Our Beliefs
Our core beliefs are summarized by the Apostles Creed:
I believe in God the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary,
who suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried,
descended into hell, rose again from the dead on the third day,
ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty,
who will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary,
who suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried,
descended into hell, rose again from the dead on the third day,
ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty,
who will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to Pastor Jon HERE.
While different than our beliefs articulated above, we try to hold (open palmed) onto the Quaker distinctives that have marked our church family from the earliest days.
Simplicity
An early Quaker, John Woolman, put it like this: ‘live simply, that others may simply live’. Early Quakers felt they should live simply, tending to real needs and avoiding luxuries. They were aware of the poverty around them, and that resources needed to be shared. For Quakers in the affluent West today, simplicity of lifestyle is hard. But the testimony is there to challenge us.
Peace and Nonviolence
From the earliest days, Quakers have been committed to conscientious objection. For many, war is never appropriate, and joining the military was unacceptable. Echoing this sentiment, Shane Claiborne is quoted as saying, "When Jesus says to love your enemies, I am pretty sure that means 'Don't kill them!'" While there are many things that complicate this in our day and age, the testimony remains to challenge us.
Integrity and Truth
Quakers have always been clear that honesty in all their dealings was fundamental. Early Quaker artisans and shopkeepers soon acquired a reputation for honesty and fair prices. Their integrity was a key factor in their great success in business and banking in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Community
This is fundamentally about responding to the needs of others. The last few years have reminded us that there is still a lot of work to do for those who continue to suffer from injustice and oppression. Jesus calls His church to be on the front lines of caring for the marginalized, lifting up the widow, the orphan, and the stranger.
Equality
From early in their existence, Quakers held that since there was that of God in everyone, all must be treated equally - men and women, master and slave, employer and employee. This plays out in our congregation by seeking to be inclusive and welcoming of all - no matter their colour of skin, gender, sexual orientation, or cultural background.
Stewardship
As image bearers of God, humanity is tasked with caring for the world we inhabit with the same character and love that God has. This encourages the church of Jesus to passionately steward our planet and its resources.
An early Quaker, John Woolman, put it like this: ‘live simply, that others may simply live’. Early Quakers felt they should live simply, tending to real needs and avoiding luxuries. They were aware of the poverty around them, and that resources needed to be shared. For Quakers in the affluent West today, simplicity of lifestyle is hard. But the testimony is there to challenge us.
Peace and Nonviolence
From the earliest days, Quakers have been committed to conscientious objection. For many, war is never appropriate, and joining the military was unacceptable. Echoing this sentiment, Shane Claiborne is quoted as saying, "When Jesus says to love your enemies, I am pretty sure that means 'Don't kill them!'" While there are many things that complicate this in our day and age, the testimony remains to challenge us.
Integrity and Truth
Quakers have always been clear that honesty in all their dealings was fundamental. Early Quaker artisans and shopkeepers soon acquired a reputation for honesty and fair prices. Their integrity was a key factor in their great success in business and banking in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Community
This is fundamentally about responding to the needs of others. The last few years have reminded us that there is still a lot of work to do for those who continue to suffer from injustice and oppression. Jesus calls His church to be on the front lines of caring for the marginalized, lifting up the widow, the orphan, and the stranger.
Equality
From early in their existence, Quakers held that since there was that of God in everyone, all must be treated equally - men and women, master and slave, employer and employee. This plays out in our congregation by seeking to be inclusive and welcoming of all - no matter their colour of skin, gender, sexual orientation, or cultural background.
Stewardship
As image bearers of God, humanity is tasked with caring for the world we inhabit with the same character and love that God has. This encourages the church of Jesus to passionately steward our planet and its resources.
Got Questions?
Have a question about what we believe at PFC? Get in touch with Pastor Jon directly by clicking the button below.