AFFIRMATIONS AND DECLARATIONS

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

AN OPEN DECLARATION TO THE ONE HOLY CATHOLIC AND APOSTOLIC CHURCH

I solemnly declare and affirm that I believe in God, Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth;

And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.

I further declare and affirm before God that I do believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the Word of God, and to contain all things necessary to salvation and to be the inspired Word of God.

I do believe the teachings and doctrine of the holy catholic Church as they come to us from the ancient, historical faith; “the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints” (Jude 3).

I do solemnly purpose to conform to the doctrine, discipline, and worship of Christ’s one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church as the Church has received them and in conformity with the doctrinal essentials stated in the Canons of the Continuing Evangelical Episcopal Communion. Relying upon the constant provision of grace through faith in Christ Jesus, by the witness of the Holy Spirit, trusting in the inspiration and supremacy of the Holy Scriptures and with a confirming heart and mind, I affirm the Doctrinal Essentials of the Continuing Evangelical Episcopal Communion. By my signature, as a faithful and accountable parish leader and/or minister of the Gospel, I will endeavor, with God’s help, to live and teach in concord with the spirit and intention of these Doctrinal Essentials. I understand that I will be asked to reaffirm this declaration annually.

I further declare and affirm before God my commitment to a historical, traditional view of purity, as understood in the historical Christian Church since the earliest of times. I reject the move of recent times where portions of Christendom have embraced and accepted biblically prohibited lifestyles such as homosexuality, promiscuity, fornication, adultery, and incestuous relationships. In these matters I determine to follow the example of Jesus Christ, embracing sinners and encouraging them to repent and walk in personal, biblical holiness; all the while utterly rejecting their sinful lifestyles and condemning rather than condoning sin. I embrace the orthodox, historical position of heterosexual marriage between one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others, and sexual relationships as God-designed and God-ordained. I commit myself to purity of life and purity of expression in my sexuality; that purity being lived out and expressed either through sexual abstinence in singleness or monogamous fidelity in marriage.

I further declare and affirm before God my commitment to be faithful in my handling of finances. Financial faithfulness is merely returning to God that which is already His. I commit to the principle, scriptural mandate, and discipline of the tithe, understanding that all members of God's one holy and apostolic Church are commanded to tithe a tenth of their increase. I further commit to be faithful and honest in the handling of all finances that are placed into my hands, recognizing that every area of my life is to be marked by integrity.