Stillwater Community Chapel Mission/Purpose Statement (adopted December 2025)
Stillwater Community Chapel is a body of believers in Christ commissioned by the Holy Spirit to demonstrate the Father's love by sharing Jesus, strengthening believers and serving others. (Acts 14:21-23; Matthew 28:18-20).
Our general invitation is "Come as you are and hear about Jesus!"
Stillwater Community Chapel Covenant (adopted October 2025)
I, ________________________________________________________, who have responded with repentance and belief to the grace of God through the saving faith offered by Jesus’ death and resurrection (Ephesians 2:8-9), covenant (a voluntary binding agreement) with others of this same response who gather as the church body known as Stillwater Community Chapel to strive and be accountable to our Lord’s instruction found in the words of Scripture which are inspired by the Holy Spirit for teaching, reproof, correction and training in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16-17). These actions are to be offered in grace to one another (Ephesians 4:1-3) and following the example of the head of the church, our Lord Jesus Christ (Colossians 1:15-20).
I covenant to:
• Love one another. (John 13:34-35; 15:12, 17; Romans 12:10; 13:8; 1 Thessalonians 3:12; 4:9-10; 1 Peter 1:22; 4:8; 1 John 3:11, 23; 4:7, 11-12; 2 John 1:5)
• Be in fellowship with one another. (1 John 1:7) Which also includes greeting one another (1 Corinthians 16:20), welcoming one another (Romans 15:7), and showing hospitality to one another (1 Peter 4:9).
• Encourage one another. (Hebrews 10:24) Which also includes building one another up (1 Thessalonians 5:11), comforting one another (2 Corinthians 13:11), and stirring up one another to love and good works (Hebrews 10:24).
• Honor one another. (Romans 12:10) Which also includes not speaking against one another (James 4:11), not provoking one another (Galatians 5:26), not envying one another (Galatians 5:26), and not passing judgement upon another (Romans 14:13).
• Speak the Truth to one another. (Ephesians 4:25; Colossians 3:9) Which also includes exhorting one another (Hebrews 3:13), instructing one another (Romans 15:14), and teaching and admonishing one another (Colossians 3:16).
• Serve one another. (Galatians 5:13; 1 Peter 4:10) Which also includes being kind to one another (Ephesians 4:32), bearing with one another (Colossians 3:13), bearing one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2), caring for one another (1 Corinthians 12:25), doing good to one another (1 Thessalonians 5:15), washing one another’s feet (John 13:14), and waiting for one another (1 Corinthians 11:33).
• Pray for one another. (James 5:16) Which also includes agreeing with one another (2 Corinthians 13:11), and singing to one another (Ephesians 5:19).
• And live in harmony with one another. (Romans 12:16; 15:5) Which also includes being at peace with one another (Mark 9:50), forgiving one another (Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:13), confessing sins to one another (James 5:16), being humble toward one another (1 Peter 5:5), and submitting to one another (Ephesians 5:21).
I understand that if I am exhibiting the negative of any of these God given “one another’s” that I am out of step with God’s will and will seek repentance (a turning back to God’s standard) following 1) the words of God (2 Timothy 3:16-17), 2) the guidance of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 5:23-24; John 16:13), and 3) the loving discipline of my church family (Matthew 18:15-17). This corrective action back to God’s standard is for the benefit of the whole and myself.
I will strive to love God with all my heart, soul, mind and strength and to love my neighbor as myself thus fulfilling the two greatest commands of Christ (Matthew 22:36-40) and participate, led by the Holy Spirit, in the Great Commission to go and proclaim a risen and coming Lord (Matthew 28:18-20).
I also will be supportive of this church family by being devoted to: (Acts 2:42-47)
• The teaching and applying of God’s word, privately and corporately.
• The worship of Christ alone as the way, the truth and the life.
• The practice of prayer, privately and corporately.
• The gathering of the saved on a regular weekly basis.
• The service of others using my resources, talents, and spiritual gifts.
Signature: ________________________________ Date: ______________________
Stillwater Community Chapel Statement of Faith (adopted April 2026)
(adopted from the EFCA Statement of Faith, 2019)
God
1. We believe in one God, Creator of all things, holy, infinitely perfect, and eternally existing in
a loving unity of three equally divine Persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Having
limitless knowledge and sovereign power, God has graciously purposed from eternity to redeem
a people for Himself and to make all things new for His own glory.
The Bible
2. We believe that God has spoken in the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, through the
words of human authors. As the verbally inspired Word of God, the Bible is without error in the
original writings, the complete revelation of His will for salvation, and the ultimate authority by
which every realm of human knowledge and endeavor should be judged. Therefore, it is to be
believed in all that it teaches, obeyed in all that it requires, and trusted in all that it promises.
The Human Condition
3. We believe that God created Adam and Eve in His image, but they sinned when tempted by
Satan. In union with Adam, human beings are sinners by nature and by choice, alienated from
God, and under His wrath. Only through God’s saving work in Jesus Christ can we be rescued,
reconciled and renewed.
