The statements of faith presented below represents two of the several Mennonite denominations that have contributed to the creation of CMU.
The first statement of faith is that of the Mennonite Church Canada, which is one of CMU's supporting constituencies. The second is that of the Manitoba Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches which is another CMU supporting constituency.
The following is a summary of the Confession of Faith in a Mennonite Perspective. The full text of the Confession can be obtained from CMU.
We believe
in God, the holy and ever-living
God of love,
in Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world,
and in the Holy Spirit, who empowers lives of faith.
We believe
that God created the universe
and pronounced it good,
that humanity has chosen to sin,
that God offers salvation from sin
and a new way of life to all people.
We believe
that the faithful church
remains under the authority of the scriptures,
that the church is the new community of disciples, the Body
of Christ,
sent into the world to proclaim the reign of God,
that the church is called to become ever more like Christ
in its worship, witness, mutual love, care, and the ordering
of its common life.
We believe
that we are empowered
through God’s grace and Spirit
to take up our cross and follow Jesus.
We believe that following Jesus means
to preach the good news of salvation
to practice stewardship of money and possessions
to give full allegiance to Christ
to care for the earth
to celebrate a day of holy rest
to make peace and do justice
to show compassion
to reconcile.
We believe
that God rules over the
universe in wisdom, patience, and justice
though creation has not yet recognized God’s rule.
We look forward to the coming of a new heaven and a new
earth, and seek to live now according to the model of the
future reign of God.
This is our hope.
This is our faith.
The following is an overview of the Mennonite Brethren Confession of Faith, the full text of which can be obtained at CMU.
1.
God
We believe in the one true God, the source of all life,
who reigns over all things as Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
and who lovingly cares for all creation. God the Father
planned the redemption of humanity and sent Jesus Christ
the Son to be the Savior of the world. Jesus proclaimed
the reign of God, bringing good news to the poor and triumphing
over sin through His obedient life, death, and resurrection.
God the Holy Spirit empowers believers with new life, indwells
them, and unites them in one body.
2.
Revelation of God
We believe God has made Himself known to all people. Beginning
with creation and culminating in Jesus Christ, God has revealed
Himself in the Old and New Testaments. All Scripture is
inspired by God, and is the authoritative guide for faith
and practice. We interpret the Scripture in the church community
as guided by the Holy Spirit.
3.
Creation and Humanity
We believe God created the heavens and the earth, and they
were good. Humans, God’s crowning act, were created
in the image of God. Sin has alienated humanity from the
Creator and creation, but God offers redemption and reconciliation
through Jesus Christ.
4.
Sin and Evil
We believe sin is individual and corporate opposition to
God’s good purposes and leads to physical and spiritual
death.
5.
Salvation
We believe God saves all people who put their faith in Jesus
Christ. By His obedient life, sacrificial death and victorious
resurrection, Christ delivers people from the tyranny of
sin and death and redeems them for eternal life in the age
to come. All creation eagerly awaits its liberation from
bondage into the freedom of the glory of God’s children.
6.
Nature of the Church
We believe the church is the covenant community called by
God through Jesus Christ to live a life of discipleship
and witness as empowered by the Holy Spirit. The local church
gathers regularly for worship, fellowship and accountability,
and to discern, develop and exercise gifts for ministry.
7.
Mission of the Church
We believe the mission of the church is to make disciples
of all nations by calling people to repent, to be baptized,
and to love God and neighbor by sharing the good news and
doing acts of love and compassion.
8.
Christian Baptism
We believe baptism by water is a public sign that a person
has repented of sin, received forgiveness, died with Christ
and has been raised to new life through the power of the
Holy Spirit. Baptism is also a public declaration of a believer’s
incorporation into the body of Christ as expressed in the
local church.
9.
Lord’s Supper
We believe that in obedience to Christ, the church observes
the Lord’s Supper as a remembrance of His atoning death
and to celebrate forgiveness, new life, and the fellowship
and unity of all believers.
10.
Discipleship
We believe Jesus calls people who have experienced the new
birth to follow Him in a costly life of service to God.
The power of the Holy Spirit transforms believers from the
unrighteous pattern of the present age into a life of joyful
obedience with God’s people.
11.
Marriage, Singleness and Family
We believe that singleness and marriage are honored by God
and should be blessed by the church. God instituted marriage
as a lifelong covenant between a man and a woman for the
purpose of companionship, encouragement, sexual intimacy,
and procreation. Children are a gift from God and should
be nurtured by parents in the ways of God.
12.
Society and State
We believe that God instituted the state to promote justice
and to maintain law and order. Christians’ primary
allegiance is to Christ’s kingdom. Believers are called
to witness against injustice, exercise social responsibility,
and obey all laws that do not conflict with the Word of
God.
13.
Love and Nonresistance
We believe that God in Christ reconciles people to Himself
and to one another, making peace through the cross. We seek
to be agents of reconciliation, to practice love of enemies,
and to express Christ’s love by alleviating suffering,
reducing strife, and promoting justice. Because violence
and warfare are contrary to the gospel of Christ, we believe
that we are called to give alternative service in times
of war.
14.
The Sanctity of Human Life
We believe that God is creator and giver of life, and highly
values each person. Procedures designed to take human life
are wrong. We oppose all attitudes which devalue human life,
especially the defenseless lives of the unborn, disabled,
poor, ageing and dying.
15.
Stewardship
We believe the universe and everything in it belong to God
the Creator and that we have been entrusted by God to manage
its resources. All God’s gifts, including money, time,
abilities and influence, are to be received with thanksgiving,
used responsibly, and shared generously.
16.
The Lord’s Day, Work and Rest
We believe God’s act of creation provides the model
for work and rest. In work, we use our abilities to glorify
God and serve others. In rest, we express thanks for God’s
provision and trust in God’s sustaining grace. In worship,
we gather to commemorate the resurrection through worship,
instruction, fellowship, and service.
17.
Christianity and Other Faiths
We believe God’s atoning work in Jesus is the only
means of reconciling people with God. God has not left any
without a witness to the Creator’s goodness and power.
Christians treat people of other faiths with respect, but
urgently proclaim Christ as the only way of salvation.
18.
Christ’s Final Triumph
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ will return triumphantly
at the end of this age to destroy all evil powers, condemn
all who have rejected Christ to eternal punishment, and
unite believers with Christ to reign forever with God in
glory
