Biblical
We believe that God inspired (lit. ‘breathed-out’) the Bible containing both the Old and New Testaments, and that it is therefore God’s very Word (2 Tim. 3:16; 1 Pet. 1:20-21). We believe that God has revealed Himself and the only way of salvation in the Bible, showing us what we are to believe about God and what duty God requires of us (2 Tim. 3:14-17). We believe that the Bible is unlike every other book in the world, because as God’s Word, it is infallible and authoritative in all matters of faith and life. In all that we do and believe at Westminster, we seek by God’s grace to be thoroughly biblical.
Confessional
We believe that the teaching of God’s Word is accurately summarized in The Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms. Therefore, our teaching reflects the tenets expressed in these writings, and all of our officers (pastor, elders, and deacons) subscribe to them. While affirming these documents to be consistent with the Bible’s teaching, we still firmly believe that they are subordinate to and are to be evaluated by the infallible Word of God. We are also persuaded that these statements of biblical belief are of much value in clarifying, preserving, and upholding the Christian faith and for promoting Christian unity and fellowship.
Historic
We believe and affirm the foundational doctrines of historic Christian orthodoxy affirmed by the Apostles’ Creed and the ecumenical Councils of Nicea, Chalcedon, and Constantinople in the first millennium. These universal or catholic doctrines of the Christian church include fundamental, biblical beliefs such as the virgin birth, the deity of Christ, the atonement by Christ, and the Trinity. Even though these beliefs are reaffirmed in our confession and catechisms written at a later date (17th century), we see value in recognizing our connection with the early church and the church throughout the ages sometimes called the catholic or universal church.
Evangelical
We believe in the gospel of Jesus Christ and in the importance of fulfilling the Great Commission by spreading that gospel to all people both here in Blair County and throughout the world. Our church supports mission works in China, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Haiti, Japan, Kenya, Korea, Quebec, Suriname, and Uganda. The word ‘evangelical’ finds its roots in the Greek word for ‘gospel’ or ‘good news’ and was originally applied to Protestant believers. We affirm the five phrases of historic Protestantism, namely that our salvation is Sola Scriptura (‘by Scripture alone’), Solus Christus (in ‘Christ alone’), Sola Gratia (‘by grace alone’), Sola Fide (‘by faith alone’), Soli Deo Gloria (‘glory to God alone’). It is this gospel contained in the Scriptures which we embrace and declare.
Reformed
We believe in the distinctive biblical truths upheld and defended during the Reformation that distinguishes the Reformed tradition from other Protestant and Evangelical traditions. These beliefs have sometimes been called ‘the doctrines of grace,’ and they emphasize God’s sovereignty and power over all things, including our salvation (Eph. 1:3-6; Dan. 4:34-35). We believe that it is “by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Eph. 2:8-9). This saving grace that God alone gives in Jesus Christ characterizes God’s covenant with His people in both the Old and New Testament and is at the heart of what we mean by “Reformed.”
Presbyterian
We believe that God has structured the church to be governed by a plurality of elders called ‘presbyters’ who have been gifted and called by God (1 Tim. 3:1-7; Tit. 1:5-16). These men who are elected by the congregation are called the “Session” and are responsible for instructing the congregation from God’s Word (1 Tim. 3:2; Heb. 13:7), for exercising spiritual oversight and care of the congregation (Heb. 13:17; 1 Pet 5:2), and for being godly examples to the congregation (1 Pet. 5:3). These church officers together with all of the other elders in a given region form what is called “Presbytery” (which simply means “the elders”) and has biblical precedent in Acts 15.