OUR BELIEFS
1.We use the Book of Common Prayer (BCP) which is a common element which binds all Anglican churches together.
2. We consider ourselves both catholic (universal) and protestant. We are both ancient and contemporary
3. We believe in the fruits of the Spirit.
4. We believe in the seven sacraments: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Reconciliation, Marriage, Holy Orders, and Anointing of the sick.
5. We believe the Eucharist is a means of God bestowing his Grace upon us in a direct way. You can believe it is a symbolic act, a spiritual presence, or real presence ( transubstantiation ) all views are welcome.
6. We believe all should be allowed to take communion without exception. For one to wish to take communion they must be under the work of the Holy Spirit or no such desire would exist.
7. We believe that a person can and should be baptized in a way that they choose: as an infant, as a child, or as an adult by full emersion, pouring or sprinkling. The most important things is their intention.
8. We believe marriage is between two consenting adults.
9. Clergy are not required to be celibate. We believe from a pastoral perspective that is better to have a family so one can relate to the everyday struggles of your flock.
10. We believe that anyone who feels called to ministry should explorer if it right for them and not be restricted by their gender, sexual orientation, marital status, or due to being over a certain age.
11. We believe the Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed are sufficient statements of the Christian faith.
12. We believe the bible is the inspired word of God and written by man with the intention of drawing us closer to God.
13. We believe that a woman should have the right to control her own reproductive system, therefore, we believe in birth control. as a means to prevent pregnancy.
14. We believe we do not have a right to tell a woman not to have an abortion. That decision is between her and God. We will spiritually support her no matter what choice she makes.
15. We believe in the supreme commandments of Jesus Christ to love God and to love others as our selves.
16.We believe in the innate value and equality of all human beings.
17. We believe that sin is when we do not treat others as God has commanded us to and we must forgive others to be forgiven.
18. We do not believe that a personal confession to a priest is a requirement for absolution, but rather is optional as each of us can appeal directly to God.
19.We believe that the bible contains everything necessary for one to have eternal life.
20. We believe in the three pillars of: tradition, scripture, and reason as the cornerstones of our faith.
Christ Consciousness
Jesus like other religious figures walked a path of love, light, peace, harmony, and bliss, with a period of suffering, and attained enlightenment in his journey. All people are capable of this enlightenment and awareness by opening up their mind to a higher state of consciousness. This is called the Christ Consciousness.
Developing Christ consciousness helps us to become more loving, compassionate, tolerant, patient, forgiving, understanding and content, by following a new way of conscious thinking. The means by which one achieves this is not important. It can be through religious devotion, spiritual mentors and guides, intuition, and inner reflection.
Spiritual growth is obtained by aligning with inner thoughts and feelings. One should set the intention to become aware, while understanding that they are a unique creation within the completeness of the whole. When the human mind acknowledges the Divine Mind, gradually the Christ Consciousness is awakened and you become more enlightened with a greater understanding of the spiritual forces surrounding you.
The human mind has been conditioned from birth to think in logical and rational terms. To think of spirit, one must shed traditional ways of thinking and approach it in a metaphysical way. To do this, one must clear their mind of prejudices and pre-conceived notions. Meditation quiets the mind and removes all modern day thoughts, to allow inner reflection about a higher purpose so you can receive inspiration and energy. It is a way of becoming aligned with the greater forces of nature and God. It is a liberating and joyful experience that ends Fear and increases confidence in a greater power. The person can then shape their own destiny.
The term comes from Jesus Christ’s spiritual elevation during his mortal life, but anybody can become Christ Conscious if they are open to seek this awareness and consciousness. Spiritual thoughts entering our conscious minds are sometimes referred to as Christ Consciousness. It is an awareness of our higher self that is part of our divine aspect. Christ Consciousness is a state of mind; it is an understanding that there is a universal and omnipresent force everywhere (God), and it is connecting with this higher power.
Christian Spirituality
1. The universe is fundamentally a blessing
2. In Creation, God is both immanent and transcendent. The Divine is in all things and all things are in the Divine.
3. Don't put God in a Box. God is as much Mother as Father, as much God in mystery as the God in history, as much beyond all words and images as in them.
4. Through the work of spiritual practice we find our deep and true selves. Through meditation and silence we cultivate clarity of mind and move beyond fear into compassion and community.
5. Our inner work is a four-fold journey involving:
Via Positiva: awe, delight, amazement
Via Negativa: uncertainty, darkness, suffering, letting go
Via Creativa: birthing, creativity, passion
Via Transformativa: justice, healing, celebration
6. Every one of us is a mystic. We define a mystic as:
7. Every one of us is an artist. Whatever the expression of our creativity, it is our prayer and praise (Via Creativa).
8. Every one of us is a prophet. Our prophetic work is to interfere with all forms of injustice and that which interrupts authentic life (Via Transformativa).
9. Diversity is the nature of the Universe. We rejoice in and honor the rich diversity expressed among individuals and across multiple cultures, religions, and ancestral traditions.
10. The basic work of God is compassion and we are called to compassion. We acknowledge our shared interdependence; we rejoice at one another's joys and grieve at one another's sorrows and labor to heal the causes of those sorrows.
11. Deep Ecumenism, the practice of honoring, respecting, and embrace the wisdom and oneness that arises from all the sacred traditions of the world.
12. Ecological justice, is essential for the sustainability of life on Earth. We commit to live in light of this value: to pass on the beauty and health of Creation to future generations.
