For nearly 300 years in the United States, and since the dawn of the Reformation before that, the Presbyterian tradition has adhered to the essential tenets of the Reformed Christian faith. San Clemente Presbyterian Church has faithfully followed this tradition, teaching and serving in the spirit of the essential tenets for nearly 90 years. The expression of our faith is not easily reduced to trivial statements or a few selected Bible verses, but is broadly revealed in the Confessions of the church universal. Yet for the sake of brevity, we offer this statement of faith that characterizes us as a worshipping community under the loving Lordship of the resurrected Jesus. 

A Brief Statement of Faith

We believe in God, the Creator and Sustainer of all things, who is uniquely One and distinctly three: Father, Son (Jesus Christ) and Holy Spirit. 

We believe humanity reflects the image of God, but is obscured by sin, falling short of God’s hope and dreams for us, therefore separating us from God who alone is holy and perfect. 

We believe Jesus Christ paid the penalty for our sin through His death on the cross and is God’s only provision for reconciliation and restoration, freely given to all who seek and ask. 

We believe that Jesus died and was physically resurrected, that He ascended into heaven, and that He will return one day to pronounce judgment on evil, and to consummate a new reality forever. 

We believe that our salvation from judgment comes by grace alone, through faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone, who loves us and intercedes for us. 

We believe that salvation is sealed in baptism and celebrated through communion, the Lord’s Supper— these Sacraments affirm our belonging to God's family, strengthen our faith, and guarantee God’s promise of our share in the life to come. 

We believe that the Bible, comprised of the Old and New Testaments, is the authoritative, inerrant, infallible Word of God— the highest rule of faith and practice, sufficient to make known the person of Jesus and the way of salvation.

We believe the universal church, in its various expressions, is the provisional witness to the Kingdom of God, inaugurated at the birth of Jesus, affirmed in His life, death, resurrection and ascension, which will be finally consummated when Jesus returns in bodily form.

Our mission to which we believe God has called us within Christ’s Great Commission is: to inspire people to become wholehearted followers of His.

Our vision in pursuit of this mission is: to be a vibrant, Christ-centered community of faith who lives in grace, practices gratitude, and extends generosity.

The values to which we cleave in light of our mission and vision are: Authenticity, Hospitality, Outreach, Celebration, and Innovation.

In all that we are, and all that we do, we seek to glorify the name of Jesus as we reflect the image of God through these simple statements and values that further define us as the people of God in this place at this time in human history.

Within the Reformed faith, there is no single checklist of required beliefs that qualify as “Reformed” so the notion of “essential tenets” can seem vague.  There are two related reasons for this:

First, the Reformed faith values freedom of conscience, encouraging the people of God—as members of the priesthood of all believers—to actively discern the will of God moment by moment, empowered and informed by the Holy Spirit, rather than instructed by the edicts of humanity or our limited capacity to understand the written Word without the Spirit’s insight. In this sense, every believer is charged to “work out their own salvation in fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12-13) according the the measure of faith that God has assigned (Romans 12:3).

Second, the Reformed faith is itself subject to the sovereignty of the living Word of God, revealed in Jesus Christ, witnessed in the Scriptures, and affirmed to us through the testimony of the Holy Spirit, who is God in us. The application of the Scriptures in our lives is therefore subject to the sanctifying work of God living through us so that the righteousness of God might be revealed and fulfilled in us (Romans 8:3-4).

Therefore, while there is no definitive checklist of Reformed doctrines, the following affirmations are good examples of what is meant by “essential tenets” as expressed in the Confessions of the church. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list, but these are the most common distinctive categories of Reformed theology to which we adhere.

1. The Sovereignty of God: God moves first, we respond in faith

2. The Primary Authority of Scripture: As superior to the authority of church traditions

3. The Devastation of Sin: The depravity of humanity brought about by original sin

4. The Unconditional Promise of Redemption: Saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone… period

5. The Centrality and Sufficiency of Jesus Christ: His birth, life, death, and resurrection as the only means for salvation and reconciliation with God, and an inspiration for right living

6. The Movement and Ministry of the Holy Spirit: Freedom of conscience; for God is Lord of the conscience living in us to will and act according to His good purpose (Philippians 2:13)

7. The Calling of the Church: the provisional witness of the Kingdom of God to equip, instruct, and nurture disciples, and to work for reconciliation in the world

8. The Sacraments: Only two; Communion and Baptism; those commanded directly by Jesus according to Scripture