Roots
We believe the central truths of the historic Christian faith. We believe the Bible to be the voices of men, inspired by God to teach forgiveness, renewal and direction. We see ourselves amongst past generations of believers in pursuit of a deepening interaction with our creator. This rootedness gives us a reliable direction to follow.
Communication
We believe that our God-given gifts and energies require direction in order to further the cause of the Kingdom. We are committed to building and maintaining clear communication paths within our church community so that this direction is clearly understood. The efforts we direct into our various ministries need to serve a common, deliberate purpose. We therefore commit to regular, consistent patterns of communication. These patterns will be established by the ECC leadership, so that those in our church community can clearly see how their energies fit into the overall direction of our church.
Growth
We believe and have great confidence that God will restore all of creation under the authority of Jesus Christ. We are called to be agents of change today in this restoration process. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit we constantly explore, inquire, and wrestle with new and creative ways to live surrendered to the teachings of Jesus. Through obedience growth is inevitable.
Health
We believe that God wants to redeem every part of us and our lives. We embrace the salvation Jesus offers as the only hope for the healing of our relationships with God, each other, ourselves, and creation. We believe that all of life is spiritual and that our fears, failures, and brokenness can be restored and made complete. We value our inner health because we want to be fully repaired people—mind, body, and soul, emotions and experiences all offered together to God.
Community
We value the image of God in all people, everywhere. We believe in honoring our differences and moving forward together in step with God. We believe that we were created to live honestly and deeply with one another, to carry each other’s burdens, to share our wealth, to pray for and confess our sins to each other, to suffer and rejoice together. It’s in these honest, loving relationships that God transforms us, healing takes place and truth becomes a reality. The way of Jesus cannot be lived alone.
Service
We believe that Jesus, being God in human form, is the head of the church. Jesus came to serve, not to be served. We serve God by living out the transforming message of our resurrected Jesus. Therefore, we reach out and help those who suffer in our community and beyond. The Church’s aim is fulfilled when it serves, sacrifices, loves, and cares about the things God cares about. We were created to live for something larger than ourselves.
Celebration
We celebrate our partnership with God to change our community and world. We embrace the truth that all of life is sacred, hope is real, and tomorrow can be better than today. We celebrate the divine in the daily events, pursuing lives of hope, gratitude, and worship. God invites everyone everywhere into this way of life, and we believe it is the best possible way to live.