What We Believe

Rooted in and shaped by a vibrant and living Reformed tradition, we are a congregation of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Synod. While we cherish the ties we enjoy with other churches in the ARP family, we also affirm our unity in Christ with all other members of His Church universal.

We are committed to:

  • Worship of the Triune God.

  • The Holy Scriptures as the basis for our faith and activity.

  • Unity with other believers in Christ.

  • Total stewardship of life, including tithing of time, talents, and money.

  • Excellence in education and equipping leaders for tomorrow.

  • Loving and caring for one another and for other people.

  • Spreading the Gospel to all parts of the world.

  • Evaluating and designing church programs and priorities to meet the challenges of the future while preserving the best of the past.

Foundational Doctrines

  • The Bible is the inspired, inerrant and infallible written Word of God, the only authoritative rule of faith and life.

    I Thessalonians 2:13, II Timothy 3:16, II Peter 1:21

  • There is but one God who is infinite in His being and perfection; invisible, immutable, eternal and almighty, working all things according to the counsel of His own will for His own glory. He exists eternally in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

    Deut. 6:4; I Tim. 1:17; Luke 3:21-22; John 4:24

  • God created all things visible and invisible ex nihilo (out of nothing) by the power of His spoken word.

    Genesis 1:1-3; Psalm 33:6; John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:16

  • Adam ad Eve were created male and female in the image of God to be the first parents of the human race.

    Gen. 1:26-27; Gen. 2:7; I Corinthians 15:45-49

  • Sin is any failure to measure up to, or any transgression of the law of God. We inherit a “bent” sin nature from our first parents Adam Eve.

    Psalm 51:3-5; Romans 5:12-13

  • A binding promise in which God voluntarily condescends to a relationship with those whom he has chosen.

    Genesis 12:1-3; Acts 2:39

    Covenant of Works: Adam was promised life and blessing for obedience, and the punishment of death for disobedience.

    Genesis 2:15-16; Romans 5:15-17

    Covenant of Grace: Eternal life and salvation are offered through Jesus Christ. In the Old Testament, the promises, prophecies and sacrifices point to Christ. In the New Testament the sacraments of baptism and The Lord’s Supper signify Christ’s work of redemption.

    Romans 5:15-17; Hebrews 9:11-14

  • Son of God, fully divine; Son of Man, fully human.

    Apostles’ Creed and Nicene Creed

    John 1:1-3; Luke 1:30-33; Colossians 1:15-20

  • Fully divine, He is the third Person of the Trinity.

    He inspired the writing of Scripture and illumines it to our understanding.

    John 14:26

    He is our Comforter, Helper and the Spirit of Truth, enabling empowering and encouraging believers in their walk of faith.

    John 14:15-17

  • God has freely and sovereignly chosen all those whom he will redeem.

    Romans 8:29-30; Ephesians 1:4

  • Those whom God has chosen, he has also called by the effectual working of the Holy Spirit.

    Romans 8:29-30; Ephesians 2:4-6

  • Made right with God.

    Those whom God has called, he has also justified.

    Romans 3:26; Romans 8:30

  • As adopted heirs we are given access to the very presence of the Father. There we find mercy, grace, and all other privileges of the children of God.

    Romans 8:15-16

  • Believers are enabled and strengthened to grow in grace, more and more in conformity to the likeness and character of Christ.

    Ephesians 2:10; Philippians 2:1-13

  • Those whom God has effectually called he awakens to the gospel message and enables them to respond with trust and obedience.

    Ephesianss 2:9

  • A sincere sorrow and turning from sin.

    Acts 2:37-38

  • They are the evidence of a relationship with God, not the means of obtaining or earning that relationship.

    Ephesians 2:8-10

  • The end of our redemption - conformity to the image of Christ.

    Romans 8:30; I John 3:2-3

  • Marriage is instituted by God to be the union of a man and a woman in vows of lifelong exclusive monogamy, for their own blessing and fulfillment, but also for the raising of covenant children in a family. Divorce is permitted in certain instances due to the hard heartedness of either or both partners.

    Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4-9

  • This is the body of Christ of which He alone is the head.

    I Corinthians 12:27

    Church Militant - on earth.

    Church Triumphant - in heaven

    The Visible Church - local bodies of professing believers.

    The Invisible Church - the true number of God’s elect.

The Bible

Our Church Government

  • Associate Reformed Presbyterian

  • He is examined and ordained by presbytery, called by the congregation, and serves with Elders gathered as the Session.

  • They are elected by the congregation, ordained by the Session, and charged with the spiritual oversight of the congregation as shepherds, leaders and trustees.

  • They are elected by the congregation, ordained by the Session and charged with oversight of the property and benevolent ministries of the church.

  • They are organized with their own board of officers and budget to oversee a variety of opportunities for Bible study, outreach and ministry in the church and community.

  • Church members take vows of submission to and support for the authority and ministry of the church.

    Although church attenders are encouraged to join the church for both biblical and practical reasons, given our unique partnership with French Camp Academy and the significant numbers of staff and students who regularly attend, we invite everyone who attends to participate in the life of our church whether or not they are members.

 

To this end and in humble reliance upon the enabling power of the Holy Spirit, we covenant together to pray steadfastly that God will open doors of opportunity so that we may declare the riches of Christ.

“Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due season we shall reap, if we do not lose heart” (Galatians 6:9).

Minutes, 1990 General Synod, Page 363; reaffirmed by the General Synod June 13, 2001.

Associate Reformed Presbyterian

We, the members of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, in order to carry out God’s mission and move forward together into the next century, profess our life together in Christ and our desire to set forth a united strategy for the work of His church. We express our desire to continue to be a Presbyterian and Reformed church committed to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and to the Bible as the Word of God.

Foundational Doctrinal Statements

Our foundational doctrinal statements are found in The Standards of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, which we hold to be “the system of doctrine which is built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone” (Associate Reformed Synod, May 31, 1799).

Confession of Faith
Larger Catechism
Shorter Catechism
A Catechism For Young Children