What Do We Believe: Theological Perspective

We believe that St. Mark Christian Methodist Episcopal Church is part of the body of Christ, and that it must express itself in the world in the light of the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Jesus taught us many things both by word and example - to be concerned for the welfare and the well-being of others, to love our neighbors as ourselves, and to be concerned for justice. For the Church to be silent in the face of need, injustice, and exploitation is to deny the Lord of the Church.

We believe "out of one blood God made all the nations who dwell on the face of the earth," that Jesus is most uniquely His Son, that all persons are brothers and sisters, and each person is of infinite worth, and a child of God. Thus, to exploit, to dehumanize any person through pride or arrogance is thoroughly unbiblical and unchristian.

We believe that all things come from God - the earth and its fullness, our own capacities and all we possess. We believe that all things should be held and used in joyous stewardship to Him to help God in His redemptive purpose in the world. The Church, then, must always be in the world actively obeying God's purpose for it. As a redeemed and redeeming fellowship, the Church must seek to serve and save society. This redemption is a continuing necessity.

We also test all institutions and practices by their effect upon all persons. Since Jesus died for the redemption of all people, we believe that we should help save them from sin and every evil influence which would harm or destroy them.

We believe that whatever is of interest and concern to the people - physical, intellectual, social, economic, and political - should also be of interest and concern to the Church. Primary among such concern should be an emphasis on the family as the foundational institution of care and nurture. The purpose of our worship is to prepare the participants for their divinely ordained redemptive witness in every place and circumstance.

Holistic Economic Ministry

With full acknowledgement of stewardship under God and accountability to Him, we stand for the acquisition of property by moral processes and the right to private ownership thereof. We are thus obligated to evaluate each aspect of economic order by the commands of Christ and judge its practices by the Christian gospel.

We believe that it is not only our duty to bring Christ to the individual, but also to bring the increasingly technological society in which we live in greater conformity with teachings of Christ.

Inflation

The Christian community is concerned with maintaining economic stability. We affirm that there exists a fundamental ethical challenge in inflation itself. We believe that inflation is detrimental to equality and casts an uneven burden upon our citizens, the greatest burden often falling upon those who are weakest politically and economically.

Health Services

We stand for the provision of adequate medical care for all people, with special attention being given to the aging, the young, and low-income individuals and groups. We support our government, individuals, and foundations in required research in public health, and we support legislation to meet these needs.

We believe that adequate support and appropriate accommodations must be made available for persons who are physically and/or mentally challenged.

Automation

Through automation a greater number of people face job displacement, economic loss, and jeopardy of their skills. We affirm that it is a Christian's duty to provide for all persons opportunity to earn an adequate livelihood, to avoid unemployment and waste of personal and economic resources. We believe that displaced workers who are displaced by automation should be given opportunity for retraining.

Poverty & Unemployment

We believe that the economic development which makes possible material plenty for all imposes upon us great moral responsibility, in that physical, emotional, and spiritual development of millions throughout the world is hindered by poverty. We, therefore, stand for the eradication of poverty everywhere.

Christian Vocation

We believe that every employable person so far as possible should be engaged in some vocation to enhance the common good. Every such vocation should be viewed as a Christian calling for those who pursue it as well as those who receive its benefits, and our daily work should be regarded as a sphere of service to God.

The Church & General Welfare

We believe that in order for the Church to fulfill God's purpose in the world it must concern itself with the persons in every phase of their historical and social existence by defining the meaning of the existence in terms of moral and social significance, by promoting those institutions and causes which strengthen the forces for good in society, and by using its influence to combat those forces in society detrimental to the fulfillment of life under God.

Liquor and Drug Abuse

We condemn the use of alcoholic beverages and recreational drugs, and feel it imperative to minister to those persons who are addicted to alcohol and recreational drugs and their loved ones. We condemn the sale and use of liquor and these recreational drugs as that which imperils the abundant life to which Christ calls us to.

Criminal Activity

We recognize individual, and personal responsibility to society. Yet we recognize that in many instances the growth of crime and delinquency is the result of family failure, and economic and social deprivation. When persons are found to be lawbreakers, we feel that every effort should be made to rehabilitate them and return them to society. We are unalterably opposed to capital punishment.

Gambling

Gambling is a menace to society, destructive to good government and deadly to the best interest of moral, social, and spiritual life. We stand for the achievement of community and personal standards which make unnecessary the resort to petty or commercial gambling as a recreation, escape, or producer of public or charitable revenue. As an act of faith and love, Christians should abstain from all acts of gambling and should participate in efforts to minister to those victimized by the practice, including compulsive gamblers.

Human Rights

Since all persons are endowed by God with certain inalienable rights, we believe that no individual should be denied these rights because of race, creed, culture, national origin, or social class. Further, we believe that persons should have freedom under law to petition for these rights.