We believe that sound doctrine is to occupy a place of high priority in the life of the Church; therefore, we stress doctrinal teaching. We also stand in accord with Augustine, who said, “In essentials unity, non-essentials liberty, and in all things charity.” On these doctrines of first priority we must find a place of agreement. Secondary or non-essential items, though finding a place of importance and expression, must not become a necessary basis for unity. The following expresses those doctrines we believe to be necessary:

• • We believe the Bible to be the inspired and only infallible, inerrant Word of God.
  
  • We believe in the Triune Godhead as eternally existent in three persons: The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
  
  • We believe in the deity of Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and propitiatory suffering and death, in atonement through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His present priestly ministry.
  
  • We believe in Christ’s personal return in power and great glory and in His presence and everlasting dominion.
  
  • We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; that they are saved into the resurrection of eternal life and they that are lost into eternal judgment.
  
  • We believe that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone and in Christ alone; we further believe that for the salvation of the lost and sinful man, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential.
  
  • We believe in evangelistic and missionary fervor and endeavor.
  
  • We believe that sanctification and holiness is God’s design for His Church.

We further believe in the empowering work of the Holy Spirit, the perpetuity of the spiritual gifts and believers’ baptism in water by immersion. However, we hold these doctrines to occupy the category of “non-essential” and, while important, do not hold them as a standard of the true faith.

We are quite satisfied to insist on unity regarding the essentials. On secondary issues we find comfort, strength and healthy challenge in our diversity. In cases of divergence from essential doctrine, we are committed to patient loving instruction and correction.

Since we are to be constantly nourished on the words of faith and of sound doctrine… (we will) give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching.   1 Timothy 4:6, 13