Why does your church need a statement of faith?
Your church’s leadership team may ask this question. here are several reasons why you need it and how it can benefit your church in the long run.
People attend your church because you have similar beliefs. Without a statement of faith, visitors and members won’t have the knowledge and connection they need with your organization.
This article will share how and why you must create a faith statement and provide tips and samples to help you get started.
What Is a Statement of Faith or Beliefs?
A church’s faith statement shares its beliefs on everything from the Bible to communion and the Holy Trinity. The first thing many visitors ask for when checking out a church is their statement of faith. Churches that share this statement throughout their location, with visitors, and online help create a solid community of fellow believers. It’s a crucial step whenever you’re planting a new church.
A faith statement also helps church leaders and members remain on the same page. As your organization grows, it’s possible to lose sight of the original purpose. Establishing a faith statement gives your church leadership something to regularly revisit and discuss together.
How to Prepare an Excellent Faith Statement for Your Church
You don’t have to be a creative writing expert to write a faith statement. The best statements of faith are straightforward and supported by scripture.
1. Outline your beliefs
When deciding on a statement of faith for your church, you must first ask yourself what you believe. This question isn’t just for one member, but for the church as a whole. You’ll need to discuss it with leadership and members of your church and lay out your church’s core beliefs.
In the beginning, it’s challenging to create one line that shares all beliefs. Determining your church’s beliefs for separate parts of Christianity and the Bible is best. Begin with the following questions –
- Is the Bible God-inspired or written by God?
- Is everything in the Bible true?
- Are there any errors?
- What do we believe about Jesus, God, and the Holy Spirit? Do we believe in the Trinity?
- What are our primary goals?
2. Find scripture
When people visit your church, they’re looking for a community to join and a place with the authority to preach God’s truth. Churches must back up their beliefs and goals with examples from the Bible. A statement of faith is an excellent place to connect the two.
3. Start the faith statement with “We believe…”
When writing your church’s statement of faith, it’s important to clearly state why you’re writing it. The best way to do this is by starting with “We believe…” Parishioners can use this statement to better understand why the church exists and what it will preach.
4. Share and publicize
After you’ve decided on a statement of faith for your church, you must find ways to share it with members and visitors. Churches should share their faith statement online and throughout their locations. Here are a few suggestions –
- Website
- Mobile app
- Lobby handouts and signs
- Service programs or bulletins
5 Statement of Faith Examples to Inspire Your Church
If you’re looking for inspiration, we’ve found five churches that share their statement of faith in different ways.
1. River Church Baltimore
The Scriptures: The Bible is the source of all doctrine, instruction, correction, and reproof. It contains all that is needed for guidance, godliness, and practical Christian conduct. (partial faith statement)
River Church Baltimore’s statement of faith is difficult to find and understand. This is an easy mistake and something most churches fall into. Visitors to this church’s website can find the faith statement with a link on their About Us page. The problem is the link is small and placed lower down the page.
The actual faith statement covers all River Church’s beliefs on everything from scripture, to God, the Trinity, Communion, etc. Providing such a detailed statement of faith helps churchgoers know exactly what to expect.
2. Sheridan Church
We believe the Bible is the inspired, infallible, incorruptible and authoritative Word of God | 2 Timothy 3:16-17. (partial faith statement)
Sheridan Church also breaks down its beliefs to cover God, Jesus, The Holy Spirit, Salvation, etc., but they make the statement easier to find and read. Sheridan church also includes a photo of their pastor and congregation in prayer to encourage visitors to join the community.
3. Peace Church
We are orthodox in our beliefs and liberal in our love. Within the Presbyterian Church (USA) we are members of the Fellowship of Presbyterians, whose mission is to “build flourishing churches that make disciples of Christ.”
Peace Church includes a vital line that many churches on this list miss. They connect their church right away with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.). Followers of the Presbyterian Church will automatically see this as a reason to visit.
Their statement of faith follows their faith statement with other beliefs that cover the Bible, Jesus, and more, but these statements strengthen their original faith statement.
They also do an excellent job of sharing a picture of the congregation at worship and two videos of parishioners sharing why they love the church.
4. Macquarie Life Church
We believe that the Bible is God’s Word. It is accurate, authoritative and applicable to our everyday lives. Macquarie Life Church is affiliated with the Australian Christian Churches. (partial faith statement)
Macquarie Life Church is the first on this list to place its faith statement on its “About Us” page. This placement makes it much easier to find. Macquarie Life’s statement of faith is also not too long, so it doesn’t overwhelm or turn people away. Before breaking down different beliefs, this church also gives an introductory statement that shares its overall beliefs and affiliations with the Australian Christian Churches.
5. Brown Line Church
Humor & Humility: We want to help facilitate conversation and engagement of the deepest matters of life, but we know we don’t have all the answers, and we try not to take ourselves too seriously – being able to laugh at oneself is spiritually healthy! (partial faith statement)
Brown Line Church is a progressive church that stands out from most other organizations because of its focus on humor. They use that uniqueness throughout their website. This is especially true when sharing their statement of faith. They have also placed their faith statement on the “About” page and they’ve helped it stand out with an infographic.
Final Thoughts
Your church’s mission statement shares your purpose, who you serve, and how. Your vision statement will show your organization’s goals for the future. A statement of faith delves deeper into your church’s mission and purpose by determining what you believe in as a community. Your church’s faith statement also makes it easier for visitors to know your beliefs and whether they will feel at home with your congregation.
The last thing a church wants to focus on is raising money, but it is essential for the future of your church. Donorbox’s dedicated church fundraising pillar, Donorbox MinistryMatters, provides affordable online donation tools for churches of all sizes. Visit our website to learn more about features like donation pages and forms, recurring donations, text-to-give, and the Donorbox Live™ Kiosk app that can help you ensure a future for your congregation.
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