Theological Principles
Our life together as a congregation is undergirded by the following theological principles:
God is community
Our TriUne God is community – Father, Son and Spirit in free relationship of joyous, self-giving love. We are created in this image for communion with God and neighbour. God’s mission is to incorporate the whole creation in God’s communal life.
God has become one of us and has liberated us for communion with God
God has become incarnate in Jesus Christ: God identifies with us; God has become one of us; God has become one with us; God suffers with us; God, in Christ, has liberated us and all things that work to prevent or discourage participation in the communal life and mission of God.
Participation in God’s communal life and mission has been brought near in Christ
The Kingdom of God—participation in God’s communal life and mission—has been brought near to us in Christ through the work of the Holy Spirit, who enables us to identify with, trust in and joyfully participate in the life, death, resurrection and ascension of Christ.
The Holy Spirit unites us with Christ’s ongoing ministry and mission
The Holy Spirit continually forms Christ in us so that we may live authentically as Christ lives—denying self, taking up our cross and following him—and faithfully partner in the continuing work of inviting people to join God’s communal life. As Christ is the incarnation of God, so we, the Church, incarnate Christ through the Spirit, and participate in his ongoing ministry and mission in the world.
Christ’s ongoing ministry and mission is the work of the whole Church
The Church is the organic union of all who have their identity in Christ as the Children of God. The Church is the body of people who are growing into Christ as they grow in surrender and self-giving love. Christ’s ongoing ministry and mission in the world is the work of the whole Church. Everything needed for this work is within the church here and now.