What do we believe?

The most important thing, when looking for a church, is knowing what that church believes. Accordingly, from the first century until now, churches have expressed what they believe using statements of faith. A Statement of Faith isn’t Scripture itself, doesn't replace God's Word, and isn't an exhaustive summary of doctrine, but it provides a helpful summary of what God has revealed in His Word.

Most of the articles in a local church’s statement of faith highlight two things: They highlight the essentials of Christianity (e.g. How can we know God? Who is Jesus? What is the Gospel?) and they underscore certain beliefs that allow the church’s members to enjoy unity with one another in the practicalities of gathering together as a church family (e.g. Who should our church baptise? Who should lead our church?).

Our Statement of Faith is based upon:

• The Apostle's Creed (c. 2nd Century)

• The Nicene Constantinopolitan Creed (381)

• The 2nd London Baptist Confession (1689)

• The New Hampshire Confession of Faith (1853)

• The Fellowship of Independent Churches (FIEC) Doctrinal Basis (2023)

All who join Emmanuel as church members are required to affirm our Statement of Faith. This is because we want our Statement of Faith to unite us around God’s unchanging truth and guard us against the passing beliefs of our contemporary culture. And so far from being a dusty old historical document to which we merely give mental assent, our prayer is that our lives together would be increasingly transformed by the robust worldview and the beautiful hope described in our Statement of Faith. The depth of our statement is valuable toward that end: it not only articulates essential Christian belief, but also instructs our whole church toward a deeper love for God.