Beliefs | EPC

— What We Believe —

We recognize this question can come from a variety of individuals all with different backgrounds and experiences.

The EPC has several documents with different purposes that guide our family of churches and outline what we believe.

1: THE ESSENTIALS

The Essentials are simply statements that summarize the fundamental beliefs shared by Christians around the world. This document is not comprehensive of everything we believe, but rather it shows our unity with all of God’s church of all time. These are things that Christians have proclaimed for centuries. At the EPC, we believe all of the Essentials without exception. You can read the Essentials in full by clicking the button below.

CORE TRUTHS

BIBLE IS THE FOUNDATION

7 STATEMENTS OF BELIEF

READ THE ESSENTIALS

2: WESTMINSTER CONFESSION OF FAITH

We recognize that individuals committed to the Essentials of the faith might have different approaches to “non-essential” items. So, if you were to visit an EPC church on any given Sunday, what should you expect to hear as the pastor preaches a sermon, or what are the more detailed beliefs of the leadership of an EPC church?

This is where The Westminster Confession of Faith comes in. EPC pastors and the other leaders of the church (called Ruling Elders) take a vow when they are approved as leaders that they “receive and adopt the Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms as containing the system of doctrine taught in the Scriptures.” In the simplest of terms, the EPC believes the Westminster Confession is a document that does an excellent job of explaining what the Bible teaches and our leaders have adopted these views as being what Scripture is teaching.

For those wanting to go even deeper, you might find helpful an EPC approved resource entitled, What It Means to Receive and Adopt the Westminster Confession of Faith.

You can read the Westminster Confession in full by clicking on the button below.

crEATED IN 1640'S AT THE WESTMINSTER ASSEMBLY

clear & thorough statement of christian belief

Historic cornerstone for presbyterian doctrine

READ WCF

2: WESTMINSTER CONFESSION OF FAITH

We recognize that individuals committed to the Essentials of the faith might have different approaches to “non-essential” items. So, if you were to visit an EPC church on any given Sunday, what should you expect to hear as the pastor preaches a sermon, or what are the more detailed beliefs of the leadership of an EPC church?

This is where The Westminster Confession of Faith comes in. EPC pastors and the other leaders of the church (called Ruling Elders) take a vow at their ordination that they “receive and adopt the Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms as containing the system of doctrine taught in the Scriptures.” In the simplest of terms, the EPC believes the Westminster Confession is a document that does an excellent job of explaining what the Bible teaches and our leaders have adopted these views as being what Scripture is teaching.

For those wanting to go even deeper, you might find helpful an EPC approved resource entitled, What It Means to Receive and Adopt the Westminster Confession of Faith.

You can read the Westminster Confession in full by clicking on the button below.

crEATED IN 1640'S AT THE WESTMINSTER ASSEMBLY

clear & thorough statement of christian belief

Historic cornerstone for presbyterian doctrine

READ WCF

3: WESTMINSTER LARGER AND SHORTER CATECHISMS

Finally, we have the Westminster Larger and Shorter Catechisms. A catechism is a term we might consider in our days as a Q&A document. A question is asked and then an answer is given. It is a teaching tool that helps clearly define what we believe.

While in the EPC we typically group these catechisms with the Westminster Confession of Faith (above), it might be helpful to talk about them separately here for those new to these things.

The two catechisms are the Larger and Shorter. You might think of them this way:

The Westminster Larger Catechism is a detailed instructional tool designed for teaching doctrine, particularly to church leaders and adults. These questions often give much longer and detailed answers.

The Westminster Shorter Catechism is a simplified version of the Larger Catechism, often used to educate children and new believers in the basics of Christian faith. These questions often give short and succinct answers.

You can read the Larger and Shorter Catechisms by clicking the buttons below.