A Synopsis of the Beliefs of the Presbyterian Church in America

Grace Community Church is a congregation of the Presbyterian Church in America. As such, we hold certain essentials of the Christian faith in common with all true believers in Jesus Christ. These essentials are expressed in the Apostle’s Creed, printed below. As a member of the PCA denomination, the full statement of our faith is contained in the Westminster Confession of Faith, and the Larger and Shorter Catechisms. All pastors, elders, and deacons subscribe to these doctrinal statements as their own and must state before serving what objections they may have to these statements.

The Apostles' Creed

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From there He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

The following is a summary of the doctrine of our church and denomination. The full statement of our faith is contained in the Westminster Confession of Faith, and the Larger and Shorter Catechisms, which is an historic creed of the Protestant Reformation, from Calvin's branch of the reformation. All pastors, elders, and deacons subscribe to these doctrinal statements as their own, and must state before serving what objections and scruples they have with these statements.

The Westminster Confession of Faith (summary)

1. The Bible is the inspired and inerrant Word of God, the only infallible rule of faith and practice.
2. There is one God, eternal and self-existing in three persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) who are to be equally loved, honored, and adored.
3. All mankind participated in Adam's fall from his original sinless state and is thus lost in sin and are totally helpless.
4. The Sovereign God, for no other reason than His own unfathomable love and mercy, has chosen lost sinners from every nation to be redeemed by the quickening power of the Holy Spirit and through the atoning death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ.
5. Those sinners whom the Spirit quickens, come to believe in Christ as Savior by the Word of God, are born again, become sons of God, and will persevere to the end.
6. Justification is by faith, and through it, the undeserving sinner is clothed with the righteousness of Christ.
7. The goal of God's salvation in the life of the Christian is holiness, good works, and service for the glory of God.
8. At death the Christian's soul passes immediately into the presence of God and the unbeliever's soul is eternally separated from God unto condemnation.
9. Baptism is a sign of God's covenant and is properly administered to children of believers in their infancy as well as to those who come as adults to trust in Christ.
10. Jesus Christ will return to earth, visibly and bodily, at a time when He is not expected, to consummate history and the eternal plan of God.
11. The Gospel of God's salvation in Jesus Christ must be published to all the world as a witness before Jesus Christ returns.