Government
As a congregation of the Presbyterian Church (USA) and a member of the Presbytery of Chicago, our church is governed by a constitution in two parts: the Book of Confessions and the Book of Order. A board of Elders, called the "Session," is elected from the congregation to make decisions for our church within this framework. The following 10 statements have been approved by our Session as a way of addressing some frequently asked questions about our theology and values:
1. Scripture
We take the Bible seriously in its historical and literary context. Scripture witnesses of itself that it is "inspired by God and useful for teaching, rebuke, correction, and training in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16). To make good use of these inspired writings, however, we must be continually "transformed by the renewal of our minds" (Romans 12:12).
2. The Centrality of Christ Jesus
We believe that Jesus is the best interpreter of scripture, the only true and just judge, the only Truth we proclaim unambiguously in life and in death. Christ, and Christ crucified is our gospel.
3. Cultural Humility
We recognize that we are only one small part of the global body of Christ, and that the Holy Spirit is also active outside the church, therefore we seek to engage with and learn from others, including other religions, even as we share the good news that we have been given as followers of Jesus.
4. Always Being Reformed
Our church is a community of life-long learners, who are growing together into the full stature of Christ. As God is in the process of making all things new, our community is also being changed from day to day into greater forms of justice and love in the kin-dom of peace.
5. Sexuality
Jesus said to us, "Do not judge, lest you be judged," (Matthew 7:1-3) therefore we affirm the freedom of individual couples to discern how best to engage in loving, supportive relationships. We openly welcome and ordain as leaders people of all genders, races, backgrounds, and legal status, including the LGBTQ+ community, while also maintaining official policies for anti-harassment and child protection.
6. Sin
We believe that all human beings were created in God's good image, but that all have fallen short of that ideal in some way, shape or form. In Christ Jesus we have the opportunity to be reconciled with God, to be forgiven for our failings, and to grow into people who are equipped for every good work.
7. The Least of These
In Matthew 25, Jesus says that whatever we do to the most vulnerable of God's children, we do to him. With this in mind, we seek to protect and defend vulnerable people in our society -- the poor, the friendless, strangers, immigrants, children, the elderly, differently abled people, religious minorities, incarcerated people, mentally ill people, marginalized people of color, and any other person in need.
8. Ecological Stewardship
We believe that human beings were created to help care for God's good creation, not to destroy it. Therefore we work to protect the natural world from human exploitation and attempt to minimize our own ecological footprint. This involves working with scientists and conservationists as allies in the pursuit of truth, accepting and affirming their findings and recommendations for the stewardship of God's world.
9. Politics
We believe that Jesus was political, and that we also are called to be active in the halls of power for the establishment of a more just and peaceable world. At the same time, we stop short of telling people how to vote or what legislation to support, since these details are a matter of conscience and individual discernment.
10. Mutual Forbearance
Our tradition is one in which we recognize that "there are truths and forms to which people of good characters and principles may differ." And we maintain that diversity is good! Therefore we can often agree to disagree, trusting that Christ alone is Lord of the conscience.
As a congregation of the Presbyterian Church (USA) and a member of the Presbytery of Chicago, our church is governed by a constitution in two parts: the Book of Confessions and the Book of Order. A board of Elders, called the "Session," is elected from the congregation to make decisions for our church within this framework. The following 10 statements have been approved by our Session as a way of addressing some frequently asked questions about our theology and values:
1. Scripture
We take the Bible seriously in its historical and literary context. Scripture witnesses of itself that it is "inspired by God and useful for teaching, rebuke, correction, and training in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16). To make good use of these inspired writings, however, we must be continually "transformed by the renewal of our minds" (Romans 12:12).
2. The Centrality of Christ Jesus
We believe that Jesus is the best interpreter of scripture, the only true and just judge, the only Truth we proclaim unambiguously in life and in death. Christ, and Christ crucified is our gospel.
3. Cultural Humility
We recognize that we are only one small part of the global body of Christ, and that the Holy Spirit is also active outside the church, therefore we seek to engage with and learn from others, including other religions, even as we share the good news that we have been given as followers of Jesus.
4. Always Being Reformed
Our church is a community of life-long learners, who are growing together into the full stature of Christ. As God is in the process of making all things new, our community is also being changed from day to day into greater forms of justice and love in the kin-dom of peace.
5. Sexuality
Jesus said to us, "Do not judge, lest you be judged," (Matthew 7:1-3) therefore we affirm the freedom of individual couples to discern how best to engage in loving, supportive relationships. We openly welcome and ordain as leaders people of all genders, races, backgrounds, and legal status, including the LGBTQ+ community, while also maintaining official policies for anti-harassment and child protection.
6. Sin
We believe that all human beings were created in God's good image, but that all have fallen short of that ideal in some way, shape or form. In Christ Jesus we have the opportunity to be reconciled with God, to be forgiven for our failings, and to grow into people who are equipped for every good work.
7. The Least of These
In Matthew 25, Jesus says that whatever we do to the most vulnerable of God's children, we do to him. With this in mind, we seek to protect and defend vulnerable people in our society -- the poor, the friendless, strangers, immigrants, children, the elderly, differently abled people, religious minorities, incarcerated people, mentally ill people, marginalized people of color, and any other person in need.
8. Ecological Stewardship
We believe that human beings were created to help care for God's good creation, not to destroy it. Therefore we work to protect the natural world from human exploitation and attempt to minimize our own ecological footprint. This involves working with scientists and conservationists as allies in the pursuit of truth, accepting and affirming their findings and recommendations for the stewardship of God's world.
9. Politics
We believe that Jesus was political, and that we also are called to be active in the halls of power for the establishment of a more just and peaceable world. At the same time, we stop short of telling people how to vote or what legislation to support, since these details are a matter of conscience and individual discernment.
10. Mutual Forbearance
Our tradition is one in which we recognize that "there are truths and forms to which people of good characters and principles may differ." And we maintain that diversity is good! Therefore we can often agree to disagree, trusting that Christ alone is Lord of the conscience.
|
A Member of The Presbytery of Chicago &
The Presbyterian Church USA (PCUSA) |
Highlands Presbyterian Church
1902 W. 59th Street La Grange, Illinois 60525 (708) 246-1911 office@highpres.org |
© 2023 HIGHLANDS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH All rights reserved