authority. We are Reformed in our theology, Presbyterian in our form of church government, evangelical in spirit, and missional in our approach to life and ministry.

Our Church’s Distinctives Beliefs

  • Our church adopts a Presbyterian form of government, focusing on the leadership of qualified elders who offer spiritual oversight and guidance to the congregation. This structure ensures a balanced and wise approach to the spiritual well-being of our church community. 

  • Our church's theology is grounded in the five solas of the Reformation: Scripture alone, Christ alone, faith alone, grace alone, and glory to God alone. As a community, we are passionately God-centered and grace-centered, emphasizing the sovereignty of God in all aspects of our lives, particularly in the realm of salvation through Christ.

  • Our church cherishes and upholds the historic creeds and Confessions, acknowledging their crucial role in forming Christian beliefs and practices. By incorporating these foundational declarations of faith, we strive to maintain theological coherence, nurture unity, and sustain a strong link to the enduring legacy of Christianity across the ages. The three primary creeds are The Apostles' Creed, The Nicene Creed, and the Chalcedonian Creed. The Westminster Standards is the confessional statement of faith adopted by our denomination, the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC).

  • Our church embraces the practice of infant baptism, welcoming young children into the covenant community of faith. This distinctive belief highlights the importance of nurturing spiritual growth from an early age and allows families to commit to raising their children within the Christian tradition. (Note: You do not need to hold to infant baptism for covenant membership)

  • Our church affirms the continuation of spiritual gifts, recognizing the significance of the Holy Spirit in empowering the ministry. We are not cessationists; instead, we believe in the Holy Spirit's work as long as it aligns with the Word of God and is conducted in an orderly manner.

  • Our church upholds a complementarian view of gender roles, which asserts that while men and women are created equally in the image of God, they are gifted with different and complementary roles in the church, family, and society. This theological understanding respects the unique strengths and responsibilities that God has endowed to each gender. In our congregation, we recognize and celebrate the contributions of women serving in a multitude of leadership roles, while men predominantly take on the responsibility of eldership, each uniquely reflecting the complementary gifts bestowed upon them.(Note: Recognizing the diversity of interpretations and practices within the body of Christ, we strive to foster an environment of mutual respect and graciousness towards differing views on this topic.)