Mission, beliefs, Values
MISSION
Our mission is to partner with the Holy Spirit to help connect people with God, others, and God’s work in the world.
BELIEFS
At Trinity Reformed Church, we are a church with open doors. All are welcome to attend, explore, and participate in taking steps of faith toward Christ. We recognize that doubts and questions about faith are a normal part of spiritual growth, and we do not claim to have all the answers. We do claim, however, that all the answers can be found in the person of Jesus.
We are a church with roots. Our church affirms the historic Christian faith as revealed in the Bible, and as expressed in a variety of creeds adopted over the centuries: the Apostles’ Creed, the Nicene Creed, and the Athanasian Creed. As part of the Reformed Church in America, we are united to other reformed churches by four historic confessions: The Heidelberg Catechism, Belgic Confession, Canons of Dort, and Belhar Confession.
We are a church with beliefs and values that shape our mission and vision. We have developed our own statements of belief that, while not intended to be comprehensive of all aspects of life and faith, are a summary of and guide to our convictions as a church seeking to follow Jesus in mission. Our own statements of faith are always subject to the higher authority of Scripture.
For a more in-depth look at our understanding of the Christian faith click HERE.
VALUES
CENTERED IN THE GOSPEL
The good news of Jesus Christ and God's kingdom is at the center of who we are and everything we do. We believe that God's unconditional acceptance of us is not something that we can earn or achieve. Rather, it is a gift of grace that is received through faith because of what Jesus has done for us in his death and resurrection. It is in response to this grace that we embrace our unity in Christ and live every aspect of our lives as disciples of Jesus, called and sent to share this gospel with everyone.
BIBLICAL/VIBRANT WORSHIP
Though worship is much bigger than the songs we sing, or even our time together as a church, we know how important corporate worship is as the body of Christ. All that we do in worship (teaching, singing, prayers, celebration of the sacraments, testimonies, video, etc.) is biblical by being consistent with and saturated in the Scriptures. Our worship is also vibrant, meaning we don't worship only with our minds but also with our body, spirit, and emotions. We are gathered for worship on Sunday in order to be scattered to live all of life as worship Monday through Saturday.
RADICAL HOSPITALITY
Trinity has always been a place that welcomes others. We know how hard it can be to feel like you don't fit in, and so we are intentional about making guests feel at home, especially those who are looking for a place to belong. Hospitality is not just making others feel welcome on one of our campuses, it’s a way of life—moving toward others and making room for them in our homes and relationships.
GROWING IN COMMUNITY
God has designed us for community. We don't follow Jesus alone. We believe that transformation happens best in the context of authentic, Christ-centered community where we can know others and be known. And so we give high priority to our Life Group ministry and other avenues where people can experience what it means to belong, grow and serve together.
MISSIONAL ENGAGEMENT
Trinity has a long history of being deeply committed to God's mission—locally, regionally, and globally. Whether that's giving generously to our many mission partners, going frequently to some key areas like Haiti and Uganda, or investing in the needs of our communities and region, our heart is to connect every person at Trinity to God's work in the world through mission. Ultimately, we affirm that every person is a missionary, sent to live a missional life in all the places we live, work, and play.
OPENNESS TO CHANGE
While we are committed to the unchanging gospel, the foundation of all that we do, we are open to new methods to communicate that gospel in an ever changing world. New doesn't always mean "better," but doing something because "that's the way we've always done it" doesn't cut it for us either. We want to be radically open to where the Holy Spirit is leading us.