Statement of Principles and Faith
We accept and proclaim the historic truths of the Christian faith, including the following:
God and the human race
We hold that the Lord our God is one Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and that he fulfils his sovereign purposes in creation, revelation, redemption, judgement and the coming of his kingdom -by calling out from the world a people united to himself and to each other in love.
We acknowledge that though God made us in his own likeness and image, conferring on us dignity and worth and enabling us to respond to himself, we now are members of a fallen race; we have sinned and come short of his glory.
We believe that the Father has shown us his holy love in giving us Jesus Christ, his only Son, for us, while through our sinfulness and guilt, we were subject to his wrath and condemnation; and has shown his grace by putting sinners right with himself when they place their trust in his Son.
We confess Jesus Christ as Lord and God; as truly human, born of the virgin Mary; as Servant, sinless, full of grace and truth; as only Mediator and Saviour, dying on the cross in our place, representing us to God, redeeming us from the grip, guilt and punishment of sin; as Victor over Satan, rising from death with a glorious body, being taken up to be with his Father, one day returning personally in glory and judgement to establish his kingdom.
We believe in the Holy Spirit who convicts the world in regard to sin, righteousness and judgement; who makes the death of Christ effective to sinners, declaring that they must turn to Christ in repentance and directing their trust towards the Lord Jesus Christ; who through the new birth makes us partake in the life of the risen Christ, and who is present within all believers, illuminating their minds to grasp the truth of scripture, producing in them his fruit, granting to them his gifts, and empowering them for service in the world.
The Scriptures
We believe that the Old and New Testament Scriptures; are God-breathed, since their writers spoke from God as they were moved by the Holy Spirit; hence are fully trustworthy in all they affirm; and are our highest authority for faith and life.
The church and its mission
We recognise the church; as the body of Christ who is it’s head, held together and growing up in him; both as a total fellowship throughout the world, and as the local congregation in which believers gather, governed under him by the believers who are it’s members
We practice the Baptism of believers by immersion on their profession of faith in Christ as a symbol of their fellowship in his death, burial and resurrection and identification with his church. We celebrate Communion to remember the sacrifice of the body and blood of our Lord.
We recognise the commission of Christ: to proclaim the Good News to all people, making them disciples, and teaching them to obey him; and
We acknowledge the command of Christ, to love our neighbours, resulting in service to the church and society, in seeking reconciliation for all with God and their fellows, in proclaiming liberty from every kind of oppression; and in spreading Christ’s justice in an unjust world…until he comes again.