We value...UNITY in the body of Christ.
(Eph. 4:1-16; Phil. 2:1-5; Rom. 15:5,6; John 17:21-23)
We hold unity to be a sign of spiritual health in the body of Christ. We unify with each other because we are one with God through our faith commitment to our Lord Jesus Christ and so are one in Spirit (Eph. 4:3, 13). God aims at a unity in wholeness because we all use our spiritual gifts: “to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ” (Eph. 4:12,13).
God requires unity (Rom. 15:5,6; Eph. 4:3,13) Christ wants it so people will see God's love demonstrated and become convinced that God sent Jesus and loves them as He loves Jesus. (John 17:21-23) God blesses it. (Psalm 133). In love, we are bound together (Col. 3:14) seeking the other's good before our own (Phil 2:3,4). We celebrate unity in faith that allows for differences in gender, race, age, income, social or professional status and spiritual giftedness, without sameness. We can differ in opinions or ideas--but not in purpose (Phil. 2:1,2). God is against factions, dissension and divisions (1 Cor. 1:10; Gal. 5:20; Phil. 2:14). We covenant to live in peaceful and cooperative unity with other members of the body of Christ in our own and other congregations or denominations, appreciating the uniqueness and gifts of each. In unity we are committed to live in reconciled relationships with believers and make every effort to restore (Gal. 6:1; 1 Peter 5:10) an individual or relationship. (Matt. 5: 23,24; Col. 3:13; 2 Cor.5:18,19).