Affirmations

With Christians of many communions, Ordained Nation proclaims belief in the triune God—Father, Son and Holy Spirit. This confession embraces the biblical witness to God's activity in creation, encompasses God's involvement in history from the beginning of time, and anticipates the consummation of God's reign.

The created order is designed for the well-being of all creatures and as the place of human dwelling in covenant with God. As imperfect beings, however, we have broken that covenant, become estranged from God, wounded ourselves and one another, and have misused the precious resources of the natural order. We stand in need of redemption.

We hold common with all Christians a faith in the work of salvation in and through our brother Christ Jesus. At the heart of the gospel of salvation is God's incarnation in Jesus of Nazareth. Scripture witnesses to the redeeming love of God in Jesus' life and teachings, His atoning death, His resurrection, His sovereign presence in history, His triumph over the powers of evil and death, and His promised return. Because God truly loves us in spite of our willful sin, God judges us, summons us to repentance, pardons us, receives us by that grace given to us in Christ Jesus , and gives us hope of life eternal.

We share the Christian belief that God's redemptive love is realized in human life by the activity of the Holy Spirit, both in personal experience and in the community of believers. This community is the church, which the Spirit has brought into existence for the healing of both individuals and nations. The mission of the church is to lead persons to accept Jesus Christ as the Lord of their lives and from that faith receive forgiveness, become reconciled to God and be transformed as people of the new covenant.

"Life in the Spirit" involves diligent use of the means of grace such as praying, fasting, receiving communion, and growing in spiritual maturity. It also encompasses the communal life of the church in worship, mission, evangelism, service and social witness.

As new persons in Christ, we become a part of Christ's universal church. We are initiated and incorporated into this community of faith by baptism, receiving the promise of the Spirit that recreates and transforms us. Through the celebration of Holy Communion and in fellowship with others in the community of faith, we participate in the risen presence of Jesus and are thereby nourished for faithful discipleship.

With other Christians we recognize that the reign of God is both a present and future reality. Wherever human beings are being made new persons altogether with Christ Jesus, wherever the insights and resources of the gospel are brought to bear on the life of the world, God's reign is already in its healing and renewing power.

We share with other Christians a recognition of the authority of the Holy Scripture as given by the early church as the Word of God. As we are strengthend in matters of faith and spiritual development and growth, the Holy Scriptures are an essential light on the pathway of life.

With other Christians, we declare the essential oneness of the church in Christ Jesus. This rich heritage of shared Christian belief finds expression in our hymnody and liturgies. Our unity is affirmed in the historic creeds as we confess one holy, catholic, and apostolic church. It is also experienced in joint ventures of ministry in various forms of ecumenical cooperation. It is not a religous belief but a trust without doubt of our wellfound steadfast faith.