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About Congregationalism
New England Congregationalists created a "people’s church", as
opposed to the state church of old England. They believed this was the New
Testament model, individual believers gathering in Christ’s name. For this
reason, the church building was referred to as the "meeting house."
Congregational churches are democratic; all members equal as children of God.
The minister is a member and elected officer of the church, delegated the
duties of pastor and teacher. Congregational churches own their own property,
call their own ministers, determine their own modes of worship and statements
of faith. Since all are equal, freedom of conscience is a high priority.
Creeds (formal statements of faith) take a back seat to covenants (agreements
to walk together in the way of Jesus Christ). Education is essential, so that
all members can make informed judgments about matters of faith. Congregational
New England was the first region to have public schools and was responsible
for most of the early colleges, beginning with Harvard.
Our members have served the Waldo County region in this Congregational
fashion, our fortunes going up and down with the times. Both members and
ministers are active in the community as school teachers, volunteers, business
people, and town leaders.
Having covenanted "with the Lord and with one another to walk together
as followers of Jesus Christ," we offer opportunities for worship,
service, fellowship, education, and spiritual growth for all ages. New members
can join by baptism and confession of faith, by letter of transfer from
another church, or by re-affirmation of their faith.
Our Covenant
We covenant with the Lord and with one another to walk
together as followers of Jesus Christ. We propose to devote ourselves to
the study, practice and spread of Christianity. We will endeavor to be
loyal to this fellowship to help one another in the Christian life
according to our ability and opportunity, and to support the work and
attend meetings of this Church; and in every way to strive to make it a
power in the service of God and mankind.
Our Faith Statement
We believe in God the Father, infinite in wisdom, goodness and love; and in
Jesus Christ, his Son, our Lord and Savior, who for us and our salvation lived
and died and rose again and liveth evermore; and in the Holy Spirit, who
taketh of the things of Christ and revealeth them to us, renewing, comforting,
and inspiring the souls of men.
We are united in striving to know the will of God as taught in the Holy
Scriptures, and in our purpose to walk in the ways of the Lord, made known or
to be made known to us.
We hold it to be the mission of the Church of Christ to proclaim the gospel
to all mankind exalting the worship of the one true God and laboring for the
progress of knowledge, the promotion of justice, the reign of peace, and the
realization of human brotherhood.
Depending, as did our fathers, upon the continued guidance of the Holy
Spirit to lead us into all truth, we work and pray for the transformation of
the world into the kingdom of God; and we look with faith for the triumph of
righteousness and the life everlasting. "
The Kansas City Statement of Faith, 1913
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First
Congregational Church