WHAT IS THE “FLAVOR” OF Westminster Presbyterian Church?
Every church has its own unique character, or “flavor.” Some congregations are very traditional, while others are more informal in how they express their beliefs. Some may see themselves as very conservative in theology, while others may be more moderate or even progressive. For those who may be “church shopping,” it is a good idea to get a sense of the “flavor” of a particular church before making a commitment. You may be more comfortable in a congregation that shares, in a general way, your values, world view and theology.
Our Church Mission Statement is as follows: At Westminster Church, we are an inclusive community of faith, called by Jesus Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit to demonstrate God’s love in the world. At Westminster we often use words like “open,” or “inclusive,” to describe ourselves. We also affirm that, wherever you might be in your spiritual/Christian quest, you are welcome to join with us in the journey of life and faith.
Worship: Our worship experience tends to be informal - we strive not so much for perfection in performance, but rather coming together to celebrate and give thanks to God. We offer a wide variety of music, from contemporary to traditional. The preaching is relevant and engaging, and at times uses drama and other art forms to convey the message. We practice an open communion table at Westminster, and all are invited to partake, regardless of religious connection or spiritual background.
The Bible: At Westminster Church, we see the Bible as one of the foundations of our faith. The Sunday sermons are biblically based, and we offer opportunities for more in-depth Bible studies. We view the Bible not as inerrant, but as the Word of God written by humans who were inspired by God. As such, the Bible is not a textbook on history, geology, or science, and we see no conflict between science and faith because they ask different questions about life. The Bible is the story of God’s interaction with human beings in the journey of faith.
Jesus: The Bible says that Jesus is the “son of the living God.” He is the center of our faith. He is God’s revelation to us “in the flesh,” and came to call us to true faith in God. He died at the hands of the religious and political authorities, in large part because he spoke out on behalf of the poor and outcast. The bottom line is that as we struggle to know Jesus in our lives, we respect one another, and value the diversity of opinion and experience that is evidenced in our unique spiritual journeys.
Salvation: Most Christians believe in an afterlife, and take great hope in that belief. Hope for the future is what gives us strength for living today. But Jesus tells the disciples not to worry so much about the future, but to live faithfully today. So we trust God for what lies ahead. Salvation means more than getting to heaven when we die. Salvation, a word meaning wholeness and health, starts right here, right now, in this life. It is spiritual health and wholeness that enable us to reach out to the world around us with the love of Jesus.
Resurrection: We affirm that God raised Jesus from the dead, and he lives in our hearts through the power of the Holy Spirit. But in the faith journey we sometimes struggle with understanding what that means. We believe that Jesus came to show us what true love is, and what our calling is. He was crucified but not even the power of the state could conquer love, so the resurrection stands as a symbol of that miraculous power of love in our world. Some in our fellowship would affirm a physical, miraculous rising, while others would say it is symbolic, and metaphorical of the new life made available to us in Jesus.
Inclusiveness: We believe the church ought to be welcoming to persons of any race, creed, age, nationality or sexual orientation. All should be permitted to participate fully in the life of the church. The Presbyterian Church (USA) recently adopted ordination standards that open the door for all gays and lesbians to be considered for ordination as elders, deacons, or ministers. The leadership at Westminster supports this change. For further information on the actions of our General Assembly, go to the following link: www.pcusa.org.
Other religions: We believe that other religions should be approached with openness and respect. We further affirm that God’s spirit can be found in other religions. We might say that the “Christ spirit,” the spirit of love and new life that Jesus embodied, may well be a part of other faiths even though it might not go by that name. We also recognize there are many in our world who consider themselves to be “spiritual” but not “religious,” and we would welcome them to join us in our faith journey.
Approved by Westminster Presbyterian Church session in March, 2013
Every church has its own unique character, or “flavor.” Some congregations are very traditional, while others are more informal in how they express their beliefs. Some may see themselves as very conservative in theology, while others may be more moderate or even progressive. For those who may be “church shopping,” it is a good idea to get a sense of the “flavor” of a particular church before making a commitment. You may be more comfortable in a congregation that shares, in a general way, your values, world view and theology.
Our Church Mission Statement is as follows: At Westminster Church, we are an inclusive community of faith, called by Jesus Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit to demonstrate God’s love in the world. At Westminster we often use words like “open,” or “inclusive,” to describe ourselves. We also affirm that, wherever you might be in your spiritual/Christian quest, you are welcome to join with us in the journey of life and faith.
Worship: Our worship experience tends to be informal - we strive not so much for perfection in performance, but rather coming together to celebrate and give thanks to God. We offer a wide variety of music, from contemporary to traditional. The preaching is relevant and engaging, and at times uses drama and other art forms to convey the message. We practice an open communion table at Westminster, and all are invited to partake, regardless of religious connection or spiritual background.
The Bible: At Westminster Church, we see the Bible as one of the foundations of our faith. The Sunday sermons are biblically based, and we offer opportunities for more in-depth Bible studies. We view the Bible not as inerrant, but as the Word of God written by humans who were inspired by God. As such, the Bible is not a textbook on history, geology, or science, and we see no conflict between science and faith because they ask different questions about life. The Bible is the story of God’s interaction with human beings in the journey of faith.
Jesus: The Bible says that Jesus is the “son of the living God.” He is the center of our faith. He is God’s revelation to us “in the flesh,” and came to call us to true faith in God. He died at the hands of the religious and political authorities, in large part because he spoke out on behalf of the poor and outcast. The bottom line is that as we struggle to know Jesus in our lives, we respect one another, and value the diversity of opinion and experience that is evidenced in our unique spiritual journeys.
Salvation: Most Christians believe in an afterlife, and take great hope in that belief. Hope for the future is what gives us strength for living today. But Jesus tells the disciples not to worry so much about the future, but to live faithfully today. So we trust God for what lies ahead. Salvation means more than getting to heaven when we die. Salvation, a word meaning wholeness and health, starts right here, right now, in this life. It is spiritual health and wholeness that enable us to reach out to the world around us with the love of Jesus.
Resurrection: We affirm that God raised Jesus from the dead, and he lives in our hearts through the power of the Holy Spirit. But in the faith journey we sometimes struggle with understanding what that means. We believe that Jesus came to show us what true love is, and what our calling is. He was crucified but not even the power of the state could conquer love, so the resurrection stands as a symbol of that miraculous power of love in our world. Some in our fellowship would affirm a physical, miraculous rising, while others would say it is symbolic, and metaphorical of the new life made available to us in Jesus.
Inclusiveness: We believe the church ought to be welcoming to persons of any race, creed, age, nationality or sexual orientation. All should be permitted to participate fully in the life of the church. The Presbyterian Church (USA) recently adopted ordination standards that open the door for all gays and lesbians to be considered for ordination as elders, deacons, or ministers. The leadership at Westminster supports this change. For further information on the actions of our General Assembly, go to the following link: www.pcusa.org.
Other religions: We believe that other religions should be approached with openness and respect. We further affirm that God’s spirit can be found in other religions. We might say that the “Christ spirit,” the spirit of love and new life that Jesus embodied, may well be a part of other faiths even though it might not go by that name. We also recognize there are many in our world who consider themselves to be “spiritual” but not “religious,” and we would welcome them to join us in our faith journey.
Approved by Westminster Presbyterian Church session in March, 2013