In light of the recent events that have occurred in the national Episcopal Church, confusion has arisen as to where we stand. While the national church has taken a certain political stance that has made headlines, not all of us agree with these statements. We are all sinners and are called to confession and repentance before the throne of God, but the truth of God’s Word is not to be compromised on the altar of this world’s agenda. We, the body of Mission of Grace,  want to declare where we stand:

We are a community of orthodox, Bible-centered, spirit-filled, and sacrament-based Christians. We believe in the living presence of Jesus as exemplified in the gifts of the spirit.

We are called by God to be a watchtower to stand firm for the truth of the WORD; to be a lighthouse to lead all people to a saving relationship; and to serve as a “hospital” for sinners. To do this we must grow in the spirit; allow our lives to be changed; and be delivered from the sins that bind us. We are also to proclaim the gospel and pray for the upcoming revival in our community, the church, and the world.

All are welcome to grow with us through prayer, study of God’s Word, and partaking of the sacraments. In our own intellects and emotions we are helpless. Only through humility, reverence, and obedience to God’s Word can we achieve victory for His Kingdom. We want to daily manifest the fruits of the spirit.

We believe that the Holy Word of God, as revealed in the scriptures, is the divinely inspired and inerrant word of God. That all things necessary for salvation are included in them, nothing can be taken from or added to them, and they are the one and only truth. The scriptures are the bed rock foundation of the church and are not to be conformed to errant teachings promoted by the world as a “new truth.”

We believe the writings of the early church. While they amplify and expound the truths in the scriptures, they do not deviate from or contradict them, and we disassociate from any teachings that contradict them.

While we honor our roots in the Episcopal Church, we embrace the spiritual kinship with our brothers and sisters in the greater Anglican Communion. They display their love and commitment to the word of God and have shown their resolve to die for Christ. We intend to remain in communion with them.

We know that we are all sinners and fall short of the Glory of God. Jesus paid the ultimate price for our sins by offering himself as a perfect sacrifice on the cross. By daily coming before God, confessing and repenting our sins, dying to ourselves, and seeking holiness we can be transformed from our sinful natures to become His rightful heirs. Since God gave each of us “free will,” He has given us the right to choose life or death. We, as Christians, see our commitment to the Lord as a commandment (not option) for He calls all of us “to take up our cross and follow Him.” It is a daily decision.

We are called in the Great Commandment “to love our neighbor as ourselves.” The truth “of love” tells the truth “in love” to each of us who have strayed and need forgiveness. We cannot pretend that sin is acceptable and will be pardoned just because the world has chosen to rebel against the Word of God. Jesus said, “if you love me you will keep my commandments.” With these words we are called to a higher standard to preach the truth of God’s word to a world fallen into sin—as we all have been in our lives.

We welcome all sinners into our family to be in fellowship, grow in spiritual wholeness, and seek holiness under Jesus. He is the only Way and the only one to deliver us, heal us, and forgive our sins.