Our Denomination

We are a member of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC).

Presbyterians come in many varieties with new branches being formed in every generation. The EPC began in 1981 by a group of pastors and elders from mainline Presbyterian denominations who wanted to form a church that took seriously the words of Scripture, the theology of the historic confessions of the faith and the evangelical fervor of Presbyterian founders.

"The Evangelical Presbyterian Church is part of the universal Christian Church, which the Apostle Paul calls the Body of Christ.  In I Corinthians 12 Paul compares our human body with the Body of Christ.  Just like there are a variety of human parts (arms, feet, ears, eyes, etc.) but only one head, so the EPC, as a part of the Body of Christ, has a great variety.  We have large churches (5,000 members), small churches (less than 50 members), contemporary and traditional, charismatic and non-charismatic, young and old churches, urban, suburban, town, rural--  but we also only have one Head, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Our motto, 'In essentials, unity, in non-essentials, liberty, in all things, charity' accurately describes us.

We are now in our 25th year and realize that it is time for us to do some serious self-examination.  We realize that our culture and our world have changed greatly since we held our constituting General Assembly in 1981.  We realize that the challenges the church will face in the next 25 years will be different, and yet the same.  The glorious message of the freeing Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ is timeless.  It never changes. Yet, as the world changes, the methods of delivering the message must change in order to reach to those who have not yet heard of Jesus in a way they can understand.

Therefore, we are involved in a process by which we are asking Jesus: 'Lord, how would you have us modify our ministries both at home and abroad so that we will be more effective ambassadors of yours?'  Our biblical understanding of being Presbyterian is that the Lord does speak to His church, and He has chosen to do it through a plurality of elders. Our ruling and teaching elders are listening for the voice of the Lord as we prepare to be more effective witnesses of His grace in the years to come.

If you are interested in learning more about our ministry, please explore our web site and contact the Office of the General Assembly or any church located near you."

Rev. Bill Meyer, Moderator

25th General Assembly

 

In Essentials, Unity;
In Non-Essentials, Liberty;
In All Things, Charity

Essentials of Our Faith

All Scripture is self-attesting and being Truth, requires our unreserved submission in all areas of life. The infallible Word of God, the sixty-six 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, become 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)

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

For more information on the EPC, see the Frequently Asked Questions page of the website of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, http://www.epc.org.