Statement of Faith
The Holy Bible, the inspired word of God, is the basis for any statement of faith. These are the core beliefs of the membership of Fremont Christian Church.
Stone-Campbell Tradition
The Restoration Movement, also known historically as the “Stone-Campbell Movement”, is a Christian reform movement that arose in the United States of America during the Second Awakening in the late 18th century and early 19th century. The leading figures of the movement are Barton W. Stone and Alexander Campbell.
Fremont Christian Church follows the Stone-Campbell movement. Stone-Campbell churches are characterized by a focus on New Testament teaching and understanding the Bible to be the highest human authority for the Church, shared governance between clergy and laity, baptism by immersion, ecumenism, and the regular celebration of communion during worship.
Article IV
Statement on Marriage, Gender, and Sexuality
We believe that God wonderfully and immutable creates each person as male or female. These two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image of God. (Genesis 1:26-27). Rejection of one’s biological sex is a rejection of the way that God intended for that person to reflect God’s image.
We believe that the term “marriage” has only one meaning: the uniting of one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture (Genesis 2:18-25). We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and a woman who are married to each other (1 Corinthians 6:18, 7:2-5; Hebrews 13:4). We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged outside of a marriage between a man and a woman.
We believe that in order to preserve the function and integrity of the Fremont Christian Church as the local body of Christ and to provide a biblical role to the church’s members and the community, it is imperative that all persons who serve as Officers and Officials capacity, agree to abide by this Statement on Marriage, gender, and Sexuality (Matthew 5:16; Philippians 2:14-16; 1 Thessalonians 5:22).
Christian Church Marriage Policy
Because God has ordained marriage and defined it as the covenant relationship between a man, a woman, and Himself, Fremont Christian Church will only recognize marriages between a biological man and a biological woman. Further, the pastor of Fremont Christian Church shall only conduct weddings and solemnize marriages between one man and one woman. Finally, the facility and property of Fremont Christian Church shall only host weddings between one man and one woman. It is also within the right and responsibility of the Elders to discern whether or not it is appropriate for him to conduct a marriage in good faith and conscience.
Article V
Jesus instructed His disciples to remember His death and resurrection. He gave the church two visible symbols (called “ordinances”) as reminders. These two ordinances are Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. The Bible teaches that Baptism is to be done my immersion, following salvation as a one-time act of obedience and identification with Jesus Christ as Lord. The Lord’s Supper is an ongoing symbol remembering our Lord’s death, burial, resurrection and promised return.
Baptism
We believe in baptism by immersion for remission of sins and the gift of a new life in Christ through faith and the power of the Holy Spirit. Preparation for baptism should consist of counsel and instruction regarding the spiritual meaning and importance of baptism, the reading of scripture and prayer. Through baptism into Christ, we are made one with the whole people of God.
The Lord’s Supper
The Lord’s Supper, or Communion is celebrated in weekly worship. It is open to all who are followers of Jesus Christ. The practice of Holy Communion has become the central element of worship within our tradition. This observance of the Lord’s Supper echoes the Passover feast, when Jesus shared bread and wine with his disciples on the eve of his crucifixion. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, the living Christ is met and received in the sharing of the bread the cup representative of the body and blood of Jesus. The presence of the living Lord is affirmed, and he is proclaimed to be the dominate power in our lives.
1 Corinthians 11: 24 For I have received of the Lord what I have also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way he took the cup also after supper saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
1 Corinthians 11:25 For as often as you eat this bread, and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.