Affirmations of Faith

The Apostles' Creed
This Creed is called the Apostles' Creed, not because it is a production of the apostles themselves, but because it contains a brief summary of their teachings. More than any other creed of Christendom, it may be justly called an ecumenical symbol of faith.

"I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; the third day He rose from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick 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."

NOTE: (1) The word catholic, when spelled with the lower-case (small) C means comprehensive or universal, as in 'the church universal'. When the 'C' is in upper-case (capitalized), it is a church claiming historical continuity from it; specifically, Roman Catholic. (2) In another version of the creed, "the holy catholic church" is replaced with, "the one true Church, Apostolic and Universal." In yet another version it is simply, "the holy Christian Church."

The Nicene Creed
I believe in one God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible: And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of His Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of on substance with the Father, by whom all things were made; Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary, and was made man, and crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried, and the third day He rose again according to the scriptures, and ascended into heaven, and sits at the right of the Father; And He shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead; Whose kingdom shall have no end.

A Responsive Congregational Affirmation
The Minister:
"Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is the one true Church, Apostolic and Universal, whose Holy Faith let us now reverently and sincerely declare:"

The Minister and People:
"We believe in God the Father, infinite in wisdom, power and love, whose mercy is over all His works, and whose will is ever directed to His children's good.

We believe in Jesus Christ, Son of God and Son of man, the gift of the Father's unfailing grace, the ground of our hope and the promise of our deliverance from sin and death.

We believe in the Holy Spirit as the Divine Presence in our lives, whereby we are kept in perpetual remembrance of the truth of Christ, and find strength and help in time of need.

We believe that this faith should manifest itself in the service of love as set forth in the example of our blessed Lord, to the end that the kingdom of God may come upon the earth. Amen"

A Brief Affirmation
"We believe in the one God, Maker and Ruler of all things, Father of all men; the source of all goodness and beauty, all truth and love.

We believe in Jesus Christ, God manifest in the flesh, our Teacher, Example, and Redeemer, the Saviour of the world.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, God present with us for guidance, for comfort and for strength.

We believe in the Word of God contained in the Old and New Testaments as sufficient rule both of faith and of practice.

We believe in the Church as the fellowship for worship and for service of all who are united to the living Lord.

We believe in the kingdom of God as the divine rule in human society; and in the brotherhood of man under the Fatherhood of God.

We believe in the final triumph of righteousness, and in the life everlasting. Amen."

A Contemporary Affirmation
We Believe in Jesus Christ the Lord, Who was promised to the people of Israel, Who came in the flesh to dwell among us, Who announced the coming rule of God, Who gathered disciples and taught them, Who died on the cross to free us from sin, Who rose from the dead to give us life and hope, Who reigns in heaven at the right hand of God, Who comes to judge and bring justice to victory.

We believe in God His Father, Who raised Him from the dead, Who created and sustains the universe, Who acts to deliver His people in times of need, Who desires all men everywhere to be saved, Who rules over the destinies of men and nations, Who continues to love men even when they reject Him.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, Who is the form of God present in the church, Who moves men to faith and obedience, Who is the guarantee of our deliverance, Who leads us to find God's will in the Word, Who assists those whom He leads in prayer, Who guides us in discernment, Who impels us to act together.

We believe God has made us His people, To invite others to follow Christ, To encourage one another to deeper commitment, To proclaim forgiveness of sins and hope, To reconcile men to God through word and deed, To bear witness to the power of love over hate, To proclaim Jesus the Lord over all, To meet the daily tasks of life with purpose, To suffer joyfully for the cause of right, To the ends of the earth, To the end of the age, To the praise of His glory. Amen.