Beliefs

Creeds

Definitive “answers” relative to what Christians should believe are as diverse as the various streams and denominations of the Church today.

Our church seeks to embody a faith that is primarily informed by the historic Christian creeds, particularly the Nicene and Apostles’ creeds. It took decades of lively conversation and debate to formulate these creeds, and since the fourth century they have stood the test of time as plumb lines for Christian orthodoxy.

The Nicene Creed

 We believe in one God,
       the Father almighty,
       maker of heaven and earth,
       of all things visible and invisible.

 And in one Lord Jesus Christ,
       the only Son of God,
       begotten from the Father before all ages,
            God from God,
            Light from Light,
            true God from true God,
       begotten, not made;
       of the same essence as the Father.
       Through him all things were made.
       For us and for our salvation
            he came down from heaven;
            he became incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary,
            and was made human.
            He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate;
            he suffered and was buried.
            The third day he rose again, according to the Scriptures.
            He ascended to heaven
            and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
            He will come again with glory
            to judge the living and the dead.
            His kingdom will never end.

 And we believe in the Holy Spirit,
       the Lord, the giver of life.
       He proceeds from the Father and the Son,
       and with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified.
       He spoke through the prophets.
       We believe in one holy catholic* and apostolic church.
       We affirm one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
       We look forward to the resurrection of the dead,
       and to life in the world to come. Amen. 

 *that is, the true Christian church of all times and all places

The Apostles' Creed

 I believe in God, the Father almighty,
       creator of heaven and earth.

 I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
       who was conceived by the Holy Spirit
       and born of the virgin Mary.
       He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
       was crucified, died, and was buried;
       he descended to hell.
       The third day he rose again from the dead.
       He ascended to heaven
       and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.
       From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.

 I believe in the Holy Spirit,
       the holy catholic* church,
       the communion of saints,
       the forgiveness of sins,
       the resurrection of the body,
       and the life everlasting. Amen.

 *that is, the true Christian church of all times and all places 

Knowledge and Mystery

We are not given to pinning down every finer point of theology and practice and requiring dogmatic adherence to a particular statement of faith. God is both immanent and transcendent, knowable and mysterious. The creeds encourage this paradox by unabashedly outlining several things as significant and true, without attempting to offer a comprehensive take on all aspects of Christian theology and practice. As such, we are encouraged to approach God with confidence and humility – all the while nurtured by the thoughts, conversation, and prayer of those who have gone before us -which seems good, beautiful, and right to us.

Embodied Faith

Furthermore, in many ways, how we live (our habits and behaviour, relationships, priorities etc.) say more about what we actually believe than anything we may assent to or write down.

As it pertains to our church, our operant theology and the true essence of our faith is both manifested and shaped by our liturgy: the rhythms and practices that constitute our life together.

AFFILIATION