Scio Christian Church is a non-denominational church that shares a heritage with other churches going by the name Church of Christ Christian Churches.
What are Christian churches?
We are unique. Most denominations have their roots overseas. That is, they were started in Europe and came to America through immigrants who were members of that particular denomination. Not so with Christian churches. We were started by people from various denominations who were tired of perpetuating divisions imported from Europe.
The Bible is our sole authority. Christian churches have rejected man-made creeds, doctrinal statements, and hierarchies. We use the Bible alone for guidance in matters of doctrine, structure, and practice. Many Christian churches have as a slogan, "No book but the Bible, no creed but Christ."
We focus on Jesus. Denominational labels tend to divide the Body of Christ. Christian churches seek to unite God's people by adopting a simple, biblical name for our churches - Christian. We like to say, "We're Christians only, not the only Christians."
We are an independent church. Every Christian church is completely independent. There is no denominational control, hierarchy, or national headquarters as there is in most denominational churches. Each church is self-governed and determines its own affairs, based on the Word of God.
For example:
At Scio Christian Church, we choose our staff.
At Scio Christian Church, we own our buildings and assets.
At Scio Christian Church, we determine our programs.
At Scio Christian Church, we select our missionaries and agencies to support.
What are Christian churches?
We are unique. Most denominations have their roots overseas. That is, they were started in Europe and came to America through immigrants who were members of that particular denomination. Not so with Christian churches. We were started by people from various denominations who were tired of perpetuating divisions imported from Europe.
The Bible is our sole authority. Christian churches have rejected man-made creeds, doctrinal statements, and hierarchies. We use the Bible alone for guidance in matters of doctrine, structure, and practice. Many Christian churches have as a slogan, "No book but the Bible, no creed but Christ."
We focus on Jesus. Denominational labels tend to divide the Body of Christ. Christian churches seek to unite God's people by adopting a simple, biblical name for our churches - Christian. We like to say, "We're Christians only, not the only Christians."
We are an independent church. Every Christian church is completely independent. There is no denominational control, hierarchy, or national headquarters as there is in most denominational churches. Each church is self-governed and determines its own affairs, based on the Word of God.
For example:
At Scio Christian Church, we choose our staff.
At Scio Christian Church, we own our buildings and assets.
At Scio Christian Church, we determine our programs.
At Scio Christian Church, we select our missionaries and agencies to support.
What do you believe?
Scio Christian Church does not require that members subscribe to a formal creed. In a very real sense, "we have no creed but Christ, no book but the Bible." The twin bases of our unity are our faith in Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the Living God, and our adherence to the Bible as the inspired text for our teaching and the one sufficient constitution for governing congregational life.
We believe in unity
We seek a unity of understanding in the essentials of our faith, yet we do not suggest that we must agree on all things pertaining to our walk in Christ. On many issues we have the freedom to disagree. We do ask, however, that all who accept and hold a leadership or teaching position at Scio Christian respect the following guidelines and resist any temptation to use their position as a forum from which to teach other views. Unity in the body depends upon harmony and mutual trust in the leadership.
We believe in God
The Bible teaches that God is Creator of our world and Sustainer and Lord of our lives.
We believe in Jesus
Jesus Christ is the one and only living Son of God and our Savior. Through Him God opened the way of abundant and eternal life through His death, burial and resurrection to all who call on His name.
We believe in the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is God Himself encouraging, guiding, and transforming us in the way of Christ. According to Acts 2:38, the Holy Spirit is a gift resulting from our faith and obedience. We are, therefore, a Spirit-filled church seeking to do God's will and to become more like His Son, Jesus Christ. While we do not presume to dictate one's private worship practices, we have agreed that for the sake of the unity of the body, in our public worship and other sanctioned church meetings we will not teach or practice what is commonly called speaking in tongues.
We trust the Bible
The Bible is the inspired Word of God. It is the authoritative rule of faith and practice for Christians and the Church.
We practice baptism
We practice baptism of the repentant believer by immersion in water, confident that this expresses the form and purposes of the New Testament precedent. The New Testament teaches that all believers receive the gift of the Holy Spirit in relation to their faith, repentance and baptism.
We practice communion
We celebrate the Lord's Supper each Sunday, as we find the New Testament Christians did. In partaking of the bread and the fruit of the vine, we remember our Lord's sacrifice for us, and we strengthen our relationship with Him.
We believe in prayer
We are a praying church. We daily lift before God fervent prayers of praise, confession, thanksgiving and petition.
We believe Jesus established a new covenant
Jesus instituted a new covenant with God that succeeded and transcended His former covenant with the people of Israel; hence we accept the Old Testament as preparatory to the New Testament, and we rejoice that we are related to God through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and not through the Law of the Old Testament.
We believe He's coming again
God, who created the heavens and the earth, will one day bring life on earth to a conclusion. While accepting various understandings of how God will bring this about, we believe that Christ will come again and will call His own to Himself, as He promised.
Church Membership
We are a free and independent church under Christ. Guided by a Board of Elders, we determine our own policies and practices in light of biblical expectations, and we voluntarily cooperate with other Christian groups in fulfilling our Lord's Great Commission. We have this requirement for church membership:
One must be a believer in Jesus Christ as the only Son of God, be willing to repent of sin and surrender to His Lordship, to confess this faith before others,
Obey Him in Christian baptism and to continue in faithful discipleship.
