What We Believe
The
ICCEC stands squarely on the historic, undisputed teachings of orthodox
Christianity as taught by Jesus,
spread by the Apostles, defended by the
Patriarchs of the Early Church, expressed in the Apostles' and
Nicene
Creeds, and exemplified by the undivided Catholic Church during the first
millennium of its existence.
We believe that these things taken together,
with Jesus first, contain the substantial deposit of Christian
Faith and
Order delivered to the Church.
Theologically we stand in union with all churches who profess the
necessary tenets of Faith as outlined in our
San Clemente Declaration of 1999. Additionally, we maintain
the validity of God's grace imparted through the
seven traditional
sacraments of the Church (i.e., Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation, Confession
& Reconciliation,
Holy Matrimony, Holy Orders, and
Healing/Unction).
Since
the ICCEC stands as a bridge between the protestant and catholic formulations of
faith, our basic beliefs
hold in common the essentials of orthodoxy (i.e.,
"that faith which has been believed everywhere, always, by all")
found in
Eastern Orthodoxy, Western Catholicism, and the Reformed traditions.
Accordingly, we cannot walk in
fellowship with those who deny the essentials
of faith; those who would "move an ancient boundary stone"
(Proverbs 22:28).
Among those beliefs we would underscore and commend the following:
>
A high view of Holy Scripture in affirming the critical importance of preaching,
public reading of the Word,
and personal Bible study;
>
A high view of the Sacraments in imparting the grace of God, particularly
through the Real Presence of Christ
in the Eucharist;
>
A high view of the Church in affirming Cyprian's claim that, "he who has not the
Church for his mother, has
not God for his Father;"
> The doctrine of saving grace by faith as reinforced by both the Reformers and the Council of Trent;
>
The real and present work of the Holy Spirit through gifts and signs as imparted
to believers for service and
witness as rediscovered during this century by
the Pentecostal/Charismatic movements.
In this sense the ICCEC is wholly orthodox, wholly evangelical, wholly sacramental, and wholly charismatic.
To
read more of this document, click
here.
The above excerpt is from the document entitled "Who We Are" on the main ICCEC web site.
Nicene Creed
We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,
and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the
Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.
He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come.
Amen.
