The Faith I Share
I share this faith rooted in an ancient confession, first spoken nearly three centuries after the birth of Jesus. This Affirmation of Faith was written to draw hearts and minds toward foundational truths that unite humanity: belief in God*, in Jesus Christ*, and in the Holy Spirit*.
​
Across generations, these words have carried through countless communities of Jesus' followers, sustaining a steady truth of justice, righteousness, mercy, grace, compassion, and love. This is not a private confession. It is one story, held together across time and culture, telling of a God who has been at work reconciling all things from the very beginning (Colossians 1:19-20). Yet even as these words remind us of our shared foundation, we recognize that division still wounds the body of Christ, born of envy, fear, shame, pride, and the love of money that scripture names as a root of so much harm. These are old wounds, familiar to every generation, and they call for honesty as much as hope.
​
This Affirmation calls us back with courage, back to the heart of what has the power to bridge our differences and awaken a shared vision of God's reconciling love. It invites us to hold fast to the living hope we find in Jesus, a hope that stretches beyond the boundaries drawn by human systems and empire theologies, and beyond every line we have drawn between "us" and "them."
​
Just as God's creation flourishes in radiant diversity, each culture, language, and people bearing the reflection of God's own beauty, we remember that all things, in their time, find their harmony and wholeness through Christ. This is the story I have found home within. Wherever you find yourself in your own story, I hope you find home there too.
I believe in one God,*
Creator of heaven and earth,
the Source of life,
of all that is, seen and unseen,
who calls us to love our neighbor as ourselves.
​
​I believe in Jesus the Christ,*
God's only beloved Son,
our companion and Redeemer.
Conceived by the Holy Spirit's power,
born into the world through Mary's courage,
he entered our human story with love,
standing among the humble and the overlooked,
proclaiming good news to the poor,
release to the captive,
and the year of God's favor.
Emmanuel, God with us and among us,
in solidarity with the weary and the forgotten.
For us and for our salvation.
​
​He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
under the weight of empire and authoritarian power,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into the depths of death and sorrow,
yet on the third day, he rose again...
a sign that love cannot be overcome.
He ascended into the mystery of heaven
and rests in communion with God,
from where he will come again,
restoring justice and mercy among the living and the dead.
​
I believe in the Holy Spirit,* the giver of life,
God's breath still moving through creation,
forming one holy catholic* and sacred family of faith.
In the Spirit we are joined with all who have gone before us...
the communion of saints,
the gift of forgiveness,
the promise of resurrection,
and the life of the world that has no end.
Amen.
God
God, the One who holds all things together, is both strength and tenderness, mystery and communion. The Source of all life, God creates and sustains heaven and earth through boundless love (Genesis 1:1-2; Colossians 1:16-17). Scripture reveals God as Father and Mother, a Presence who comforts as a mother comforts her child (Isaiah 66:13) and who shepherds with steadfast care (Psalm 23:1-4; John 10:11). This Divine Love shapes us in wisdom and compassion, calling us to live in harmony with creation and with one another (Micah 6:8; Matthew 5:9).
Made in the Image of God
To be made in the image of God is to bear the reflection of Divine Love, a love that is both powerful and nurturing. Within each person lives the capacity for strength, creativity, empathy, and grace (Genesis 1:26-27; Psalm 139:13-14). God's image is not limited by gender, culture, or language; rather, it is revealed through the fullness of humanity. In Scripture, Wisdom (Sophia) calls with a woman's voice, guiding and sustaining life (Proverbs 8:1-3, 22-31). The Spirit, whose name Ruach or Rukha is feminine in Hebrew and Aramaic, breathes comfort and renewal into weary hearts (John 14:26; Romans 8:26). Jesus, too, speaks in maternal imagery, longing to gather his people "as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings" (Luke 13:34). These passages remind us that Divine Love is both fatherly and motherly, forming, restoring, and drawing us deeper into belonging (Hosea 11:3-4; Psalm 103:13).
Jesus the Christ
Jesus Christ, our Redeemer, was born in Bethlehem and raised in Nazareth, among the humble and overlooked rather than the powerful or privileged (Luke 2:4-7; John 1:46). As a child, he fled violence and lived as a refugee in Egypt (Matthew 2:13-15). As a first-century Jewish man under Roman occupation, he entered the world without civil standing, yet embodied God's liberating presence among the people (Philippians 2:5-8). Through his life, teachings, death, and resurrection, Jesus revealed the heart of God's justice and mercy. His words on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) and his proclamation in Nazareth (Luke 4:14-21; Isaiah 61:1-3) invite us to love God wholly, love our neighbors as ourselves, and participate in the renewal of creation (Deuteronomy 6:4-12; Matthew 22:34-40; Acts 2:42). In his suffering, Jesus stood with the persecuted and the weary, with the faithful Church of Smyrna and the enduring Church of Philadelphia (Revelation 2:8-11; 3:7-13), showing that even in weakness, Divine strength prevails (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). The risen Christ walks beside us still, the Good Shepherd leading us into truth, healing, and liberation (John 10:14-16; Luke 24:30-32).
Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is God's living breath, present and active from creation's dawn, still moving through all that exists (Genesis 1:2; Psalm 104:30). The Spirit comforts, renews, and guides with tender strength, interceding for us with deep compassion (John 14:16-17, 26; Romans 8:26-27). In Scripture, the Spirit is Wisdom's voice, leading us toward justice, unity, and peace (Isaiah 11:2; Galatians 5:22-23). The Spirit forms one sacred family of faith, connecting generations past and present, the communion of saints, reminding us that God's presence cannot be confined (Ephesians 4:3-6; 1 Corinthians 12:4-7). The Spirit is the divine rhythm of life that restores, reconciles, and breathes hope where there was none (Ezekiel 37:9-10; Titus 3:5-6).
The Holy Catholic Church
The Holy Catholic Church, meaning the universal body of Christ, embraces all who believe in Jesus across time, culture, and tradition (Ephesians 4:4-6; Galatians 3:28). The word "catholic" is not found in the Hebrew or Aramaic Scriptures; it comes from the Greek katholikos, meaning "universal" or "of the whole." In the traditional creed, it does not refer to the Roman Catholic denomination, but to the worldwide fellowship of all who follow Christ. This sacred family of faith holds the beauty of diversity within unity, reflecting the Creator who delights in difference (Revelation 7:9-10). The Church exists not as an institution of power, but as a community of mercy and justice, called to embody God's reconciling love in the world (2 Corinthians 5:18-19; Micah 6:8).