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First of all we are an interdenominational church. We are incorporated as an “interdenominational community church.” We are not a denominational church. We come from various churches. We respect each others’ traditions. We value each others’ differences. We embrace Richard Baxter’s admonition: In essentials unity; in nonessentials liberty; in all things charity. What makes us unique is our interdenominational character. In a world of many differences, we value being together to celebrate our essential unity in Christ, and to cooperate in a common mission. We are enriched by the contributions of each denominational tradition, the emphases of each theological perspective, and the personal gifts of each member. No one can be considered an outsider. No one can claim more authority for one tradition over another. We each bring who we are and what we have and offer them to the service of Christ. This is a special gift in a world in which some people claim to speak with more authority than others, and by so doing shut others out. We are independent of outside interference but we are also respectful of our denominational heritage.

Secondly, we are an adult church. We are composed of faithful people who are adult learners. At this stage in our lives we are committed to excellence in everything we do. We are old enough to have acquired some wisdom and experience; and realistic enough, to know how little we know. We are adult seekers, filled with curiosity, and appreciative of all that it valuable in this world. Therefore we want to settle for nothing less than fine music and preaching, stimulating classes and genuine fellowship. We want to give to worthy causes, and we want our talents to count for the Gospel. Because our time on earth is precious we don’t want to waste it on trivial pursuits. We are especially called to provide appropriate pastoral care and spiritual nurture to those encountering the challenges of aging. We are a community that shares in suffering, can courageously prepare for the transition of death, and find power and hope in the future life. We want to continue to grow in grace, to be transformed more and more into the likeness of Christ, and to be inwardly renewed day by day for the eternal glory that is to come in the resurrection. We want to finish well. This is a special vocation with which we are entrusted.

Thirdly, we are a Great Commandment church. We are committed to fulfilling the command of Jesus to love the Lord our God with all our heart, and with all our soul, and with all our mind; and to love our neighbor as ourselves. (Matthew 22:37,38) To love means to serve God and our neighbors. We know that we show our love to God by doing what he says (John 14:15). That is why we study the teachings of Christ. Since love is the fulfilling of the commandments (Romans 13:10) we study all the Holy Scriptures. We have a high view of the revelation and inspiration of the written Word of God, and we value its exposition in the pulpit and our discussion of its application in our classes. We meditate on it in our daily devotions. Our goal is to learn how to love God and our neighbor more. We love God in our worship, which is extremely important to us. We love others by giving generously to support the mission of the Chapel through its activities and the outreach program. We love one another by affirming and encouraging one another in all the seasons of life. We love one another by caring for and responding to the needs of each other. We love one another by celebrating our joys, and sympathizing with our sorrows.

Fourthly, we are a Great Commission Church. Jesus has commissioned his followers “to go out and train everyone you meet in this way of life, marking them for baptism and instructing them in the practice of all I commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19) He promised that he would be with us as we do this, day after day. Our constitution states that the Chapel is a ‘potentially powerful means of service in this immediate and worldwide community,’ and that each member is ‘a minister, each a missionary.’ We are outward looking, seeking to introduce others to the fellowship and knowledge of Jesus Christ as the Savior of the world. We seek to fulfill God’s intention for the wholeness of each person and the whole of humanity by sharing our faith in Christ. Through our witness and service we desire that others will find fullness of life through Christ. While we do not expect everyone to be in the same place in their spiritual pilgrimage, or require that everyone has to agree about everything, we are united in our belief in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and the Savior of all of us sinners. We receive and depend upon him alone for salvation as he is offered in the Gospel. We are resolved, in humble reliance upon the grace of the Holy Spirit, that we will endeavor to live as becomes the followers of Christ, and so commend him to others. We are committed, not only to proclaim the Gospel, but to live the Gospel.