GRACE Church Bethlehem
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
about_us
<!DOCTYPE html> Grace Church Bethlehem | About Us – Vision, Beliefs & Community Home ABOUT Who We Are Leadership Contact Us Connect NEXT Steps Experience GRACE Learn more about our Sunday experience and plan your first visit with us. Connect Connect further with us and ask us your questions. NEXT Take your next step with us and attend our NEXT class. Groups LIFE Groups Connect with people in the same stage of life. GROW Groups Grow deeper in your faith. CARE Groups Find support for your life and faith. Ministries KIDS STUDENTS YOUNG ADULTS COLLEGE GRAND ADULTS MEN WOMEN Plan Your Visit We&#Source ↗
mission
<!DOCTYPE html> Beyond Home About Our Story Plan Investment View Brochure Home About Our Story Plan Investment View Brochure Capital Campaign · 2026 COMMITMENT SUNDAY · MAY 17 BEYOND MORE THAN WE CAN IMAGINE Join us as we expand our campus to welcome generations into the BEYOND life found in Jesus. Make Your Commitment MAY 17 Add to Calendar Commitment Sunday Apple / iOS Google Calendar Outlook Download .ics Ephesians 3:20 "Now to Him who is able to do BEYOND more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us." BEYONDSource ↗
about
Grace Church Bethlehem | About Us – Vision, Beliefs & Community Home ABOUT Who We Are Leadership Contact Us Connect NEXT Steps Experience GRACE Learn more about our Sunday experience and plan your first visit with us. Connect Connect further with us and ask us your questions. NEXT Take your next step with us and attend our NEXT class. Groups LIFE Groups Connect with people in the same stage of life. GROW Groups Grow deeper in your faith. CARE Groups Find support for your life and faith. Ministries KIDS STUDENTS YOUNG ADULTS COLLEGE GRAND ADULTS MEN WOMEN Plan Your Visit We'd Love to ConSource ↗
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