What We Believe | taieri-anglican

What We

Believe

BELIEVE

THE

BIBLE

We believe that the Bible, in both the Old and New Testaments, is God's word for his people and that it reveals God's living word in Jesus Christ.

JESUS CHRIST

We believe that Jesus is the Son of God and the promised Saviour. Through Christ's death and resurrection we are offered forgiveness and reconciled with God. We believe Jesus will come again to judge the living and the dead.

THE TRINITY

We believe there is only one true God, who eternally exists as a Trinity of equally divine persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

THE CHURCH

We believe that the church is the body of which Christ is the head and all baptised persons are its members.

THE SACRAMENTS

Baptism

We believe that baptism is the sacrament by which we become members of Christ's body the Church and heirs of the Kingdom of God. Adults and parents of children seeking baptism are required to renounce evil and turn from sin to Christ as the Way, the Truth and the Life.

The Practice of Baptism

We believe it is important for all who want baptism for themselves or their children to spend time in preparation and exploration of the faith into which they are to be baptised. We welcome the opportunity to meet with you.

We practice baptism by full immersion or pouring of water over the head. We also offer the opportunity for individuals to renew their baptismal vows. This may be through confirmation (laying on of hands by the Bishop) or by immersion with reaffirmation of baptismal vows.

The Eucharist (Holy Communion / Lord's Supper)

In communion we remember Jesus' death for us, we celebrate his rising from death to be with us, his followers, always and we look forward to his coming again. All who believe in and love the Lord Jesus are invited to receive the bread and wine which are outward signs of the body and blood of Christ, his life given to us and received by faith. Anyone is welcome to come forward at this time for a blessing.

Further teaching can be found in The Catechism in A New Zealand Prayer Book pages 925 –938 copies of which are available from the church This expresses the basic Christian beliefs in a question and answer format. (Click the yellow link to go directly to the catechism).

Our basic Christian beliefs are also expressed in the words of the Apostles‘ and Nicene Creeds (pages 410 and 461 in A New Zealand Prayer Book).