We Believe

In General

The United Episcopal Church embraces the divine truth that Jesus Christ is Lord, Savior and the Supreme Head of His Sacred Body the Church. Our members hold fast to twenty centuries of life in the Spirit proclaimed by the teaching and fellowship of the Twelve Apostles. We hold firmly to God's plan for mankind as proclaimed in the Holy Bible. As Christians in the Anglican tradition, we affirm that the 1928 Book of Common Prayer accurately reflects the Bible on belief, worship, and teaching.

We also subscribe to four essential points of belief:

W That the Apostles' Creed is the Baptismal Symbol, and the Nicene Creed is the sufficient statement of Christian faith.

W That there are two essential Sacraments instituted by Christ Himself -- Baptism and the Supper of the Lord -- administered with unfailing use of Christ's Words of Institution, and the elements ordained by Him.

W That the Historic Episcopate, locally adapted, is male in character as set forth in Scripture.

W That the Articles of Religion contained in the Prayer Book stand in defense against man's attempts to alter God's truth.

In Particular

God the Father is supreme, and Jesus Christ is His only Son. There is but One True God as revealed in the Old and NewTestaments of the Holy Bible. Jesus Christ is the only begotten and much beloved Son of God. We believe that God, in his mercy, became man through His Son to reveal Himself to us once and for all. Jesus Christ is Our Lord Savior, the heir to God and the Supreme Head of His Sacred Body the Church.

The Scriptures are the unerring Word of God. God's plan for mankind is authoritatively proclaimed in the Scriptures of the Bible. The Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the rule and ultimate standard of faith. We believe that the Old and New Testaments are the record of God's revelation of Himself to mankind and that they contain all things necessary for salvation. Whatever is not found in Scripture, nor can be proved by Scripture, is not required to be believed.

The sacrifice of Jesus saved mankind from his sins. Because God is infinitely loving and merciful, He sent His Only Son to minister to us on his behalf. God became man through the birth of His Son Jesus Christ. Christ's conception, life, and death on the Cross fulfill God's Scriptures. Through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, God saved man from his sins, and each of us may find rest with Him if we repent of our sins and confess Christ as our Lord.

Jesus is the mediator between God and man. Jesus is God incarnate and, as such, He only is the Lord. We come to Our Father only through Jesus Christ.

The Holy Spirit was sent by God. Upon the ascension of Christ to Heaven, God sent the Holy Spirit -- the third person of the Triune God -- to comfort the Church and to guide it in truth.

The Historic Creeds are the tenets of Christian Faith. Our core beliefs are clearly stated in The Apostle's Creed and The Nicene Creed. These Creeds are short statements of belief which contain the fundamental tenets of Christianity. The Apostle's Creed and The Nicene Creed were vital components of the ancient Church. They remain central to the Christian faith today and
continue to protect us against false and misleading doctrines. The Nicene and Apostle's Creeds are an integral part of every worship service of our church.

The Book of Common Prayer is essential to the Anglican Faith. The Book of Common Prayer is an uncompromising cornerstone of the Anglican Church. It reflects the Holy Bible in worship and in teaching. The 39 Articles of Religion found in the Book of Common Prayer are a historic and accurate statement of true faith and stand in defense against man's attempt to alter God's truth. These Articles have guided Anglicans since the mid 16th century.

For all of our services we use the 1928 Book of Common Prayer which was derived from the 1549 prayer book of the Church of England. It has an ancient history, and the prayers and responses date back to the primitive Church. Nearly 90 percent of the Book of Common Prayer are words from the Bible or paraphrases of Scripture. The importance of using the 1928 Book of Common Prayer is twofold:

W First, by adhering to the doctrines and practices set out in the Prayer Book, we are less likely to be influenced by the ideas of either a single person or a group. It keeps us away from false ideas or overly emphasizing a single part of Christ's teaching. The Book acts as a guide to keep us in balance with Scripture, Sermon, and Prayers.

W Second, we believe that worship should be an inspiring experience which opens our hearts and minds more directly to God's ever-present love. The cadence and economy of words and phrases in the traditional English used by the Book of Common Prayer are a quiet balm against the ever-increasing noise of the secular world. It has become one of the world's most quoted and revered literary achievements.

Apostolic Succession is historically legitimate. The United Episcopal Church is an Anglican branch of the One Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church which was established by our Lord, Jesus Christ. We continue in the faith and practice taught by His Holy Apostles and the early Church and which are recorded in Scripture. We believe in the truth and historical legitimacy of Apostolic Succession. From our founding Bishop to our current Presiding Bishop, all clergymen of the UECNA are ordained in a direct, unbroken line reaching back to the Apostles themselves.

Sacraments are a gift of grace ordained by God. A sacrament is defined as an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace. The Anglican Church is a Sacramental Church. There are two Sacraments ordained of Christ our Lord in the Gospel -- Baptism and the Supper of the Lord. The Book of Common Prayer also includes other sacraments that strengthen our personal lives and fill us with grace:

W Confirmation grants the gifts of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 8:14-17; 19:1-7, and Eph. 113).

W Penance is God's forgiveness of the sins of truly penitent people, granted through the absolution of a priest. (St. John 20:23; St. James 5:16).

W Unction is the ministry of healing by anointing with oils and laying on of hands. (St. James 5:4 and St. Mark 6:13).

W Marriage is the union of man and woman for life. (Ephesians 5:31-32).

W Holy Orders commissions the ministry of men in an unbroken line initiated by Christ Himself through the Apostles. (St. John 20:19-23, St. Matthew 16:18-18; and Acts 1-6).

The Sacraments come directly to us from Scripture. They are objective and effective signs of Christ's saving grace. By them we are strengthened, and we confirm our faith in God and Christ. Through the Sacraments we are assured of Christ's goodness and kindness towards us.

In Conclusion

We believe that God has saved man from his sins and that each of us may find rest with Him if we repent of our sins and confess Christ as our Lord. God is merciful and righteous. He hears our prayers and has compassion for us. He heals us and strengthens us and watches over each of us individually.

In this most unstable world, we all need the loving care of Christ. His promises are as true and valid today as they were when He was here on earth two thousand years ago. He looks to each of us and says, "Come unto me all ye that travail and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you." He asks only that you believe in Him and put your trust in Him. He offers you eternal life. You will find the peace you have been seeking which is only possible through Him. You will find that His service is perfect freedom.

Through the tenets and beliefs of the One Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church outlined above, each of us gains the faith, strength, and understanding necessary to grow into spiritual maturity and to become one with God and Christ.