Riverside / California / United States
First Congregational Church is not a creedal or dogmatic church. When we receive new members we join together in saying this very simple covenant: "We covenant to walk together as we seek to be faithful to Christ." We do not insist that anyone ascribe to any particular set of beliefs in order to be a member of our church. In fact we not only tolerate diversity in the expressions of faith at our church, we value them because we believe that each of us has a piece of truth to offer the rest of us. As a church that is part of the United Church of Christ we are also in fellowship with other churches that are invited to consider and take seriously the United Church of Christ "Statement of Faith." It must be stressed however that this statement is offered to us as a testimony of faith, not as a test of faith. You call the worlds into being, create persons in your own image, and set before each one the ways of life and death. You seek in holy love to save all people from aimlessness and sin. You judge people and nations by your righteous will declared through prophets and apostles. In Jesus Christ, the man of Nazareth, our crucified and risen Savior, You have come to us and shared our common lot, conquering sin and death and reconciling the world to yourself. You bestow upon us your Holy Spirit, creating and renewing the church of Jesus Christ, binding in covenant faithful people of all ages, tongues and races.
