Core Beliefs
Statement of Faith
Along with our guiding principles and core beliefs affirmed in the Apostles' Creed and Nicene Creed, the Association abides by a Statement of Faith, which is the cornerstone of the organization.
We affirm the following:
We affirm the following:
- The Trinitarian name of God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
- God has revealed Himself fully and decisively, as attested in Holy Scripture. We believe the Bible, consisting of the Old and New Testaments, to be the inspired and authoritative Word of God. The Scriptures are the guide of faith and life.
- There is only one way to salvation – through Jesus Christ.
- The sanctity of human life at every stage based on our creation in the image of God and our election by God for service in His Kingdom.
- The biblical guidelines for human sexuality: marriage as the union of one man and one woman, fidelity and holiness in marriage, and chastity outside of marriage for the sake of the Kingdom.
- That the mission of the Church is to spread the good news of the Gospel of salvation in every word and deed. We are sent by Christ into all the world to bring every person into a life of faith, discipleship, and submission to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
Core Values
God Is at Work: The Scriptures teach us that God is relentlessly at work in the lives of His people. The Spirit that indwells us is convicting us of sin and driving us to Christ; Jesus is at work ruling and reigning as king, building His Church, and interceding for us; The Father is at work sustaining all things and actively loving us as He draws us to Himself through His Son Jesus. This understanding gives us the confidence to join God in the work He is already doing.
The Scripture: The Bible is our only infallible rule of faith and practice: God-breathed and authoritative in our lives and in our churches. A high view of the Scripture is displayed as we seek to understand God's Word through studying and faithful preaching. So, instead of approaching the Scripture with the goal of interpreting it through our own lens of what is acceptable to us, we allow it to interpret and examine us.
The Gospel: The Gospel is "The Good News" of changed lives. It is the message of the person and work of Jesus Christ to reconcile us to the Father through His life, death, and resurrection. We encourage our members and churches to proclaim and apply the Gospel boldly.
Fellowship: One of the primary purposes of the EA is to encourage fellowship, partnership, and association within our members and congregations. We will stand arm in arm, sharing encouragement, ideas, and resources as we serve God in our respective spheres of influence. We place a high value on encouraging our members to network together for Kingdom advancement.
Discipleship: The Great Commission commands us as Christ followers to make disciples. We urge our members and congregations to be disciples who make disciples. The natural response of a healthy, vibrant faith is to see others come to know Jesus and to know Him more deeply. This work is accomplished as we reproduce new disciples, ministries, and churches and as we encourage growth in grace in one another.
Mission: We believe that the call of all believers and all churches is to be on a mission for the Gospel. We encourage our members and congregations to be on a mission and to serve with our resources, prayers, and works and to proclaim with great expectation the Gospel of Jesus Christ locally, nationally, and around the world. Also, we look for opportunities to partner together in missions.
Reformation: In its most basic sense, reformation is the ongoing theological renewal of biblical Christianity in our lives and in our churches. We believe that this reformation is an ongoing process, and therefore, churches will, at times, in the course of their history, need revitalization and renewal. We encourage our congregations and members to regularly examine their priorities and practices with the goal of being both rooted in the historic faith and able to understand their congregations and communities to ensure they are vibrant and winsome in their ministries.
The Image of God: The Bible clearly teaches that each human being is created in the image of God and has intrinsic dignity and value. This is the guiding principle for our views on the sanctity of life at every stage.
The Scripture: The Bible is our only infallible rule of faith and practice: God-breathed and authoritative in our lives and in our churches. A high view of the Scripture is displayed as we seek to understand God's Word through studying and faithful preaching. So, instead of approaching the Scripture with the goal of interpreting it through our own lens of what is acceptable to us, we allow it to interpret and examine us.
The Gospel: The Gospel is "The Good News" of changed lives. It is the message of the person and work of Jesus Christ to reconcile us to the Father through His life, death, and resurrection. We encourage our members and churches to proclaim and apply the Gospel boldly.
Fellowship: One of the primary purposes of the EA is to encourage fellowship, partnership, and association within our members and congregations. We will stand arm in arm, sharing encouragement, ideas, and resources as we serve God in our respective spheres of influence. We place a high value on encouraging our members to network together for Kingdom advancement.
