Beliefs and Practices

The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) emerged from the frontier religious movement in the United States in the 1790’s.  It numbers 800,000 members.  The Disciples of Christ started as a movement to bring about church unity based on the “restoration” of New Testament principles and practices.

We are a democratic church.  The people call their own pastor, write their own constitution and conduct all necessary business.  Yet in our independence, we never forget our love for all God’s children, doing all that is in our power to bring about God’s kingdom on earth.

BELIEFS

  1. The Bible Is Our Rule and Guide.  We hold that the Bible is the sourcebook of our faith. Each individual is responsible to God to interpret the Scriptures and to act on them faithfully.

  2. The Lordship of Jesus Christ.  We proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and as head of the church. His Spirit inspires us in faith, fellowship, and Christian growth.

  3. The Unity of All Christians.  We believe in the unity of all Christians.  We strive to maintain a cooperative relationship with churches of other denominations.

  4. The Two Institutions of Our Lord.

    Baptism is a symbol of the burial of the old self and the birth of a new life that comes when one accepts Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

    The Lord’s Supper is a remembrance of the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Each believer receives spiritual strength and encouragement.  The Lord’s Supper unites us as the body of Christ and reminds us that we are each loved and forgiven children of God.

  5. We Are Not The Only Christians, But We Seek To Be Christians Only.  We invite all to unite with us who seek to imitate the life of Jesus Christ.

PRACTICES

  1. We teach the responsibility of the individual to study the Bible and discover what the will of God is for his or her own life.

  2. Feeling that Peter’s confession of faith, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God,” meets the needs of the simplest person as well as the profound scholar, we require such a profession of faith as a first step toward membership.

  3. We observe two ordinances instituted by our Lord.

    In keeping with Christ’s teachings and example, we feel that a confession of faith should precede Baptism which is administered by immersion.

    We observe the Lord’s Supper weekly as an act of thanksgiving and dedication to God.

  4. Members are received by:

    Confession of faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior according to the New Testament practice and baptism by immersion following the example of our Lord.

    If you are a member of another denomination, your statement of transfer is all that is required.  We recognize the validity of all forms of baptism and do not require anyone to be re-baptized.  The ministers will be happy to discuss with you differences in baptism, communion, and other matters of faith.

Columbarium News

-September 14, 2005-
Funeral directors indicate that more than 40% of their calls these days request cremation.  The move toward a different method of remembrance and the location of sites where loved ones can be held is definitely in the direction of urns and columbarium niches.  This social pressure is making it more convenient and much more meaningful to keep our loved ones nearer those places where they worshipped, participated and shared in fellowship with a faith community.  Have you thought about making a sacred spot where you may place and commemorate your loved ones, or even yourself?

The church has a columbarium in the Worship Center to accommodate and share in this sacred responsibility.  Special brochures detailing the space and its arrangements are at the entrance to the Worship Center.