Ten Things You Should Know about PACC
1. We believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, our personal Savior and Friend.
2. We follow no Creed but Christ.
You are not required to swear to any man-made creeds or ecclesiastical rules. The only test of membership is the Great Confession (see Number 1, above).
3. We Honor the priesthood of all believers.
We believe that every individual has the right and responsibility to approach God for him/her self. No priest, no formulas, no rituals stand between a person and God.
4. We practice personal freedom and personal responsibility.
We believe every person is free to interpret the Scriptures for him/her self, that there is no one right way to read and understand the Bible. Along with this freedom comes personal responsibility, that one must answer to God for the choices he/she has made. One must also claim responsibility for how his/her interpretations and understandings affect other people.
5. We celebrate weekly, open Communion.
We celebrate the Lord's Supper every time we worship together. We understand that Jesus is the host at the Table. He is the one who makes the invitation. Therefore, the Meal is open to all who believe that Jesus is the Christ. It is a meal of remembrance, a time to remember the great love and sacrifice of our Lord. Prayers are given by the Elders of the Church and distribution of the elements is done by the Deacons of the Church.
6. We practice believer's baptism.
"We baptize people when they have come to the age of accountability, when they are old enough to choose to make a public confession in Jesus Christ and choose to obey His mandate to be baptized. We baptize by immersion.
We accept all forms of baptism. No one is required to be re-baptized. While immersion is our common practice, all forms of baptism are used upon request.
7. We are congregationally governed.
While we are members of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Denomination, the control of our church is held completely within the congregation. We hire and fire our own ministers and employees. We hold title to all church property. We decide, through congregational vote, how our income is to be spent. The affiliation with the Christian Church (Disciple of Christ) is voluntary. The Denomination never mandates anything to the local congregations.
8. We are open and accepting of all seekers.
We are here for everyone. We do not discriminate based on race, creed, gender, national origin, or sexual orientation. Payne Avenue Christian Church welcomes all people who are seeking a closer relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
9. We are a New Testament Church.
We consider the entire Bible to be holy Scripture, inspired by God. The Bible story is a story of unfolding: of God revealing Himself to mankind, and of humanity's deepening understanding of the nature of God. If there is a discrepancy between Old Testament teaching and New Testament teaching, we will always choose the New Testament.
10. We are building a NEW CHURCH.
We have chosen to build a new church, to build a new community, to make a new witness. We invite you to come and build with us. We're finally back home!
