We believe that the Christian life is a life transformed by the gospel, best experienced in community, and lived out for the glory of God and the good of our neighbours.
This page is adapted from the Brief Statement of Mennonite Doctrine; a summary statement based on the Mennonite Confession of Faith adopted by Mennonite General Conference in 1963.
Click here to read the full 1963 Mennonite Confession of Faith.
A. God and His Attributes
We believe in one God eternally existing as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
B. Divine Revelation
We believe that God has revealed Himself through the inspired Word of God in the Old and New Testament Scriptures and supremely in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
C. God’s Creation and Providence
We believe that the Genesis account of the Creation is a historic fact and literally true. He made man in the divine image, with free will, moral character, and a spiritual nature.
D. Man and His Sin
We believe that man fell into sin, bringing depravity and death upon the race; and that as a sinner, man is self-centered and self-willed, unwilling and unable to break with sin.
E. Christ, the Saviour from Sin
We believe that there is one Mediator between God and man, the Man Christ Jesus, who died to redeem us from sin and arose for our justification.
F. Salvation by Grace through Faith
We believe that salvation is by grace though faith in Christ, a free gift bestowed by God on those who repent and believe.
G. The Holy Spirit and the Christian Life
We believe that the Holy Spirit convicts of sin, effects the new birth, gives guidance in life, empowers for service, and enables perseverance in faith and holiness.
H. The Church of Christ
We believe that the church is the body of Christ, the brotherhood of the redeemed, a disciplined people obedient to the Word of God, and a fellowship of love, intercession, and healing.
I. The Mission of the Church to Society
We believe that Christ commissioned the church to go into the entire world, making disciples of all the nations, and ministering to every human need.
J. The Ministers of the Church
We believe it is the will of God that there should be ministers to teach the Word, to serve as leaders, to administer the ordinances, to lead the church in the exercise of discipline and to serve as pastors.
K. Christian Baptism
We believe that those who repent and believe should be baptized with water as a symbol of baptism with the Spirit, cleansing from sin, and commitment to Christ.
L. The Lord’s Supper
We believe that the church should observe the communion of the Lord’s Supper as a symbol of His broken body and shed blood, and the fellowship of His church, until His return.
M. Symbols of Christian Brotherhood
We believe in the washing of the saints’ feet as a symbol of brotherhood, cleansing, and service: in giving the right hand of fellowship and the holy kiss as symbols of Christian love.
N. Symbols of Christian Order
We believe that God has established unique roles for man and woman, symbolized by man’s bared head in praying and prophesying and by woman’s veiled head.
O. Marriage and the Home
We believe that marriage is ordained by God to be the union of one man and one woman for life and that Christians shall marry only those of like faith.
P. Discipleship and Nonconformity
We believe that Christians are not to be conformed to the world, but should seek to conform to Christ in every area of life.
Q. Christian Integrity
We believe that Christians are to be open and transparent in life, ever speaking the truth, and employing no oaths.
R. Love and Non-resistance
We believe that it is the will of God for Christians to refrain from force and violence in human relations and to show Christian love to all men.
S. The Christian and the State
We believe in the separation of church and state; that the state is ordained of God to maintain order in society; that Christians should honour rulers, be subject to authorities, witness to the state, and pray for governments.
T. The Final Consummation
We believe that Christ is coming again, will raise the dead, sit in judgment and bring in God’s everlasting kingdom. We believe that at death the unsaved enter into everlasting punishment and the saved into eternal life with Christ.