First Congregational Church of Pittsfield
CONGREGATIONALISM AND OUR CHURCH COVENANT
Who We Are
CONGREGATIONALISM
The central text of Congregationalism is Matthew 18:18-20, in which Christ says to the early Church:
"Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them."
With the Biblical text as a sufficient rule in matters of faith and practice, Congregationalists believe that Christ and Christ alone is the head of the local church.
"Congregationalism is that system of church organization which recognizes the equal rights of all believers, the independence and autonomy of the local Church, and the association of the churches through voluntary organizations devised for fellowship and cooperation, but without ecclesiastical authority." - Dr. William E. Barton
We are an independent Congregational Christian Church associated with the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches. We are guided by the Christian principles of faith, freedom and fellowship.
OUR CHURCH COVENANT
Acknowledging Jesus Christ to be our Savior and Lord, and recognizing the privilege and duty of uniting for Christian Fellowship, the public worship of God, and the advancement of His kingdom in the world, we do now in the sight of God, and invoking His blessing, solemnly covenant with each other to associate ourselves to be a church of Christ.
We agree to maintain the institutions of the Gospel, to strive to know the will of God as taught in the Holy Scriptures, to follow the ways of the Lord made known or to be made known to us, to submit ourselves to the orderly administration of the affairs of the church, and to walk together in Christian love.
And this we do depending upon the continued aid of the Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth.
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Church e-mail:
| Mailing address: P.O. Box 188, Pittsfield, NH 03263 | Office: 603-435-7471
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