Mission: As members of the West Avon Congregational Church, our mission is to reflect our faith in God and Jesus Christ by:
-accepting the guidance of the Holy Spirit;
-learning and teaching, joyfully, the word of God;
-loving, in Christ's spirit, one another and those around us;
-giving spiritual leadership in our congregation and our community;
-providing an open, spiritual, compassionate, nurturing place of worship, learning and fellowship; and
-committing ourselves and our resources toward making our world a more just, caring, peaceful place.
Doctrine: We recognize the Bible as a sufficient rule of faith and practice, and hold that living in accordance with the teachings of Jesus Christ is a true test of community. Each member shall have the undisturbed right to follow the Word of God according to the dictates of his/her own conscience, under the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit. The following Covenant and Statement of Faith are an expression of the spirit in which the church interprets the Word of God.
Covenant: We are united in striving to know the will of God as taught in the Holy Scriptures, and in our purpose to walk in the ways of God, made known or to be made known to us. We hold it to be the mission of the Church of Christ to proclaim the Gospel to everyone, exalting the worship of the one true God and laboring for the progress of knowledge, the promotion of justice, the reign of peace and the realization of loving bonds uniting all people. Depending, as did the men and women of faith who preceded us, upon the continued guidance of the Holy Spirit to lead us into all truth, we work and pray for the transformation of the world into the kingdom of God; and we look with faith for the triumph of righteousness and of the life everlasting.
Statement of Faith: We believe in God the Creator, infinite in wisdom, goodness and love; and in Jesus Christ, God's Son, our Savior who, for us and our salvation, lived and died and rose again and lives evermore; and in the Holy Spirit, who takes of the things of Christ and reveals them to us, renewing, comforting and inspiring our souls.
Our Faith:
Trinitarian
God creates us and our world,
loves and judges all people.
Jesus Christ lived exactly as we,
conquered sin and death,
reconciled us and God.
Holy Spirit renews the Church,
guides us to live in covenant
Testimonies of Faith not Tests
Statement of Faith not a creed
Diverse in our understanding
Our union in diversity is a strength
Importance of Holy Scripture
Reveals God's Word in the past
God speaks to us today
Each person has the right to interpret God's Word
As a Community of Faith, Christ is the Head
We covenant to:
Be in dialogue with each other, the world and God
and
Walk in Christ's way
Worship God
Love our neighbor
Seek justice and peace
Strive for reconciliation