All Souls' Church Statements
This section contains the Mission Statement of the church and of some of the key boards of the church. Click on the link to go to the section that refers to any particular statement. Included are:
- Mission Statement of the Church (or Object of the Church as established in the Bylaws of the Church)
- Polity Statement of the Church
- Doctrine of the Church
- Covenant of the Church
- Mission Statement for Benevolence
- Mission Statement of the Board of Christian Education
The mission of this Church is to bind together Christian people for the purpose of sharing in the worship of God and in making the will of God dominant in the lives of all persons, individually and collectively, especially as that will is set forth in the life, teachings, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
1. Jesus Christ is the head of this Church, which finds in Holy Scriptures, interpreted by the aid of the Divine Spirit through reason, faith and conscience, its guidance in matters of faith and discipline.
2. The government of this Church is vested in its members who exercise the right of control in all its affairs, subject in legal matters to the laws of the State of Maine.
3. While this Church is amenable to no ecclesiastical judicatory, it accepts the obligations of mutual council, amity and cooperation involved in the free fellowship of the United Church of Christ (UCC), and pledges itself to share in its common aims and work. [ Dr. Haddix is on the national steering committee of a movement within the UCC that affirms the historical Christian belief in Jesus Christ as risen Lord and Savior. Here is a pastoral letter to All Souls Church on a UCC campaign.]
1. This Church recognizes the Bible as the sufficient rule of faith and practice, and holds that living in accordance with the teachings of Jesus Christ exemplifies true fellowship.
2. All our members shall have the right to follow the Word of God according to the dictates of their own conscience, under the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit.
We are united in striving to know the will of God as taught in the Holy Scriptures, and in our purpose to walk in the ways of the Lord made known or to be made known to us.
We hold it to be the mission of the Church of Christ to proclaim the Gospel to all, exalt the worship of the One true God, and labor for the progress of knowledge, the promotion of justice, the reign of peace, and a world where God's love binds us together as members of one body.
Depending, as did our forebears, upon the continued guidance of the Holy Spirit to lead us into all truth, we work and pray for the transformation of the world into the Kingdom of God and we look with faith for the triumph of righteousness and the life everlasting.
(Adapted from the statement of faith set forth by the National Council of Congregational Churches at Kansas City in 1913.)
Benevolence Mission Statement - The Congregational Tradition
In the Congregational tradition, the church is the people. Our building is a "meetinghouse" and the people gathering in the building are the "church". The church, as an institution, equips the people for the Christian work, and receives the bounty of their spiritual harvest. As an institution, the church extends our individual reach and witness but does not replace it. Each individual Christian must be a person with a mission, which is to follow Christ. We are responsible individually and collectively to follow the commands of Jesus and bear witness to the Kingdom of God.
The function of the church is twofold: worship and mission. Worship is central to the Christian community. Worship reminds us of the supremacy of God who creates all things and seeks, through Jesus Christ, to redeem his creatures. Worship also keeps us aware of Jesus' commands and empowers us to live following Jesus' example.
The Church's mission, which grows out of worship, is to make new disciples, to baptize and to teach Christian principles. The sacrificial acts of Christians living out their faith form the body of Christ and thus further Christ's mission in the world. Jesus tells us clearly what some of these acts must be: "For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me." Matt. 25:35-36
The conclusion of this mission is to move others to "give glory" to God, that is, to come to know and worship Him.
Consideration for the Benevolence Budget:
1. The benevolence budget should advance the goals of making new Christians and meeting the needs of the poor and the marginalized.
2. The benevolence budget should be calculated as a percentage of annual giving. A goal of at least 15% of total annual giving has been suggested as realistic and reasonable.
3. Each item in the benevolence budget should be reviewed annually in order to justify continued giving.
Based on Scripture and Congregational history and tradition, specific areas of mission may be delineated:
1. All Souls Church supports institutions and organizations that serve in making new Christians, baptizing, and teaching Christian principles in the Congregational tradition. Matthew 28:19-20: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
2. All Souls Church supports institutions and organizations which provide for the needs of the poor or marginalized segments of society, both Christian and non-Christian. James 2:14-18: "What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but have no works. Can faith save you? If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace; keep warm and eat your full,' and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? So faith, by itself, if it has no works, is dead."
3. All Souls Church provides willing hands and feet, people giving of themselves with personal involvement and individual contributions as an expression of Christian love. Timothy 6:17-19: "As for those who in the present are rich, command them not to be haughty, or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but rather on God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, ready to share, thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life."
Mission Statement of the All Souls Board of Christian Education
Preamble, Psalm 78:3-7 (NIV): "What we have heard and known, what our fathers have told us, we will not hide from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, His power and the wonders he has done. He decreed statues for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our forefathers to teach their children, so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children. Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands."
The mission of the Board of Christian Education, being comprised of members of All Souls Congregational Church, is to provide opportunities for members and friends to be educated in all aspects of the Christian faith.
Statement of Purpose of the All Souls Board of Christian Education:
The purpose of providing education for members, youth, and friends of All Souls Church includes increasing knowledge of Scripture, church history, doctrines, spiritual disciplines such as prayer, fasting and devotions, encouraging the practical application of our faith in daily living, and nurturing the young people of this community in their development of personal character.
Date of Last Update: 12/30/06