Biblical
We are confident that the Bible is God-breathed, without error and utterly reliable. The Scriptures are our highest authority in all matters of belief and practice.
We are also convinced that God’s Word, the Bible, is powerful to achieve his salvation purposes. Word ministry is, therefore, a central feature in the life of our church. We open up the Bible as often as we can.
We know that without God’s Spirit, we have no desire for Biblical truth, and no ability to live it out. Consequently, we rejoice that the Holy Spirit dwells within every Christian.
St. George’s Anglican Church is committed to the Reformed understanding of the Biblical Faith, as outlined in the 39 Articles, the 1662 Book of Common Prayer, the Ordinal, and the Jerusalem Declaration.
The Global Anglican 2008 Jerusalem Declaration is a contemporary summation of what Anglicans believe. This Declaration points first to the Gospel and affirms how we are Biblical, Creedal and Confessional. Below you will find the particular Creeds and the Confession that we hold, referred to the in The Jerusalem Declaration.
Creedal
The Jerusalem Declaration states that we “uphold the three historic creeds.” These three are: The Apostles’ Creed, The Nicene Creed, and the Athanasian Creed. We do so because what they state is Biblical, and because they are the broadest statements of what all Christian Churches affirm (Protestant, Roman Catholic, and Eastern Orthodox). The Apostles’ and Nicene Creeds are the two most commonly used in our worship.
The Apostles Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father; from there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
The Nicene Creed
I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made.Who, for us men and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the living and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.
And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of life; who proceedeth from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spake by the prophets. And I believe one holy catholic and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. AMEN.
Confessional
The 39 Articles of 1571 (officially named “The Articles of Religion) are our Confession. The Jerusalem Declaration states that “we uphold the Thirty-nine Articles as containing the true doctrine of the Church agreeing with God’s Word and as authoritative for Anglicans today.” The Articles were written during the time of the Protestant Reformation, and are a Reformed confession along with others from that time such as The Heidelberg Confession and The Belgic Confession.