Discipleship: The Great Commission commands us as Christ followers to make disciples. We urge our members and congregations to be disciples who make disciples. The natural response of a healthy, vibrant faith is to see others come to know Jesus and to know Him more deeply. This work is accomplished as we reproduce new disciples, ministries, and churches and as we encourage growth in grace in one another.
Mission: We believe that the call of all believers and all churches is to be on a mission for the Gospel. We encourage our members and congregations to be on a mission and to serve with our resources, prayers, and works and to proclaim with great expectation the Gospel of Jesus Christ locally, nationally, and around the world. Also, we look for opportunities to partner together in missions.
Reformation: In its most basic sense, reformation is the ongoing theological renewal of biblical Christianity in our lives and in our churches. We believe that this reformation is an ongoing process, and therefore, churches will, at times, in the course of their history, need revitalization and renewal. We encourage our congregations and members to regularly examine their priorities and practices with the goal of being both rooted in the historic faith and able to understand their congregations and communities to ensure they are vibrant and winsome in their ministries.
The Image of God: The Bible clearly teaches that each human being is created in the image of God and has intrinsic dignity and value. This is the guiding principle for our views on the sanctity of life at every stage.
Issues & Core Beliefs
In light of these Core Values and our Statement of Faith, we affirm our stance on these matters:
Abortion
We affirm the biblical principle of the sanctity of human life. We also understand the sensitivity of this issue and are filled with Christian love for those affected by abortions. Still, we are unashamedly pro-life.
Allows for Local Autonomy
All our churches are independent, self-governing but are a part of the One, Holy, Universal Christian Church.
Baptism
We affirm freedom in baptism, including infant baptism and believer's baptism, sprinkling, and immersion.
Belief in the Infallibility & Authority of the Scripture
We believe that all Scripture is "God-breathed;" therefore, the Scripture is holy, infallible, and our authority for life and faith.
Confirmation
Many of our churches practice this beautiful rite, and we affirm the historical importance of this tradition while acknowledging that some of our churches have not inherited the history of this practice.
Cross of Jesus & Blood Atonement of Christ
Necessary for salvation and taught with reverence, respect, and grateful hearts.
Doctrinal Identity
Strong evangelical "Statement of Faith" and the historic creeds of the Protestant Christian heritage.
Emphasis on Church Planting
The Scripture is clear that we are to go and make disciples. Church planting is encouraged on local and regional levels.
Emphasis on Missions
Strong encouragement for each local church to be involved locally and globally. Direct relationships between churches and missions/missionaries are encouraged. Mission Renewal Network is available to assist local churches.
Euthanasia & Suicide
Viewed as outside of God's will.
Human Sexuality
The biblical guidelines for human sexuality: marriage as the union of one man and one woman, fidelity and holiness in marriage, and chastity outside of marriage for the sake of the Kingdom.
Inclusive Language
Biblical language clearly uses masculine references to God (Father, Lord, He) and is affirmed. Modern documents, in language dealing with humans, are more inclusive.
Lord's Supper
Practices vary in local churches.
Non-Christian Religions
Christ is the only Savior of the world.
Ordination
Local church ordination or recognized denomination. The candidate applies to the local church.
Sacraments
Two: Baptism and Lord's Supper; local church freedom.
Theology
Evangelical, conservative, classical, and historic Christianity as affirmed in the Apostles' Creed, Nicene Creed, and other creeds of the Protestant Christian heritage.
Local Church Polity
Congregational
Separatist
No
Types of Churches
Evangelical, Congregational, Christian, and Reformed in background; also, independent churches.
Women in Leadership
There are women in ministries, but the decision is left to the local church.
Year Founded
Organized in 1998.
Creeds
Apostles' Creed
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth:
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended to the dead*; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God, the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the one holy universal Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
*or "hell"
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended to the dead*; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God, the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the one holy universal Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
*or "hell"
Nicene Creed
I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible:
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of His Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made;
Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary, and was made man, and crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate;
He suffered and was buried, and the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures and ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the Father; And He shall come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead; Whose Kingdom shall never end.
And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of life who proceedeth from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets.
And I believe in one holy universal and apostolic church; I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins, and I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of His Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made;
Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary, and was made man, and crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate;
He suffered and was buried, and the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures and ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the Father; And He shall come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead; Whose Kingdom shall never end.
And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of life who proceedeth from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets.
And I believe in one holy universal and apostolic church; I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins, and I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.