Our Values

What We Believe

Statement of Faith

  1. We believe the Bible, consisting of the Old and New Testaments, to be the only inspired, inerrant, authoritative Word of God written. (Jer. 30:2; Hab. 2:2; Rom. 4:23-25, Rom. 15:4; 2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:20)

  2. We believe that there is one God, eternally existent, manifest as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (Gen. 1:26; Ex. 20:1-5; Deut. 6:4; Isa. 63:9, 10; Matt. 28:19; Luke 3:22; John 17:3; Gal. 4:4-6)

  3. We believe in the deity of Christ (Matt. 1:23; John 1:1-3), in His virgin birth (Matt. 1:18-23; Luke 1:34), in His sinless life (2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Pet. 1:19; 1 John 3:5), in His miracles (Mark 1:23-26; Luke 5:1-11; John 2:1-11, John 4:46-54), in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood (John 3:14-17; Heb. 10:10-20), in His bodily resurrection (Matt. 23:1-6; 1 Cor. 15:3-8), in His ascension to the right hand of the Father (John 20:17; Acts 1:9), and in His personal return in power and glory (Matt. 24:27-31; Luke 21:27-36).

  4. We believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful men regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential. (John 3:3-8; Matt. 19:24-26; 2 Cor. 5:17; 1 Pet. 1:23)

  5. We believe in the ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling power and fullness the Christian is enabled to live a godly life in this present evil world. (Rom. 8:1-4, 9-16, 23, 26-27; Gal. 5:17-25)

  6. We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost: they that are saved, unto the resurrection of life; and they that are lost, unto the resurrection of damnation. (Matt. 25:46; John 5:28-29; Acts 24:14-15)

  7. We believe in spiritual unity with all who put their trust in Christ alone for their salvation. (Rom. 12:4; Eph. 4:1-6)

Other Positions

Without limiting our belief that the whole of the Bible is our authoritative rule for faith and practice, we affirm the following principles.

1.        We believe that water baptism and the Lord’s Supper are ordinances to be observed by the Community during this present age.  (Matt. 26:26-29, 28:19; Mark 16:16; Luke 22:17-20; John 3:5, 22; Acts 11:14, 16:14; 1 Cor. 1:16, 11:23-32)

2.        We believe that marriage is a divinely established institution which should be entered into and honoured with the seriousness and reverence intended by our heavenly Father.  (Gen. 2:24; Matt. 19:1-9; Eph. 5:23-33)

3.        We believe that every member of the body is important and has spiritual gifts which need to be exercised for the common good, and that there should be no restraints on the exercise of spiritual gifts beyond those laid down in Scripture. (Rom. 12:4-8; 1 Cor. 12:14; Eph. 4:11-13)

4.        This Community shall be under the oversight of elders, who are men called into leadership by the Holy Spirit and recognized as such by the members.  The elders are responsible to determine the will of God for the Community and to lead the people in that direction by example and instruction.  The members are responsible to follow the lead of the elders unless it is plainly contrary to the written word of God.  (Acts 20:28; 1 Tim. 3:1-7, 5:17-22; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Pet. 5:15)

5.        We believe that the support of the work of the Body of Christ, both locally and worldwide, should be achieved through the tithes and offerings of the local Community.  (Mal. 3:10; Matt. 23:23; 1 Cor. 16:1-2; 2 Cor. 9:6-11)

6.        We recognize the need for Community discipline, which shall be carried out in love and in accordance with the express provisions of Scripture (Matt. 5:23-24, 18:15-17; Gal. 6:1; 2 Thess. 3:14-15; 1 Tim. 5:19-20; James 5:19-20; Acts 15).  Anyone associating with this Community will, by their association, declare their willingness to conform to Community principles and practices, and waive any right of appeal to any civil authority for any Community decision or action of discipline or correction which may affect them (1 Cor. 6:1-8).

7.        We believe that decision-making in a body of Christians must be guided by the Word of God and by the Holy Spirit through a process of study, prayer, discussion and consensus.  Acts 15 provides a pattern in this regard.

           a)      An issued raised in the Community is to be quickly dealt with by a meeting of the elders and any advisors they agree upon.

           b)     The elders present are to thoroughly investigate the issue and to discuss it until a consensus develops.

           c)     When consensus is achieved, the whole Community shall be called to hear and discuss the decision.

           d)     Action shall be taken when the whole Community is thoroughly informed.

             In this way, polarization shall be minimized and participation of all achieved.