WHAT WE BELIEVE
“Our faith is over 2000 years old; our thinking is not.”
At Plymouth Congregational Church we are Christ-centered but focus more on discipleship than on dogma, believing that faith is meant to be expressed through action. Our primary focus is on Jesus’ way of love and compassion in the world.
As Congregationalists, we have no one creed upon which all must agree. As the early Congregationalists said, “in essentials unity, in non-essentials freedom, and in all things charity.” What we hold to be essential is not so much agreement on certain doctrines but rather a common passion to experience and share the love of God through Christ.
At Plymouth, we lean heavily on progressive theological traditions in our life together, but there is room for a wide variety of perspectives. Our members range from more orthodox believers with a commitment to social justice to secular humanists who value spiritual community. That’s why we say every Sunday, “no matter who you are, no matter where you are on life’s journey, you and your questions are welcome here!” We always welcome questions and value the lived experiences of all people. We believe faith is not a “one and done” event, rather, that we continue to evolve in faith and grow spiritually throughout our lives.
We respect and honor other religious traditions and are active in ecumenical and interfaith efforts in Fort Wayne and beyond.
UCC STATEMENT OF FAITH
We believe in God, the Eternal Spirit, who is made known to us in Jesus our brother, and to whose deeds we testify: God calls the worlds into being, creates humankind in the divine image, and sets before us the ways of life and death. God seeks in holy love to save all people from aimlessness and sin. God judges all humanity and all nations by that will of righteousness declared through prophets and apostles. In Jesus Christ, the man of Nazareth, our crucified and risen Lord, God has come to us and shared our common lot, conquering sin and death and reconciling the whole creation to its Creator. God bestows upon us the Holy Spirit, creating and renewing the church of Jesus Christ, binding in covenant faithful people of all ages, tongues, and races. God calls us into the church to accept the cost and joy of discipleship, to be servants in the service of the whole human family, to proclaim the gospel to all the world and resist the powers of evil, to share in Christ's baptism and eat at his table, to join him in his passion and victory. God promises to all who trust in the gospel forgiveness of sins and fullness of grace, courage in the struggle for justice and peace, the presence of the Holy Spirit in trial and rejoicing, and eternal life in that kingdom which has no end.
Blessing and honor, glory and power be unto God.
Amen.
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- Adapted by Robert V. Moss