Statement of Faith

What we believe ?

 

As a church, we hold to the Basis of Faith of the Evangelical Alliance, which can be found here :

 

https://www.eauk.org/about-us/how-we-work/basis-of-faith

 

We have also produced this statement of our theological position :

 

Theological Position - The Church of the Living Hope

 

1. We affirm the importance of Baptism, as an integral part of Christian initiation, while accepting that sincere Christians have reached different conclusions about how and when Baptism should take place.

2. We believe that the gifts of the Holy Spirit, as described in 1 Corinthians 12 v 1-11 and other Bible passages, including healing and prophecy, have an important and ongoing part to play in the life of the church. We reject the view (known as cessationism) that these gifts ceased after the time of the apostles.

3. We rejoice in the gifts that God gives to both men and women. We believe that both men and women have a valuable part to play in church leadership.

4. We affirm that marriage is an institution created by God in which one man and one woman are called to enter into an exclusive relationship for life. Marriage is the only form of partnership approved by God for sexual relationships, and all forms of sexual practice outside it fall short of God’s revealed will.
   In the light of this, we reject the blessing of any relationship, or activity, that is contrary to God’s word.

5. We also affirm the experience of singleness as a state that some people are called to, or find themselves in. We recognise the important role that single people can play in the life of the church and wider community, and the need for the church family to intentionally include and support them.

6. We gladly affirm the dignity and worth of every human-being, created and loved by God. We would want to welcome all people to our church services and activities, regardless of race, background, gender, sexual orientation or practice, and religious or political views.

7. While welcoming everyone, we recognise that those who follow Jesus are called to live lives of increasing love and holiness. We would hope and expect to see signs of genuine repentance and transformation in those who want to be church members, and a commitment to live by God’s revealed word.

8. We acknowledge our responsibility to be good stewards of God’s creation and our calling to care for the poor and needy and to strive for a world in which people act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God. 

9. We are committed to obeying Jesus’ commission to make disciples of all nations. We believe that mission, including the making of new disciples, should be central to church life.

10. We value the bond of fellowship that we have in Christ with the universal church and desire to pray with, and work alongside, other Biblically grounded Christians in sharing God’s love with the world.