In addition to the historic ecumenical creeds — Nicene (without the filioque), Apostle’s and Athanasian — and the basic insights of the Protestant Reformation, particularly the writings of Martin Luther, Huldrych Zwingli, and John Calvin, I further expand on some of the nuances of my own faith here.  This is a “living document,” that is to say I am constantly revising and updating this page to attempt to adequately reflect my own faith.  Of course, mere words can never summarize one’s faith — nor should they ever be able — and there is always more to discover.  One of my guiding principles in life, as attested to John Robinson, is there is yet more life and truth to spring forth from God’s word.

I believe in God, the Supreme Being, Creator of all that is.  From the void, God calls all into being and relationship with God and community to demonstrate God’s infinite and all-encompassing love.

I believe in Jesus Christ, the Word of God from the beginning, the Word that became flesh as both son of God and son of woman.  Born of a virgin in an unenviable stable, Jesus held no worldly status.  During his life, he traveled the world as he knew it, calling all whom he encountered into the beloved community, standing against oppression and injustice, acting in solidarity with the cause of the poor and widowed, refusing to acquiesce to the social mores and norms of the world.  Jesus was born, destined to die a brutal, savage death at the hands of those whom he saved, as indicated by the Prophets before.  Through him, death has lost its power.  By grace, through faith, humanity looks toward the resurrection modeling the day we are all reunited with God the Creator in eternal community.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, who was sent by God to equip people in all times and places, calling them into right relationship with God and Jesus Christ.  Where human words, feelings and actions fail, the Spirit intercedes for us with sighs too deep to express. (Rom. 8:26)

I believe the Biblical Scripture is the inspired, yet not exclusive, word of God.  When interpreted with the power of the Holy Spirit, mere human words provide a portal to the understanding of God’s message.  Scripture is an active, not closed, volume, still revealing God’s glory in new, surprising ways.  Faithful placement of Scripture always recognizes its lesser status to the One who is the true Word of God.

I believe the Church is the community of saints where God’s word is studied, the Sacraments are administered, and people are refreshed and renewed to go about their divine calling in the world.  The Church is not a building, nor is it a set of programs and responsibilities like a club.  Through the action and prophetic, contemporary testimony of the Church the whole world will come to know the extravagant love and reconciliation in God through Christ Jesus.

I believe God has established covenants with God’s people through the ages.  In the covenant with Abraham, God united with God’s people, Israel.  In the covenant that lives through God’s son, Jesus Christ, God further united with the faithful who believe in him.  God’s covenants are eternal and reflect the ways in which God has been revealed, according to God’s own purpose, to different communities of the faithful.

I believe the Sacrament of Holy Baptism is an outward and visible sign of an inward and invisible, grace-filled action in love by God through Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit.  Through its expression, we are joined together with Christians of all times, places and ages.

I believe the Sacrament of Holy Communion is a response on behalf of the modern disciples in joy and thanksgiving to celebrate the grace and love of God through Jesus Christ.  Its history connected with our ancestor’s celebration of the Passover calls to mind the continual providence of God in the world throughout the ages.  At the table, we respond to the longing of Christ that we may all be one. (John 17:21)

I believe that at the end of this age, at the time known only by its Creator, all of creation will be reunited with God, for through its Mediator ransom was paid for all. (1 Tim. 2:6)