Our purpose is to worship God through Jesus Christ, serve Him in church and society and make Him known wherever we are
To help us see what this might look like in practice, we looked at five core values of church life, and have set out a summary of the beliefs we consider important.
We don't see these as rules, but more as a set of guidelines to inspire and challenge us. These are our reminders of how we want to live, and the kind of people we want to be and become as we live life together under God's sovereignty and love.
A Worshipping Church
- We believe that worship is a whole-life response to God and that acts of worship should be central to our life together.
- In our corporate worship we aim to celebrate the whole nature of God and to know His presence with us.
- We seek to draw on a variety of traditions and styles, valuing both structure and spontaneity as equally Spirit-inspired.
- We believe in the centrality of the Bible to the life and worship of the church.
- We believe that prayer is vital to our life together.
- We believe in the importance of Believers' Baptism and the Lord's Supper.
A Loving Church
- We believe that the Christian life is meant to be lived out in community and that loving relationships are the essence of healthy community life.
- We believe that each person, irrespective of age, sex, race or ability, is valued and loved by God and is to be valued and loved in our community.
- We believe that loving relationships are characterised by respect, generosity, integrity and honesty.
- We believe that differences of opinion are inevitable in community life and that when such differences are handled openly and constructively it is a sign of health. We seek to maintain the harmony of the church, and to work towards forgiveness and reconciliation when this harmony is damaged.
A Discipling Church
- We believe that individual and corporate spiritual growth are to be expected. They have as their aim spiritual maturity or Christ-likeness.
- We believe that spiritual growth results from the Holy Spirit's work within us, but that individuals co-operate with God in this transforming process by practising spiritual disciplines (e.g. Bible reading, prayer and fasting, financial giving).
- We believe that each individual is responsible for their own spiritual growth, but that the church supports this by providing Bible teaching, training, small groups, spiritual direction and encouragement.
A Serving Church
- We believe that each person has God-given gifts which are to be used in the service of God in church and society.
- We believe that following Jesus involves fulfilment and joy; it also involves vulnerability, suffering and sacrificial service.
- We believe that the church should be led by gifted leaders, called and equipped by God: accountable to Him and to the church membership.
- We believe that the church should demonstrate God's love to the wider community in practical ways, particularly to those who are in most need.
A Missionary Church
- We believe that the church is called to make visible the life and values of the Kingdom of God.
- We believe people outside the church matter to God and that we, individually and corporately, should demonstrate God's love to them.
- We believe in personal witness: the responsibility of each disciple to share the Gospel in word and action.
- We believe in developing a sensitivity and relevance to the unchurched, and in providing opportunities for people to find faith in Jesus Christ.
- We believe that conversion to Christ is a process and that the whole church has a responsibility to welcome, affirm, support and direct those who are searching for faith in Him.
- We believe that we are part of the worldwide church and as such we should be open both to give and receive.