Jesus Christ
4. We believe that Jesus Christ is God incarnate, fully God and fully man, one Person in two
natures. Jesus—Israel's promised Messiah—was conceived through the Holy Spirit and born of
the virgin Mary. He lived a sinless life, was crucified under Pontius Pilate, arose bodily from the
dead, ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father as our High Priest and
Advocate.
The Work of Christ
5. We believe that Jesus Christ, as our representative and substitute, shed His blood on the cross
as the perfect, all-sufficient sacrifice for our sins. His atoning death and victorious resurrection
constitute the only ground for salvation.
The Holy Spirit
6. We believe that the Holy Spirit, in all that He does, glorifies the Lord Jesus Christ. He
convicts the world of its guilt. He regenerates sinners, and in Him they are baptized into union
with Christ and adopted as heirs in the family of God. He also indwells, illuminates, guides,
equips and empowers believers for Christ-like living and service.
The Church
7. We believe that the true church comprises all who have been justified by God's grace through
faith alone in Christ alone. They are united by the Holy Spirit in the body of Christ, of which He
is the Head. The true church is manifest in local churches, whose membership should be
composed only of believers. The Lord Jesus mandated two ordinances, baptism and the Lord’s
Supper, which visibly and tangibly express the gospel. Though they are not the means of
salvation, when celebrated by the church in genuine faith, these ordinances confirm and nourish
the believer.
Christian Living
8. We believe that God's justifying grace must not be separated from His sanctifying power and
purpose. God commands us to love Him supremely and others sacrificially, and to live out our
faith with care for one another, compassion toward the poor and justice for the oppressed. With
God’s Word, the Spirit’s power, and fervent prayer in Christ’s name, we are to combat the
spiritual forces of evil. In obedience to Christ’s commission, we are to make disciples among all
people, always bearing witness to the gospel in word and deed.
Christ’s Return
9. We believe in the personal, bodily and glorious return of our Lord Jesus Christ. The coming
of Christ, at a time known only to God, demands constant expectancy and, as our blessed hope,
motivates the believer to godly living, sacrificial service and energetic mission.
Response and Eternal Destiny
10. We believe that God commands everyone everywhere to believe the gospel by turning to
Him in repentance and receiving the Lord Jesus Christ. We believe that God will raise the dead
bodily and judge the world, assigning the unbeliever to condemnation and eternal conscious
punishment and the believer to eternal blessedness and joy with the Lord in the new heaven and
the new earth, to the praise of His glorious grace. Amen.
Stillwater Community Chapel Important Statements (adopted 2/6/2026)
Final Authority for Matters of Belief and Conduct
Our statement of faith does not exhaust the extend of our beliefs. The Bible itself, as the inspired and infallible Word of God that speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of mankind, is the sole and final source of all that we believe. For purposes of the Stillwater Community Chapel’s faith, doctrine, practice, policy, and discipline, our board of elders is Stillwater Community Chapel’s final interpretative authority following its constitution and bylaw guidelines on the Bible’s meaning and application.
Statement on the Sanctity of Human Life
We believe that all human life is sacred and created by God in His image. All human life, from conception to natural death - including pre-born babies, the aged, the physically or mentally challenged - hold immeasurable value and dignity. We are therefore called to defend, protect, and value all human life (Genesis 1:26-27, 9:6; Psalm 139; Matthew 9:36, 14:14, 18:1-6).
Statement on Biblical Marriage
We believe that the term “marriage” has only one meaning: the uniting of one biological male ("man") and one biological female ("woman") in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture.
We believe that marriage between one man and one woman, for life, uniquely reflects one of the most sacred truths in our faith: Christ's relationship with His Church
We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to occur only exclusively between a man and a woman who are married to each other, and that no sexual activity should take place outside this marital union.
Because God ordained marriage and defined it as the covenant relationship between a man, a woman, and Himself, the Stillwater Community Chapel will only recognize marriages between one biological male and one biological female. Finally, because the blessing of marriage is a worship service to the Lord, the facilities and property of the Stillwater Community Chapel shall only host with the elder team's approval a wedding ordained and defined by God in His scriptures. (Genesis 2:18-25; Ephesians 5:21-33; 1 Corinthians 6:18; 7:2-5; Hebrews 13:4).
Statement on Biblical Sexuality
We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female. These two distinct, complementary sexes together reflect the image and nature of God. Rejection of one's biological sex is a rejection of the image of God within that person. (Genesis 1:26-27).
We believe that any form of sexual immorality (such as adultery, fornication, cohabitation, homosexual behavior, rejection of one's biological sex, use of pornography, etc.) is sinful and offensive to God. (Matthew 15:18-20; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10).
We believe that God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. (Acts 3:19-21; Romans 10:9-10; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11).
We believe that every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity. Hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual are to be repudiated and are not in accord with Scripture nor the doctrines of the ministry. (Mark 12:28-31; Luke 6:31; 1 John 3:14-15; Ephesians 4:31).
Because of our God created person hood, male or female, we will use our church facilities (property, rented facilities and all other ministry locations) in accordance with each person's created sex. This means that all persons using our assigned biological sex accommodations (e.g. restrooms) must do so according to their God created person hood.