Reflecting faithful Christian life in Anglicanism
PREAMBLE
Throughout the history of the Christian Church, the unity and substance of the Gospel have come under powerful cultural, philosophical, and religious attack. At such times, it has been necessary to confess clearly, unequivocally, and publicly “the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints”. (Jude 3 Revised Standard Version)
THEREFORE CONFESS AND REAFFIRM:
The Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the Word of God, and to contain all things necessary to salvation. Interpreted within the Tradition of the Christian Church, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the Scriptures in their entirety, are the reliable, trustworthy, and canonical witness of God’s full self-revelation in Jesus Christ, and are our rule and decisive authority in matters of faith and morals.
The Nicene Creed to be the sufficient statement of the Christian Faith. It cannot be altered, minimized, or denied by any local authority or baptized Christian without grave error or heresy.
The Apostolic Orders of Bishop, Priest, and Deacon bestowed upon men, according to the intention and example of Christ in choosing the twelve Apostles and followed in the universal practice of the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.
The Sacrament of Marriage to be a life long union between husband and wife, one male and one female, as established by God in creation.
The Holy Sacraments are promised and certain means of grace given by Christ, and are embodied in Catholic traditions and practices which have stood the test of time.
The Unity of the Church for which Our Lord prayed on the night before he died. We are bound to repudiate any action and teaching that willfully places an erroneous and insurmountable theological or moral obstacle in the way of reconciliation and full visible unity within and between Anglican, Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches.
The moral commandments and instruction of the Old and New Testaments to be the express, revealed will of God for all people. Their purpose is the protection of life by fostering virtue. And because it is essential to the health of both the soul and society, sexual morality has been unambiguously set forth in the Scriptures and the teaching of the Church: inside marriage, fidelity; outside marriage, chastity.The purpose of God’s self-revelation in the Law, the Prophets, and finally in Jesus Christ, is the salvation of the world from sin. All are called to respond in faith, hope, good works, and holiness of life. However, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23), so it is incumbent upon all to confess their sin and accept divine forgiveness.
Our Church’s
Statement of Faith
Ancient Faith for Today
In the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
[Alpine Anglican] Church of the Blessed Trinity (referred to in these Bylaws as “the Church”) has been incorporated as a non-profit religious corporation under the laws of the State of California, affording the temporal rights and privileges and imposing upon it the duties and obligations of an independent corporation.
The Church affirms the proclamation in Word and Sacrament, the Evangelical and Catholic Faith of Jesus Christ, embodied in its Statement of Faith. Our Statement of Faith binds the principle, purpose, and mission of the Church.
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