Statement of Faith
What follows is a personal statement of faith. In some cases I've shamelessly used bits and pieces of others creeds, statements, and sources. In addition, I must give credit to Donald E Miller, author of “The Case for Liberal Christianity” from whom I’ve lifted material as part of this statement. Also, I've taken from the work of John Renard as well.

I BELIEVE that there exists a Great Spirit, the Divine, which we call God. God is the Ultimate Mystery. God is the center of all change, all innovation, and all creativity. God is the ultimate source of all life and is experienced in those profound moments of joy, communion, and celebration. God is the “Thou” of the “I-Thou” encounter. God is the Ground of Being. God is present in all those activities which unite people rather than divide them, which call upon persons to transcend self-interests through brotherhood and sisterhood. God is personal as we discover our own humanity and act in God’s name to realize community: that state in which we relate to others as “ends” and not “means” to self-centered purposes.

I BELIEVE that the doctrine of the Trinity provides an excellent insight into the character of God. Through the understanding of God as three in one (Creator, Son, Holy Spirit) we can see the mystery of the Divine as being both intimately personal while at the same time as the infinite Other.

I BELIEVE that the Great Spirit is the ultimate reason for Creation. Creation is not split into a natural physical world and a supernatural transcendent world but is part of a single unified Great Nature. Because of this unified aspect, Creation, which obviously includes humankind, is inherently Good.

I BELIEVE that Creation (the Great Nature) to be far more complex than we can possibly imagine. I believe that sacredness surrounds us, that it prevades all things including each of us, and that the all-suffusing divine presence is ultimately benevolent and mean to assure well-being and happiness for all who acknowledge it and strive to live in harmoney with it.

I BELIEVE that each person exists in a state of alienation from the Great Spirit, from the Great Nature, from each other, and each from one self. This alienation causes us to fail in our relations with others, which in traditional Christian terminology is referred to as sin.

I BELIEVE that the Great Spirit has provided the means by which to heal our alienation with God and with each other. The means provided is through Jesus of Nazareth through whom we see the Son.

I BELIEVE that scripture, doctrine and religious institutions are products of human attempts to articulate the nature and character of the Ultimate Mystery. They are a complex product created by flawed humans and therefore reflect the socio-economic and cultural conditions of humanity at any one period of time.

I BELIEVE that while the biblical texts should not be taken literally they must be taken seriously for they provide an insight into a greater Truth. This need for serious consideration demands in-depth study using human reason and critical analysis.

I BELIEVE that God still speaks to the human race and that our faith and moral practices must be living and growing rather than dead and static. Each generation has an obligation to reassess doctrine, traditions, institutions, and textual understanding in light of human progress and knowledge.

I BELIEVE that there is a demand for humility when dealing with matters of faith. When applying modern understanding we should recognize our limits. We would be wise to heed the advice of Hamlet, “There is more in heaven and earth, Horatio, than is dreamt of in your philosophy.”

I BELIEVE that the Great Spirit’s redemptive Grace freely grants Universal Salvation upon all of Creation, which includes all people, powers and personalities therein. As the moral governor of the universe, God restores righteous and equitable rewards upon all humankind and that if there is any punishment it will be remedial, and consequently limited.