HIghland's
Mission Statement
The mission of the Highland Christian Church, (Disciples of Christ), is to embrace and
embody the life, teachings and practices of Jesus Christ, as
revealed in the Holy Scriptures, that persons may come to faith in God and seek to grow in
their faith through life's journey.
To Be More Specific....
HIGHLAND IS CALLED TO BE A FAITHFUL, GROWING CHURCH THAT DEMONSTRATES THE TRUE VALUES AND BELIEFS THAT GIVE PURPOSE AND MEANING TO OUR MISSION. THOSE BELIEFS AND VALUES CALL US TO BE:
1. Christ-CENTERED: The Highland Christian Church exalts no religion of creed or authority and follows no creedal formulation or dictation except that of Jesus Christ. We believe it is the love of God in Jesus Christ, rather than doctrine, that binds us together. Our focus is on the life, words, way, and spirit of Jesus as proclaimed in the Holy Scriptures. We believe in one Lord and affirm that Jesus Christ is Lord of our lives and that only our Confession in Him is necessary. Our Confession of Faith is: “I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, and I accept Him as the personal Lord and Savior of my life.”
2. DEEPLY CHRISTIAN AND SPIRITUAL. Centered in Christ, we believe and value a way of life that relates to the nature of God as revealed in Jesus Christ and as experienced through the Holy Spirit. Living a deep, Christian, spiritual life is our strong value of telling others who we are in relation to God.
3.BIBLICALLY ROOTED: The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) heritage is biblically rooted, and as a member of this denomination, Highland Christian values this heritage in the faithful study of the scriptures, utilizing our reason, experience and tradition as the central core of our faith formation.
4. ONE SPIRIT. We believe that the Holy Spirit is the critical expression of God’s presence among us and that we are empowered to be Christ’s gifted presence in the world as one spirit. We claim the value of one spirit from St. Paul’s affirmation: “There is one body and one spirit, just as you were called to one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all, who is above all and through all and in all.” Ephesians 4: 4-6.
5. ONE BAPTISM. We believe that baptism is the powerful symbol of one’s transformation from the old life, to the new, in Jesus’ name. While our chosen method of baptism is by immersion, other methods of baptism are permissible when immersion is not possible due to a permanent (or long-term) disability or medical condition. Our practice of open membership allows us to receive members from other modes of baptism.
6. ONE TABLE. We follow the earliest traditions of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and practice weekly communion that is open to all believers. We believe that God is truly known to us around the communion table and is the place where Christ “welcomes all people to God’s heart.”
7. PRIESTHOOD OF ALL BELIEVERS. We believe that each believer’s Confession of Faith affirms one to serve and utilize gifts of ministry. We refer to this as “inclusive ministry” in the life and work of the church, regardless of gender, race, ethnic or economic status.
8. ONE TRUE COMMUNITY True community at Highland Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), means living in accordance with one’s own cultural values within the church’s culture of inter-dependence. The diversity of cultures requires a life of interdependence beyond any individual culture. We recognize, welcome and respect the diversity of all people, while understanding that our oneness does not imply our common agreement with one another, rather our common dependence on the love and grace of God in Jesus Christ. Our value of true community is expressed in Paul’s words: “You are all children of God through faith in Jesus Christ. All of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourself with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:26-28. We believe that the spirit of true community is essential to carry out the mission of the church.
9 A PASSION FOR JUSTICE “What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:8. At Highland Christian we are called to be God’s servants in the world and thus bless the world. Just as the prophets and the apostle Paul carried the words of justice in their hearts, we are to take our full, vibrant place in the Body of Christ in speaking and practicing justice as discerned from the Holy Scriptures.
10. JOYFUL HEIRS TO ETERNAL LIFE: We believe that God’s grace lends to the eternal and sacred value of life. We are blessed with God’s value on life and sending Jesus that we might have life and have it more fully. Through Jesus’ death for the remission and forgiveness of our sins and His resurrection, we are heirs to eternal life. “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16