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Publications
: The Congregational Way Series
: What It Means |
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Pages:
Cover, Intro,
1,
2,
3,
4,
5,
6,
7,
8,
9,
10
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page 3 of 10
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What It Means to Be a Member of a
Congregational Church |
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by Henry David Gray |
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CONVICTIONS RATHER THAN
CREEDS
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A Congregational Christian Church of today is a
Church of the Pilgrims, with convictions that emphasize faith, freedom, and fellowship.
Congregational Christians believe very deeply in
God, in Jesus Christ, in the guiding Spirit of God, in
prayer, in the worth of worship, in the value of the
sacraments and holy rites, and in the power of God to
triumph over all that is unholy and evil.
We do not accept any formal statement of faith as
binding upon all members of our Churches. This is not
because we think creeds do not matter, but because we
think sincerity of conviction requires full opportunity
for intellectual freedom and personal experience. Thus
every Congregationalist possesses full liberty of conscience in interpreting the gospel.
The bond of our
Christian unity and the fundamental requirement for
membership in a Congregational Christian Church are sincere Christian conviction and honest desire to live
in
fellowship with others as a follower of Jesus Christ.
In our Churches no statement of the Christian
faith can be made binding upon the conscience of a
Christian man. This means that there are differences
of emphasis within and among our Churches. Every
sincere conviction that exalts our Lord is honored
among us. This inclusive basis of membership naturally
attracts to the Congregational Christian fellowship
men and women of genuine conviction, of adventurous faith, and of gracious and brotherly regard for
each other's sincerity.
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National Association of Congregational Christian
Churches
PO Box 288, Oak Creek, WI 53154
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Pages:
Cover, Intro,
1,
2,
3,
4,
5,
6,
7,
8,
9,
10
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Page 3 of 10 |
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