2. We consider ourselves both catholic (universal) and protestant. We are both ancient and contemporary
3. We believe in the fruits of the Spirit.
4. We believe in the seven sacraments: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Reconciliation, Marriage, Holy Orders, and Anointing of the sick.
5. We believe the Eucharist is a means of God bestowing his Grace upon us in a direct way. You can believe it is a symbolic act, a spiritual presence, or real presence ( transubstantiation ) all views are welcome.
6. We believe all should be allowed to take communion without exception. For one to wish to take communion they must be under the work of the Holy Spirit or no such desire would exist.
7. We believe that a person can and should be baptized in a way that they choose: as an infant, as a child, or as an adult by full emersion, pouring or sprinkling. The most important things is their intention.
8. We believe marriage is between two consenting adults.
9. Clergy are not required to be celibate. We believe from a pastoral perspective that is better to have a family so one can relate to the everyday struggles of your flock.
10. We believe that anyone who feels called to ministry should explorer if it right for them and not be restricted by their gender, sexual orientation, marital status, or due to being over a certain age.
11. We believe the Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed are sufficient statements of the Christian faith.
12. We believe the bible is the inspired word of God and written by man with the intention of drawing us closer to God.
13. We believe that a woman should have the right to control her own reproductive system, therefore, we believe in birth control. as a means to prevent pregnancy.
14. We believe we do not have a right to tell a woman not to have an abortion. That decision is between her and God. We will spiritually support her no matter what choice she makes.
15. We believe in the supreme commandments of Jesus Christ to love God and to love others as our selves.
16.We believe in the innate value and equality of all human beings.
17. We believe that sin is when we do not treat others as God has commanded us to and we must forgive others to be forgiven.
18. We do not believe that a personal confession to a priest is a requirement for absolution, but rather is optional as each of us can appeal directly to God.
19.We believe that the bible contains everything necessary for one to have eternal life.
20. We believe in the three pillars of: tradition, scripture, and reason as the cornerstones of our faith.
Christ Consciousness
Jesus like other religious figures walked a path of love, light, peace, harmony, and bliss, with a period of suffering, and attained enlightenment in his journey. All people are capable of this enlightenment and awareness by opening up their mind to a higher state of consciousness. This is called the Christ Consciousness.
Developing Christ consciousness helps us to become more loving, compassionate, tolerant, patient, forgiving, understanding and content, by following a new way of conscious thinking. The means by which one achieves this is not important. It can be through religious devotion, spiritual mentors and guides, intuition, and inner reflection.
Spiritual growth is obtained by aligning with inner thoughts and feelings. One should set the intention to become aware, while understanding that they are a unique creation within the completeness of the whole. When the human mind acknowledges the Divine Mind, gradually the Christ Consciousness is awakened and you become more enlightened with a greater understanding of the spiritual forces surrounding you.
The human mind has been conditioned from birth to think in logical and rational terms. To think of spirit, one must shed traditional ways of thinking and approach it in a metaphysical way. To do this, one must clear their mind of prejudices and pre-conceived notions. Meditation quiets the mind and removes all modern day thoughts, to allow inner reflection about a higher purpose so you can receive inspiration and energy. It is a way of becoming aligned with the greater forces of nature and God. It is a liberating and joyful experience that ends Fear and increases confidence in a greater power. The person can then shape their own destiny.
The term comes from Jesus Christ’s spiritual elevation during his mortal life, but anybody can become Christ Conscious if they are open to seek this awareness and consciousness. Spiritual thoughts entering our conscious minds are sometimes referred to as Christ Consciousness. It is an awareness of our higher self that is part of our divine aspect. Christ Consciousness is a state of mind; it is an understanding that there is a universal and omnipresent force everywhere (God), and it is connecting with this higher power.
Christian Spirituality
1. The universe is fundamentally a blessing
2. In Creation, God is both immanent and transcendent. The Divine is in all things and all things are in the Divine.
3. Don't put God in a Box. God is as much Mother as Father, as much God in mystery as the God in history, as much beyond all words and images as in them.
4. Through the work of spiritual practice we find our deep and true selves. Through meditation and silence we cultivate clarity of mind and move beyond fear into compassion and community.
5. Our inner work is a four-fold journey involving:
Via Positiva: awe, delight, amazement
Via Negativa: uncertainty, darkness, suffering, letting go
Via Creativa: birthing, creativity, passion
Via Transformativa: justice, healing, celebration
6. Every one of us is a mystic. We define a mystic as:
- a person who seeks by contemplation and self-surrender to obtain unity with or absorption into the Deity or the absolute, or who believes in the spiritual apprehension of truths that are beyond the intellect.
7. Every one of us is an artist. Whatever the expression of our creativity, it is our prayer and praise (Via Creativa).
8. Every one of us is a prophet. Our prophetic work is to interfere with all forms of injustice and that which interrupts authentic life (Via Transformativa).
9. Diversity is the nature of the Universe. We rejoice in and honor the rich diversity expressed among individuals and across multiple cultures, religions, and ancestral traditions.
10. The basic work of God is compassion and we are called to compassion. We acknowledge our shared interdependence; we rejoice at one another's joys and grieve at one another's sorrows and labor to heal the causes of those sorrows.
11. Deep Ecumenism, the practice of honoring, respecting, and embrace the wisdom and oneness that arises from all the sacred traditions of the world.
12. Ecological justice, is essential for the sustainability of life on Earth. We commit to live in light of this value: to pass on the beauty and health of Creation to future generations.
Photo used under Creative Commons from thechristophermorris
