A trend among some newer churches is to ditch the statement of beliefs. So many have grown weary of incessant theological bickering that doing without a list of core teachings seems like a good idea. Others argue that such lists only serve to reinforce artificial boundaries between people. It would be a safe bet that many of them have lived through the fallout that often accompanies God-talk.

And yet… while many people have no patience for theological nitpicking, a sizable number would like to know the basic beliefs of the church they are considering. It is helpful to know what you’re getting yourself into when it comes to a community of faith.

At Continuum Church we have decided to create a belief statement… not as a boundary to keep people out… and not as ammo for theological debates. Rather, we are interested in helping our community grow in the faith. And to do this, we feel it important to be able to explain the core ideas around which we are forming. If you are interested in discussing innovative ways to picture core ideas from the Christian faith, please join us for the following conversations.

January 8: Why have a belief statement?
January 17: What is the core of your teaching?
January 22: How would you describe God?
January 29: Where does your story begin?
February 5: Why are there problems in our world?
February 12: How does God respond to our problems?
February 19: What did Jesus come to tell us?
February 26: How did people respond to God’s plan?
March 4: How does the church figure into God’s plan?
March 11: What is the point of getting involved in church?
March 18: How does this story end?
March 25: Where can I learn more about these ideas?