Ministry
The New Testament teaches the ministry of all believers, recognizing that the Holy Spirit gives various gifts to members of the body so that every member can make a contribution to the effective ministry of the entire church.
Missions
We are a mission-minded church.
All persons of all races have been created in the image of God and stand in need of the saving grace of Jesus Christ.
The church exists to serve the world. We participate in efforts to improve community life. We want to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, offer hospitality to the stranger, clothe the naked, minister to the sick, and visit the imprisoned, as Jesus has instructed (Matthew 25).
Resources
God expects wise management of our money and other resources in both our personal and our congregational lives. We encourage the tithe (ten percent) as the minimum the Bible teaches us to return to the Lord. In fact, we understand the governing principles to be that everything we have and are belongs to God. We do not hesitate to teach principles of Christian stewardship, agreeing with Jesus that "where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" Matthew 6:21.
*Information on the this page was adapted from "What Kind of Church Is This" (Christian Standard)
What do you believe?
Scio Christian Church does not require that members subscribe to a formal creed. In a very real sense, "we have no creed but Christ, no book but the Bible." The twin bases of our unity are our faith in Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the Living God, and our adherence to the Bible as the inspired text for our teaching and the one sufficient constitution for governing congregational life.
We believe in unity
We seek a unity of understanding in the essentials of our faith, yet we do not suggest that we must agree on all things pertaining to our walk in Christ. On many issues we have the freedom to disagree. We do ask, however, that all who accept and hold a leadership or teaching position at Scio Christian respect the following guidelines and resist any temptation to use their position as a forum from which to teach other views. Unity in the body depends upon harmony and mutual trust in the leadership.
We believe in God
The Bible teaches that God is Creator of our world and Sustainer and Lord of our lives.
We believe in Jesus
Jesus Christ is the one and only living Son of God and our Savior. Through Him God opened the way of abundant and eternal life through His death, burial and resurrection to all who call on His name.
We believe in the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is God Himself encouraging, guiding, and transforming us in the way of Christ. According to Acts 2:38, the Holy Spirit is a gift resulting from our faith and obedience. We are, therefore, a Spirit-filled church seeking to do God's will and to become more like His Son, Jesus Christ. While we do not presume to dictate one's private worship practices, we have agreed that for the sake of the unity of the body, in our public worship and other sanctioned church meetings we will not teach or practice what is commonly called speaking in tongues.
We trust the Bible
The Bible is the inspired Word of God. It is the authoritative rule of faith and practice for Christians and the Church.
We practice baptism
We practice baptism of the repentant believer by immersion in water, confident that this expresses the form and purposes of the New Testament precedent. The New Testament teaches that all believers receive the gift of the Holy Spirit in relation to their faith, repentance and baptism.
We practice communion
We celebrate the Lord's Supper each Sunday, as we find the New Testament Christians did. In partaking of the bread and the fruit of the vine, we remember our Lord's sacrifice for us, and we strengthen our relationship with Him.
We believe in prayer
We are a praying church. We daily lift before God fervent prayers of praise, confession, thanksgiving and petition.
We believe Jesus established a new covenant
Jesus instituted a new covenant with God that succeeded and transcended His former covenant with the people of Israel; hence we accept the Old Testament as preparatory to the New Testament, and we rejoice that we are related to God through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and not through the Law of the Old Testament.
We believe He's coming again
God, who created the heavens and the earth, will one day bring life on earth to a conclusion. While accepting various understandings of how God will bring this about, we believe that Christ will come again and will call His own to Himself, as He promised.
Church Membership
We are a free and independent church under Christ. Guided by a Board of Elders, we determine our own policies and practices in light of biblical expectations, and we voluntarily cooperate with other Christian groups in fulfilling our Lord's Great Commission. We have this requirement for church membership:
One must be a believer in Jesus Christ as the only Son of God, be willing to repent of sin and surrender to His Lordship, to confess this faith before others,
Obey Him in Christian baptism and to continue in faithful discipleship.
Ministry
The New Testament teaches the ministry of all believers, recognizing that the Holy Spirit gives various gifts to members of the body so that every member can make a contribution to the effective ministry of the entire church.
Missions
We are a mission-minded church.
All persons of all races have been created in the image of God and stand in need of the saving grace of Jesus Christ.
The church exists to serve the world. We participate in efforts to improve community life. We want to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, offer hospitality to the stranger, clothe the naked, minister to the sick, and visit the imprisoned, as Jesus has instructed (Matthew 25).
Resources
God expects wise management of our money and other resources in both our personal and our congregational lives. We encourage the tithe (ten percent) as the minimum the Bible teaches us to return to the Lord. In fact, we understand the governing principles to be that everything we have and are belongs to God. We do not hesitate to teach principles of Christian stewardship, agreeing with Jesus that "where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" Matthew 6:21.
*Information on the this page was adapted from "What Kind of Church Is This" (Christian Standard)
Scio Christian Church
Scio, Oregon
Where Jesus and Real Life Meet
Scio, Oregon
Where Jesus and Real Life Meet
"I am the way, the truth, and the life."
John 14:6
John 14:6
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