Our Beliefs

For Reformed Christians, the Bible alone is the final authority for faith and practice. There is no other book that holds equal status to the Bible. But how should we as Christians interpret the Bible? Creeds and Confessions passed down through the centuries assist us in this interpretation of Scripture, aid us in teaching the truths of Scripture to others, and unite us to other believers around the world.

Bethel CRC holds to three creeds — Apostles Creed, Nicene Creed, Athanasian Creed — and three confessions — Belgic Confession, Heidelburg Catechism, Canons of Dort.

The Lords supper: Believing Christians are commanded to eat this sacramental broken bread and to drink this cup as a remembrance and proclamation of Christ crucified until He returns.

Bethel CRC currently celebrates communion five to seven times per year. Communion is normally celebrated on the second Sundays of March, June, September and December as well as on Good Friday and at various times where it best fits the Biblical content of the message.

Baptism: Jesus Christ instituted this outward washing and with it gave the promise that as surely as water washes away dirt from the body, so certainly his blood and Spirit wash away our impurities. We believe this promise is for us and our children.

At Bethel CRC, we do not have a particular Sunday on which baptism is administered. Parents or adults are asked to contact the Pastor or one of the elders and then together schedule when baptism will be administered. The pastor or elder will call for a time to meet with each family to discuss the sacrament and its meaning.

Profession of Faith is the way mature Christians respond to Christ's promises. We do not believe this to be a third sacrament, rather a response to the promises of God offered during baptism.

Contact the pastor or ministry assistant to enroll in the pre-Profession of Faith class, which is held a couple times throughout the year. Individual classes can also be arranged. You will then be asked to come to a church council meeting where you will have the opportunity to present your testimony of faith in Jesus Christ and express your agreement with the basic doctrines of the Reformed faith.

Family visiting is a practice of elders (and sometimes deacons) making visits to the homes of our members. The goal of our church is that each family and single person has a time of visitation with the elders and/or the pastor at your home about once every year. This visit is intended to be informal and relaxed in nature. Schedules are set up during the course of the year with a specific date and time for the visit. The intention of the visit is to speak of your relationship to Jesus Christ and to see if the ministry of the church is nourishing your faith in the Lord.