Building Lives,
Growing Together.
Whether you're starting your spiritual journey or seeking a faith community, God may be guiding you to us. Explore our website or Facebook page to see our passion for growing in Christ and living out God's grace.
Evangelical
“Evangelical” is not a political statement, at least as far as the Bible is concerned. The word “evangel” means “good news”. At the very center of who we are is a belief that God has good news for us . . . that Christ died for our sins and reconciles to God all who put their trust in Him. We believe that this good news is not just for us, but that we are called to share that message of God’s grace in Christ to all around us. (“Jesus was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God”, Romans 4:25)
Reformed
“Reformed” means a commitment to five essential truths . . . Scripture alone, Christ alone, grace alone, faith alone, and for the glory of God alone. We are grateful that part of who we are grounds us in historic Protestant Christianity. In an era wherein churches seem to be constantly shifting their views and beliefs in light of some new “revelation”, political trend, or cultural counterfeit we embrace the stability and wisdom that comes over 500 years of Biblical thought and church life. At the very core of what it means to be Reformed is the belief that the Bible alone is God’s Word and that it is without error in all that it teaches and affirms. (“Knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of private or personal interpretation. 1 Peter 1:20")
Presbyterian
“Presbyterian” does not mean that we’re a bunch of stodgy old guys with no heart. Actually, “Presbyterian” is a word taken directly from the Bible itself. It means “led by elders” and the meaning is clear. We’re not about one person, one personality, or one leader. St. Giles is led by a team of elders, elected by the congregation, who shepherd the church. We believe that team leadership expressed through a council of elders is not only Biblical, it also paves the way for a much healthier church life. (“This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you.”, Titus 1:5)
Complementarian
“Complementarian” means that we are committed to the historic and Biblical view of gender summed up in “In the image of God he made them, male and female he made them”. In holding this we hold that gender is binary, heterosexual, sacred, co-equal, and unique in their make-up and roles within God’s design. (Genesis 1:27-28) For those who are married, husbands are called to lead their families in a manner grounded in the love and character of Christ himself. Wives are committed to honor and support their husbands as the Church does with Christ. Those who are single are called to relate to men and women as brothers and sisters in Christ. As fully equal to men, women serve in a wide variety of leadership and ministry positions at St. Giles. As a complementarian church that holds the historic Biblical view of gender, we hold that the offices of pastors, elders, and deacons are reserved for men. (Ephesians 5, 1 Timothy 2-3, Titus 1).
Charismatic
“Charismatic” means that we believe God still speaks to people personally and guides us day by day. He’s not just up in heaven, but with us here and now. Part of His Presence and guidance comes through what Scripture calls “the gifts of the Spirit”. Those gifts, though given to individuals, still are most faithfully expressed within the context of a committed community, under the authority of loving leadership, and add no new revelation to the Truth of Scripture. Essentially, we believe that God still does miracles and that he uses ordinary people to do so. Our belief in the Presence of God through His Holy Spirit also means that our worship services are dynamic, warm, and faith filled. (“Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed . . . to each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good”, 1 Corinthians 12:1, 7).