Doctrinal Distinctives
We recognise that there are a number of doctrines, not referred to in the Statement of Faith over which genuine
Christian believers may take different views. Our Doctrinal Distinctives set out the position and teaching of the Church
on these matters. Church members are not required to agree with the matters in the Doctrinal Distinctives and may
hold and discuss views to the contrary, but members are required to respect the positions set out in the Doctrinal
Distinctives as the teaching of the Church and should not be insistent on their own views nor be divisive over these
matters.
Baptism
The mode of baptism to be practised is that of believer’s baptism by full immersion as a confession of faith, but not as conveying regenerating grace. The physical element of water in baptism does not save the sinner, but is a voluntary external testimony to the work which the Holy Spirit has already done in the heart of the believer. Following the Lord in baptism is an act of obedience and has its proper reward as such. It does not save the sinner (Matthew 3:15 & 28:19; Mark 16:16; John 3:23; Acts 2:41, 8:12 and 36-38; Acts 16:30-33; Romans 6:4). All baptismal candidates are to be of an age of understanding in relation to the teaching of the Church on baptism, and will have a Christian testimony to call upon as evidence of salvation.
The Lord’s Supper
The physical elements of bread and the fruit of the vine are not the actual body and blood of Christ but are symbolic of Christ’s body broken for us and His blood shed for our justification before God (1 Corinthians 11:24–29). It is an occasion of remembrance and self-examination. Whilst it is desirable that all who partake of the Lord’s Supper should have been baptised as believers in obedience to the teaching of the Scriptures, all those who profess to know the Lord Jesus Christ as their own personal Saviour will be welcome to partake of the Lord’s Supper, upon self-examination.
Creation
We believe the Genesis account of creation as being neither allegory nor myth, but a literal, historical account of the direct, immediate creative acts of God without any evolutionary process; that man, spirit, soul and body, was created by a direct work of God and not from previously existing life forms; and that all men are descended from the historical Adam and Eve, first parents of the entire human race. All men and women, being created in the image of God, have inherent and equal dignity and worth. (Genesis 1 & 2; Exodus 20:11; Matthew 19:4; Colossians 1:16-17; John 1:3; 2 Peter 3:5; Hebrews 11:3)
Church Funding
We believe that every Christian, as a steward of that portion of God’s wealth entrusted to him, should before God support his local Church financially. We believe that God has established the tithe as a basis for giving; true Christian giving is a grace of God, which must be expressed from the heart and of one’s own free will. We also believe that every Christian should, as God prospers him, also give other offerings sacrificially and cheerfully to the support of the Church, the relief of those in need, and the spreading of the Gospel. (Genesis 14:20; Proverbs 3:9-10; Malachi 3:8-10; Acts 4:34-37; 1 Corinthians 9:13-14; 16:2; 2 Corinthians 8:1-5; 8:11; 9:6-7; Galatians 6:6; Ephesians 4:28; 1 Timothy 5:17-18; 1 John 3:17)