Christ the Word Church
AI summary — doctrinal positions on this page are inferred by AI from this church's own public statements and may be inaccurate.
Inherited from denomination
What Presbyterian Church in America teaches
Positions bound by the denomination's confessional standards. This is what the tradition teaches; whether this specific congregation publicly holds each is a separate question — see Statements below.
Confessional standard: Westminster Confession of Faith · Westminster Larger Catechism · Westminster Shorter Catechism
Affirms
- Infant BaptismSTRONGWestminster XXVIII; Book of Concord SC IV; Council of Trent Session VII; Wesleyan Articles Art. XVII
- Marriage as one man and one womanSTRONGGenesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4–6; historic universal Christian teaching.
- Permissibility of divorce and remarriagestandardMatthew 19:9 (adultery ground); 1 Corinthians 7:15 (abandonment ground). Practice varies.
Denies
- Apostolic SuccessionstandardCongregational and presbyterian polity reject the necessity of tactile episcopal succession.
- Assumption of MarystandardUniversal Protestant rejection — not attested in Scripture; not received as dogma.
- Homosexual practice and biblical sexual ethicsSTRONGRomans 1:26–27; 1 Corinthians 6:9–10; historic universal Christian teaching.
- Immaculate ConceptionSTRONGUniversal Protestant + Orthodox rejection. Orthodox reject on the grounds that they hold prepurification at the Annunciation, not conception.
- Perpetual Virginity of MarystandardNatural reading of Matthew 13:55–56 (brothers of Jesus); typical modern Baptist / evangelical position.
- TransubstantiationSTRONGOrthodox reject the Aristotelian metaphysics; Lutherans use 'sacramental union'; 39 Articles Art. XXVIII rejects explicitly; Reformed/Baptist reject substance-change.
- Women in pastoral / ordained officeSTRONG1 Timothy 2:12; 1 Corinthians 14:34; historic apostolic practice.
Wrestles with
- Believer's BaptismstandardPaedobaptist bodies practice adult baptism on credible profession where infant baptism was omitted, but do not consider it normative.
- Pacifism vs. just-warweakDefault just-war framework — usually unwritten. Inheriting at weak confidence.
- Real PresencestandardCalvin's spiritual presence (genuinely present but not physically) is neither strong affirm nor deny; Anglican/Methodist typically hold a receptionist view.
- TheotokosweakConfessionally valid title (Ephesus is a received council) but not used devotionally; retained in liturgy where liturgy is retained.
In their own words
Statements
statement_of_faith
<!doctype html> Beliefs – Christ the Word Church Skip to main content Close Search Menu Connect myCTW Give Menu Beliefs We believe in the power and authority of Scripture. Basic Beliefs The Scriptures are true, authoritative, and sufficient for all our needs. There is only one true God, creator of heaven and earth, who eternally exists in three distinct persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. God offers His grace to us freely. Jesus died for our sins and is the only hope for our salvation. It is only through faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ that weSource ↗
mission
Mission and Vision – Christ the Word Church Skip to main content Close Search Menu Connect myCTW Give Menu Mission & Vision We are committed to reaching and raising generations for Christ, and teaching them His Word. Reaching We are reaching those around us in the church and in our communities with the love of Christ. Every Christian is charged with the mission of reaching those around them with the glorious, life-changing message of the Gospel. As a church, we are called to announce, both in word and deed, the message that Jesus is the Savior of sinners, and that He is Lord of all. RaisSource ↗
beliefs
Beliefs – Christ the Word Church Skip to main content Close Search Menu Connect myCTW Give Menu Beliefs We believe in the power and authority of Scripture. Basic Beliefs The Scriptures are true, authoritative, and sufficient for all our needs. There is only one true God, creator of heaven and earth, who eternally exists in three distinct persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. God offers His grace to us freely. Jesus died for our sins and is the only hope for our salvation. It is only through faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ that we can receive peace with God and tSource ↗