All Christians are united by our core beliefs, which are summarized in the Apostle's Creed and the Nicene Creed. These two creeds have been used by all kinds of Christians for over 1,600 years to define our faith and our unity in Christ. While the visible and structural unity of the church has been eroded by error and division over the centuries, the spiritual union of all true believers in Jesus Christ remains strong.
As a confessional Presbyterian church and a congregation of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), Forest Hill also subscribes to the Westminster Confession of Faith, a statement that we believe to be the best human summary of the truths taught in Scripture. As a Statement of Faith, it's long, just over 12,000 words in length. It's also one of the oldest comprehensive statements of faith still in use, dating back to 1647.
Our Core Values at Forest Hill Presbyterian Church
Christ-centered:
The good news of our life in Christ is at the heart of who we are and what we do in every aspect of our church life. – “For to me, to live is Christ.” – Phil 1:21
Deeply Rooted:
We are called and committed to deep knowledge and understanding of the Scriptures and Reformed theology. – “rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith” – Col. 2:7
Inter-generational:
We value the connections between the generations as vital to healthy church life. – “Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity.” – 1 Timothy 5:1-2
Reverent, Yet Relaxed:
We believe in worshiping our Holy, Holy, Holy God in spirit and in truth. Worship is a covenantal meeting with God shaped by Scripture. Our worship is not trendy, silly or entertainment-driven, but neither is it stuffy, cold or tradition-driven. – “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” – John 4:24
Actively Growing:
We are not content to be stagnant, for life and health are found in growth. Growth is not measured in mere numbers but in lives being actively changed by the Gospel into the likeness of Christ. – “We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing.” – 2 Thess. 1:3
Tightly Connected:
As members of one body, we belong to each other as we belong to Christ. We are committed to seeking ways to live life together and to love each other. – “so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.” – Romans 12:5
Serving in Mission:
The church has a mission in the world, to glorify God by seeking to make Christ and His kingdom manifest, that Christ might be known and worshiped by more and more people. – “to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of His name among all the nations” – Romans 1:5
Reaching Our Neighbors:
Our first calling in missions is to those immediately around us, our families and our neighbors. – “The second is like it, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” – Matthew 22:39
Reaching the Nations:
The call of the Great
Commission is a call to make disciples of all nations, to bring the nations to
Jesus as His rightful inheritance. – “All authority in
heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go therefore and make disciples
of all nations” – Matt. 28:18-19
To learn more about what we believe and teach
at Forest Hill Presbyterian Church, these blog posts by our pastor,
Jason Van Bemmel, may be helpful to you:
1. Churches Unmoored: The Gospel vs. Gimmicks
2. 26 Reasons to Glorify God for the Gospel
3. Healthy Churches: Rooted and Reaching (Part 2: Rooted and Reaching Explored)
4. Our Confession of Faith: From 3 Words to Over 12,000. How? Why?
5. Loving God and Putting Theology in Its Place
What do we believe about baptism?
Listen to Pastor Jason explain baptism at a recent baptism of a covenant child.
Read Pastor Jason's paper explaining baptism.