WHAT MAKES US UNIQUE
CHURCH GOVERNANCE
We believe that the church is the living body, designed by God to function according to the patterns laid out in His Word. Our faith is rooted in the belief that Scripture is the complete and sufficient guide for how we live, worship, and govern ourselves. We reject the addition of man-made hierarchies and traditions, choosing instead to empower every believer to serve God directly, guided by a local body of elders and the Holy Spirit. Our structure is built upon these four foundational convictions:
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​Leadership by Elders, Not Clergy We are led by a body of elders rather than a single ordained minister or professional clergy member. We believe the New Testament describes local churches overseen by a plurality of godly men who shepherd the flock together, ensuring shared responsibility and spiritual accountability.
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The Priesthood of All Believers We do not see a biblical basis for a clergy divide. Scripture teaches that God has given spiritual gifts to every believer in the church. Because of this, we provide opportunities for all members to exercise their gifts for the building up of the body.
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From Spectators to Contestants Our goal is to move believers out of the stands and onto the playing field. Church is not a spectator sport; we want to see every individual move from being a passive observer to an active "contestant" in faith. We encourage every person to take ownership of their walk with God and their role in the church.
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The Authority of Scripture Over Tradition We hold that Biblical truth is our final authority. We are cautious of religious traditions, as they generally tend to diverge from - and often contradict - the patterns established in the Word of God. Our aim is to continually return to the first principles found in the Bible to guide how we meet, live, and serve.
CHURCH PRACTICES
We believe that the instructions given to the early church are not just cultural suggestions, but timeless patterns intended to be followed literally today.
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Believer's Baptism by Immersion Baptism is a public declaration of a person's faith in Jesus Christ. Following the biblical example, we practice baptism by immersion -- symbolizing the believer's death, burial, and resurrection with Christ. We believe baptism is for those who have personally placed their trust in Him.
As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, 'Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?' ... Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him (Acts 8:36-38) - "...having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God..." (Colossians 2:12)
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Weekly Breaking of Bread The central focus of our corporate worship is the Breaking of Bread, or the Lord's Supper. Following the practice of the early Christians, we meet weekly to remember the Lord's death and resurrection through the bread and the cup, as He commanded.
On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. (Acts 20:7)
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Male Leadership and Speaking Roles In accordance with the order of creation and the specific instructions given to the local assembly, we recognize that God has assigned the roles of public teaching and leadership within the church gathering to men. This is not a statement on a personal worth, but on biblical order and function.
For God is not a God of disorder but of peace -- as in all the congregations of the Lord's people...it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church. (1 Corinthians 14:33-35)
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Head Coverings in Worship We observe the biblical teaching regarding head coverings during times of formal worship and prayer. This practice serves as a visible sign of our recognition of God's established order of leadership. Men worship with their heads uncovered, while women wear a head covering as a symbol of their place in the divine order.
But I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is a man, and the head of Christ is God... Every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonours her head. (1 Corinthians 11:3-10)