Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Essential Tenets Affirmation of Faith

I have been preparing to present the PC(USA) Book of Order mandated session provided period of study and preparation for ruling elders and deacons per G-2.0402. Part of my preparation has been revising an Affirmation of Faith I first created in 1985. Here is the new revision that is is intended, in part, to generally identify "the essential tenets of the Reformed faith as expressed in the confessions of our church" of the third question for ordination (W-4.4003b). Feel free to use it for instruction and/or in worship as long as it includes attribution.

Affirmation of Faith
(Adapted from the Book of Order F-2.03-05 by John Edward Harris ©2015)

One: We witness to the faith of the Church catholic.
All:   We witness to the mystery of the triune God
            and the incarnation of the eternal Word of God in Jesus Christ.
One: We uphold the affirmations of the Protestant Reformation.
All:   We uphold and affirm the Protestant watchwords –
            grace alone, faith alone, Scripture alone.
One: We express the faith of the Reformed Tradition.
All:  We affirm the sovereignty of God
            who in Christ and by the power of the Spirit
            creates, sustains, rules and redeems the world.
        We affirm the election of the people of God
            for service as well as for salvation.
        We affirm covenant life marked by a disciplined concern
            for order in the church according to the word of God.
        We affirm faithful stewardship that shuns ostentation
            and seeks proper use of the gifts of God’s creation.
        We affirm the human tendency to idolatry and tyranny,
            which calls the people of God
            to work for the transformation of society
                        by seeking justice
                        and living in obedience to the Word of God.

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