Our Beliefs
Jesus is our Lord and Savior.
We believe in Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, who in laying down his earthly life became the Savior of all who believe in Him. We worship Him and strive to obey Him as the risen Lord of all.
The Holy Spirit is with us.
We believe God is present with us here and now through the Holy Spirit. The Spirit continues to teach us, helping us discern God’s will for our lives, and opening our eyes to what God is doing in the world. By the power of the Holy Spirit we are able to participate in bringing about the reign of God.
Our sin gets in the way.
We acknowledge we are sinners, but are not without hope. Sin is a barrier that blocks the relationship God intended to have with us. By grace, when we believe in Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, turn from our sin and seek forgiveness, our relationship with God is restored.
The Bible is God’s word.
We believe scripture is the unique and inspired word of God, a faithful witness to Jesus Christ that is useful for teaching what is true and fully equipping followers for service.
The Church is Christ’s instrument.
We believe the Church is the active body of Christ in the world, striving to be faithful to the Holy Scriptures and the Reformed Tradition. We are called to nurture people in their commitment to Jesus Christ and equip them to serve God.
We all have unique gifts given by God.
We believe God gives us spiritual gifts that enable us to serve and encourage one another and to tell the story of Jesus. We receive them individually and share them collectively as God leads.
Our death is not the end.
We believe beyond our present life is a gift of eternal life with joy, peace, and purpose in the presence of Christ.
Mount Vernon Presbyterian Church is a congregation in the Presbyterian Church (USA), and is a church within the Reformed Tradition, believing the ancient creeds of the church to be a true witness to our faith and a guide for our life together. Our Church is a member of the Presbytery of North Puget Sound and the Synod of Alaska-Northwest. Copies of the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (USA) are available upon request.
Core Values
We hold these core values to be vital for our life together as believers in Jesus Christ.
1. Authenticity: We believe God works best in our lives when we live authentically – being honest with others about our struggles and joys. Romans 12:15
2. Humility: We believe that the church should exhibit a humility that is open to new ideas with the leading of the Holy Spirit. Luke 18:14; Philippians 2:3
3. Excellence: We believe that excellence honors God and inspires people. Philippians 4:8
4. Evangelism: We believe that because the Gospel is worth sharing with others, we should invite people to church. Romans 10:14-15
5. Disciplines: We believe that we should be engaged in the disciplines of prayer, worship, tithing, Bible study, and service for our spiritual growth and maturity. Acts 6:4
6. Worship: We believe corporate worship should include all aspects of the performing arts to enjoy God and glorify Him. John 4:23
7. Community: We believe that Christian community is essential for spiritual growth and develops best in small covenant groups. Acts 2:44
8. Spiritual Gifts: We believe we should be actively serving in our areas of spiritual giftedness. 1Timothy 4:14
9. Biblical Literacy: We believe that reading and knowing the eternal Word of God should be the life-goal of every believer. 1 Timothy 3:16
10. Stewardship: We believe that God calls us to be wise stewards of the resources He has given us. 2 Corinthians 9:6