We all are familiar with the Apostles Creed, but did you know that the Presbyterian Church actually has eleven confessional statements? As written in The Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Book of Confessions, the church declares to its members and to the world who and what it is, what it believes, and what it resolves to do. These statements identify the church as a community of people known by its convictions as well as by its actions. They guide the church in its study and interpretation of the Scriptures; they summarize the essence of the Reformed Christian tradition; they direct the church in maintaining sound doctrines; they equip the church for its work and proclamation.
This fall we will incorporate portions of these statements of faith into our worship service. As we move through the various creeds, confessions, and catechisms you'll notice that each comes out of a particular time, place, and circumstance in history; beginning with the Nicene Creed in A.D. 381 after Emperor Constantine won a battle and attributed his victory to Jesus Christ. It then carries us through the reformation in Scotland, Germany, and Switzerland, then onto WWII's resistance of the German Christian accommodation to National Socialism, followed by the racial discrimination of the 1960s and most recently apartheid. These creeds, confessions and catechisms are both historic and contemporary. None have been altered to conform to today's theological, ethical or linguistic norms. They represent the living word – a snapshot of a particular moment. We hope this deepens our understanding of Presbyterian Reformed traditions, prompts questions and discussions and enriches our faith journey. Join us, will you?!
Respectfully Submitted,
Wendy Jewell
Co-chair of Music and Worship Committee
