St. John's Episcopal Church, Authority of Scripture

We believe that all Scripture is the Word of God, relevant for all times, containing all things necessary for salvation and is written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The authority and orthodox interpretation of Scripture is an essential foundation of our faith. Therefore we are committed to the authority of Scripture in living out our lives as individuals and within the Body of Christ
We believe that the Apostles' & Nicene Creeds are statements of our basic beliefs about God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and that the denial of the truth embodied in these Creeds is heresy.
Sanctified reason and holy tradition are important to us but they must be consistent with and secondary to Holy Scripture.
We look to the Holy Spirit for discernment in the interpretation of Scripture as we make decisions that impact on the Body of Christ at St John's
The Church is the Body of Christ, indwelt by the Holy Spirit; therefore our life together as a community of faith must be consistent with the teaching of Holy Scripture and congruent with the presence of the Holy Spirit The life and teaching of the Church must not be transformed by the culture of the secular world.
We believe in the saving grace of Jesus Christ to transform our lives, through regeneration and sanctification, so that, through the Holy Spirit, we can take the Gospel of Jesus Christ into the world.

We believe that Scripture is the primary and final authority for sexual morality.
Divorce and remarriage without repentance and forgiveness is a sin in the eyes of God.
We believe that God sanctifies heterosexual marriage and condemns all forms of sexuality outside this covenant of marriage between a man and woman. Such sexual activity, outside of marriage, as well as sinful sexual activity within, are not only signs of our fallen human nature but also cause harm to who we are as persons in body, mind and spirit.
Sexual acts outside of heterosexual marriage constitute an active negation of marriage and family life and are not merely a different expression of sexuality and are behavior that can be changed through the love of Christ. Each person is morally accountable for his or her behavior.
The Body of Christ represents forgiveness and the power to change but also to exercise redemptive discipline by helping, with compassion, people suffering from the effects of sexual sin.

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