Rooted:

We love theology, we love the Scriptures, and we are intentionally seeking to root our lives and community in the life and way of Jesus.  The ancient word for ‘root’ is ‘radix’ where we get our word ‘radical’. To root ourselves in the life and teachings of Jesus is to take seriously his radical teaching in the Sermon on the Mount, for example. His exhortation to love our enemy, to bless those who persecute us, to turn the other cheek, to forgive without end, to summarize the law of God as loving God and loving our neighbor as ourselves.  We believe these are revolutionary ideas that can change the world.  We believe our theological foundation should be a home and not a prison.  

Our Related Core Beliefs: Jesus Centered, Grace Saturated, and Biblically Grounded 

Curious:

The very nature of Christian spirituality invites us into mystery, into humility, to hold our beliefs with an open hand. With the Apostle Paul, we believe “we see in a mirror, dimly,...Now I know only in part”. We remember Jesus said “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.”  Because Jesus has more to teach us, and told us “When the Spirit of truth comes, (s)he will guide you into all the truth” we seek to listen to that ongoing guidance and normalize change and growth as part of the Christian tradition.  We believe the trajectory of Jesus is always towards a more expansive, generous, and just version of Christian faith where becoming compassionate as God is compassionate is the defining mark of the follower of Jesus.   

Our Related Core Beliefs: Ever-Reforming, Intellectually Honest

Belonging:

We believe humans have a fundamental need to belong because we are made in the image of a God that IS community (three in one) and we are made for community. We believe that the arms of the church really are as wide as the embrace of Jesus.  We paid a heavy price to extend our table to everyone, but we have no regrets and are grateful to have such an authentic welcome to full participation in the life of our church.  We are the beneficiaries as our friends on the margins find that more and more City Church is a place where they can fully belong. Our goal for each person in our community is to know they have the support and care of a community that seeks to love each other the way Jesus has loved us.  This means we are unafraid to address issues of injustice, even as we seek to interrogate our own beliefs, along with our privilege, to root out ways we are getting in the way of Jesus’ vision for a world where everyone flourishes. 

Our Related Core Beliefs:  Justice Oriented, Communally Designed