Our Beliefs and Values

Beliefs and values are two important concepts that fall at the center of the Christian faith. They keep us grounded, and ultimately lead us closer to God. Many of our beliefs and values align with that of other Christians, Protestants, and specific parts of the Presbytery, while others reflect the way members of FPC see God working in our lives. Together, we allow our beliefs and values to shape our mission of remaining rooted in Jesus, growing in His love, and branching out to serve others!

Putting Our Beliefs into Perspective

The Presbyterian faith has complex layers, even within the denomination itself. As with most religions, we can trace back our earliest beliefs to that of the followers of Jesus in the Bible. From there, more beliefs came out of the reformation where the Protestant church split off the Church of England. Presbyterians also differ from other Protestants when it comes to certain values and governing systems within the church. 


Open each section below to understand where our beliefs stand in comparison to that of other denominations.

    • Trinity - that God is One: Father, Son and Holy Spirit
    • Incarnation - that Christ is fully divine and fully human  
    • As a Confessional Church, we also hold to the declarations of faith found in The Apostles' Creed and Nicene Creed. 
    • Salvation is by grace alone.
    • Scripture is our sole guide for faith and practice.
    • The sovereignty of God.  God is ultimately in charge of all things.
    • The election of God's people for His service.  We did not choose God but He first chose us.
    • The covenant (agreement) initiated by God which binds us to each other and to God.
    • The stewardship of all creation.  We are accountable for how we invest ourselves in the work of God's Kingdom.
    • The reality of sin in all people.  We are all flawed and broken.  Only God is perfect and without error.

Living in the Tension of the Presbyterian Church (USA)

While we continue to be a part of the PC(USA) and actively participate in the mission of The Presbytery of Western Colorado, we have agreed to disagree on various positions within our denomination. We joined with The Fellowship of Presbyterians in 2012. After much discussion and prayer, we humbly made our position on same-sex marriage (Marriage Statement) clear in 2015. Our elders, deacons and pastors all stand together in the vows (Ordination Vows) we take as leaders, knowing that we do not have full understanding about a number of issues but still need to lead with clarity.

Deciding Values

Since 2007, FPC has been guided by the values crafted, committed to and communicated regularly with our church family.  We seek to embrace these in all we do, plan and carry out together.  We share these values with those who attend our Connections Class, admit we have yet to fully embody them, and know there are other God-honoring values we haven't included.  Each of these impact how we live out God's call to be The Church.

Foundational Values

Who We Hope to Be

  • Christ-Centered

    Christ is the firm foundation upon which we build our lives. As we focus on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we see more clearly God's plan for us to be forgiven and reconciled to Him.  When we are influenced by external and internal factors, it is Christ through the Holy Spirit who calls us back to His way, His truth, and His life.

  • Missional

    God calls us to action. As we strengthen one another in the body of Christ, we seek to become God's hands, feet, and voice in our community and world.

  • Loving

    God calls us to love as he loves: unconditionally, patiently, and graciously. As His followers we believe that loving God and loving others in genuine and consistent ways is more important than worldly success.

  • Biblical

    We believe all scripture is the inspired Word of God that dynamically bears witness to Christ and points us in His direction. Both Old and New Testaments tell the grand story of who God is and who we are called to be. We seek not only to understand God's Word, but to be transformed in our everyday lives through prayer and study.

Ministry Values

How We Strive to Do Ministry

  • Relational

    God calls us to leave behind our isolated lives and covenant with others in Christian community.  As deep-rooted relationships develop, we engage more fully with God, who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

  • Creative

    With innovation and energy, we carry out mission and ministry in ways which touch the heart, soul, and mind.  Using multiple methods, we communicate the unchanging biblical message in an ever-changing world.

  • Effective Leadership

    God calls men and women to be His servant leaders and works through them to help others discover their God-given potential.  We encourage leaders to become enthusiastic, thoughtful, and adventurous.  We are committed to recognizing, developing, and equipping people to carry out ministries that bear fruit for God's glory.

  • Gift-Based

    By grace, the Holy Spirit gives each follower of Christ differing abilities to be used in God's service.  We believe everyone has a purpose which only he or she can fulfill.  As believers, we use our talents and work together to carry out God's mission.