Statement of Faith

We believe the Bible, consisting of the Old and New Testaments, to be the inerrant word of God and the only infallible rule of faith and practice.

We believe that our one, triune God exists eternally in three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, who are all alike to be worshipped and glorified.

We believe that all people are sinners in need of salvation, and are all alike, incapable of doing anything to earn or merit God’s mercy or favor.

We believe that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.

We believe that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, died on the cross as an atoning sacrifice for our sins and that there is no salvation for anyone apart from faith in him.

We believe that true, saving faith is always accompanied by new life in Christ, which includes repentance and good works.

We believe that Jesus Christ will return unexpectedly, with glory, to judge both the living and those who have died. All of those who have put their trust in him will be raised to heaven and eternal blessing, but all of those who have not accepted Christ as Savior and Lord will be raised to eternal condemnation.

We believe, therefore, that it is a matter of great urgency to put our own faith in Jesus Christ and to gently and respectfully preach Christ to every person under heaven until that day.

Creeds & Doctrines

Church in the Canyon is a Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) member church. Among other things, this means that we are both confessional and connectional in our beliefs and practices.

As a confessional church, we believe that the Westminster Confession of Faith and the Westminster Larger and Shorter Catechisms contain a faithful summary of biblical doctrine. As such these are an invaluable help to us in studying and applying the scriptures, but we nonetheless insist that the scriptures of the Old and New Testament are “the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy [God].” We also use both the Apostles’ and Nicene Creeds in worship as a means of affirming the historic, Christian faith with countless other Christians from across the centuries and around the globe.

We are also a connectional church. As a Presbyterian church, we believe that our church is accountable to the regional church–the presbytery. Although our church is led by elders and deacons who are elected by the congregation, we are persuaded that the most Biblical model for the church involves the kind of humble participation and even submission to the larger body of Christ that we see in Acts 15.

As a confessional and connectional church, it is our deep desire to be a church where the Lord Jesus is both known and made known–where we are all called into closer fellowship with him and commissioned to go out into the world as witnesses to his resurrection.