The Baptismal Covenant
Our Core Statement of Belief
As Episcopalians, we believe in and follow the teachings of Jesus Christ, whose life, death, and resurrection saved the world.
We believe that God loves you – no exceptions.
The Episcopal Church embraces a legacy of inclusion, aspiring to tell and exemplify God’s love for every human being; people of all genders and sexual orientations serve as bishops, priests, and deacons in our church. Laypeople and clergy work together in leadership and governance. —“What We Believe,” The Episcopal Church website
Our beliefs are best seen by how we promise to live.
–– Five promises for a lifetime of living
As Episcopalians we promise…
To continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers. We share a common life of worship, study, fellowship and celebrating the Eucharist, a meal that sustains us as the Body of Christ Christ. Sunday worship is central to our common life together.
To persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord. We acknowledge that we are human and will miss the mark in living into God’s hope for us. God is always calling us to return, forgiving us even before we have asked for forgiveness. We work to live into that invitation.
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Baptism, Confirmation, and Renewing Vows
Are you called to make these promise your own?
If you feel called by God to make these promises your own, consider being baptized, confirmed, or renewing your baptismal promises. We offer baptism four times a year on special Sundays and confirmation when the bishop visits the congregation, usually in May.
The final three promises…
3. To proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ. We share the love and saving grace we find in Christ with others through our words and actions. Sometimes this means sharing our faith with friends and neighbors and helping others deepen their faith. Other times we share our faith through acts of loving service.
4. To seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself. We look for Christ in all persons knowing that God sends us out in love to be Christ’s hands and feet in the world. Teresa of Avila famously said, “Christ has no body on earth but yours. Yours are the eyes with which he looks compassionately on this world. Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good.”
5. Strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being. We seek justice and peace, partnering with God in God’s work of reconciliation. The work of reconciliation is joining what God is up to in restoring the world to wholeness and saying “I want to be a part of that vision.” Addressing racism is an important part of our work of reconciliation as we work toward right relationship with all God’s people.
We acknowledge that every person is made in the image of God and affirm the diversity of creation found in many cultures, contexts, genders, and ways of loving one another. We affirm love in all its forms and are committed to the inclusion and affirmation of women, LGBTQ persons, and people of color in every aspect of our common life and leadership.