St. Stephen Evangelical Lutheran Church
Southeastern Synod
Through this short writing we would like to introduce St. Stephen;
Who are we?
We are baptized members of the Church of Jesus Christ, responding in faith to the call of the Holy Spirit through the Gospel, desiring to unite together to preach the Word, administer the sacraments, and carry out God's mission in the world.
What do we believe?
This congregation believes in and confesses the Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This congregation confesses Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and the Gospel as the power of God for the salvation of all who believe.
The canonical Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the written Word of God. Inspired by God's Spirit speaking through their authors, they record and announce God's revelation centering in Jesus Christ. Through them God's Spirit speaks to us to create and sustain Christian faith and fellowship for service in the world. This congregation accepts the canonical Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as the inspired Word of God and the authoritative source and norm of its proclamation, faith, and life.
What is the nature of our church?
The Church is a people created by God in Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit, called and sent to bear witness to God's creative, redeeming, and sanctifying activity in the world.
All power in the Church belongs to our Lord Jesus Christ, its head. All actions of this congregation are to be carried out under his rule and authority.
The Church exists both as an inclusive fellowship and as local congregations gathered for worship and Christian service.
This congregation confesses the Gospel, recorded in the Holy Scriptures and confessed in the ecumenical creeds and Lutheran confessional writings, as the power of God to create and sustain the Church for God's mission in the world.
St. Stephen’s statement of purpose
To participate in God's mission, this congregation as a part of the Church shall:
a. Worship God in proclamation of the Word and administration of the sacraments and through lives of prayer, praise, thanksgiving, witness, and service.
b. Proclaim God's saving Gospel of justification by grace for Christ's sake through faith alone, according to the apostolic witness in the Holy Scripture, preserving and transmitting the Gospel faithfully to future generations.
c. Carry out Christ's Great Commission by reaching out to all people to bring them to faith in Christ and by doing all ministries with a global awareness consistent with the understanding of God as Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier of all.
d. Serve in response to God's love to meet human needs, caring for the sick and the aged, advocating dignity and justice for all people, working for peace and reconciliation among the nations, and standing with the poor and powerless, and committing itself to their needs.
e. Nurture its members in the Word of God so as to grow in faith and hope and love, to see daily life as the primary setting for the exercise of their Christian calling, and to use the gifts of the Spirit for their life together and for their calling in the world.
- Manifest the unity given to the people of God by living together in the love of Christ and by joining with other Christians in prayer and action to express and preserve the unity, which the Spirit gives.
To fulfill these purposes, this congregation; provides services of worship at which the Word of God is preached and the sacraments are administered. We also provide pastoral care and assist all members to participate in this ministry. Challenge, equip, and support all members in carrying out their calling in their daily lives and in their congregation. Teach the Word of God. Witness to the reconciling Word of God in Christ, reaching out to all people. Respond to human need, work for justice and peace, care for the sick and the suffering, and participate responsibly in society. Motivate our members to provide financial support for the congregation's ministry and the ministry of other parts of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Foster and participate in interdependent relationships with other congregations, the synod, and the church wide organization of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Foster and participate in ecumenical relationships consistent with church wide policy.
How do you become a member?
Here at St. Stephen membership is seen as getting into a living relationship with Christ both personally and corporately with the body of Christ. Therefore whenever a person makes a confession to get into a committed relationship with Christ through this body of Christ we commit to minister to that person and bring that person to a life style of a disciple, a person who is constantly learning and serving at the same time.
The procedure is simple; periodically the church offers Discipleship 101 class, this class is offered to introduce new members to the church, and to the basic principles of discipleship. Once that introduction is done the new members are asked to adopt a lifestyle of discipleship, which is getting connected to the many learning opportunities made available here at the church and getting involved in the ministry of the church.