Statement of Faith

God

We believe in one God, eternally existing in a loving, joyful unity of three equally divine

Persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The triune God is holy and perfect–the creator

and sustainer of all things. To show forth who He is, God has graciously purposed from eternity

to redeem a people for Himself and to make all things new.

The Bible

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. We seek to trust all that He promises, believe all that He teaches, and obey all that He asks in His written Word.

The Human Condition

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 union with Christ and His saving work can we be

rescued, reconciled and renewed.

Jesus Christ

We believe that Jesus Christ is God incarnate, truly God and truly man, one Person in two

natures. As Israel’s promised Messiah, Jesus 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

We believe that Jesus Christ, as our representative and substitute, lived righteously on our

behalf and 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

We believe that the Holy Spirit, in all that He does, glorifies the Lord Jesus Christ. He convicts the world of sin. 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

We believe that the true church is composed of all who have been justified by God’s grace

through faith alone in Christ alone across lands and history. Although manifested as local

churches, they are united by the Holy Spirit in the body of Christ, of which He is the Head. 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

Through union with Christ, we are justified and sanctified both completely and continuously.

He inflames our affections for Him, which motivates us to love Him supremely and others

sacrificially, 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 combat the spiritual forces of evil. We joyfully take up Christ’s commission to make

disciples among all people, always bearing witness to the gospel in word and deed.

Christ’s Return

We believe in the personal and bodily return of our Lord Jesus Christ. We expectantly look for the coming of Christ, at a time known only to God. The blessed hope of seeing our Savior

motivates us to affectionate godly living, sacrificial service and energetic mission.

Response and Eternal Destiny

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.

*Adapted from the Evangelical Free Church of America (EFCA) statement of faith.

Position Statements of Anchor Church PDX.

Eldership

We believe that Jesus Christ is the head of the Church, and all authority and leadership within the local church flows from His lordship (Ephesians 5:23–25). We believe that each local church is to be led and governed by a plurality of qualified male elders, who are called to shepherd, teach, protect, and oversee the spiritual well-being of the congregation. This model reflects the New Testament pattern and promotes accountability, wisdom in decision-making, and shared leadership under Christ. The role of elder is not one of status or power, but of humble service and spiritual responsibility. Elders are to lead by example, care for the flock, guard against false teaching, and ensure that the church remains faithful to God’s Word and mission. Key Scriptural References: Acts 14:23; Acts 20:26–31; 1 Timothy 3:1–7; 4:14; 5:17, 22; Ephesians 5:23–25; 1 Peter 5:1–4; Acts 13:1–3

Marriage, Gender and Sexuality

We believe that God, in His grace and wisdom, creates every person as either biologically male or female. These two distinct and complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God (Genesis 1:26–27). To reject one’s God-given biological sex is to reject a fundamental aspect of God’s design and image within that person. We affirm that marriage, as instituted by God, is the lifelong covenant union between one biological man and one biological woman. This union is the only biblical context for sexual intimacy. God has commanded that sexual activity be reserved exclusively for marriage between a husband and wife (Genesis 2:24; Hebrews 13:4). Any form of sexual activity outside of this covenant—whether heterosexual or homosexual—is contrary to God’s design. We do not believe that the government, the church, or any individual has the authority to redefine marriage in a way that departs from God’s Word. As such, Anchor Church does not recognize or perform unions or partnerships that do not align with the biblical definition of marriage.

We recognize and honor that some individuals may not experience sexual attraction to the opposite sex or may be called to a life of singleness. These brothers and sisters are encouraged and supported in the biblical calling to celibacy, which is honored by God and affirmed in Scripture (1 Corinthians 7:7–8, 32–35). We are committed to treating every person with love, compassion, dignity, and respect—regardless of their beliefs or personal experiences. Harassment, hatred, or demeaning behavior toward anyone is not in accordance with the teachings of Jesus and will not be tolerated at Anchor Church. In order to preserve the biblical integrity and witness of Anchor Church, we require that all staff members and volunteers agree to and live in alignment with this Statement on Marriage. Gender and Sexuality. This is essential for those who serve to provide a consistent example of biblical teaching to our church body and the surrounding community. Key Scripture References: Genesis 1:26–27; 2:18–25; Matthew 19:4–12; Mark 12:28–31; Luke 6:31; Romans 10:9–10; 1 Corinthians 6:9–11, 18; 7:1–8, 32–38; Philippians 2:14–16; 1 Thessalonians 5:22; Hebrews 13:4; Acts 3:19–21; Isaiah 56:3–5

Complementarianism

We believe that men and women are equal in essence, dignity, and value, having both been created in the image of God. At the same time, we affirm that God designed men and women to be distinct and complementary—each with unique roles and responsibilities that reflect His wisdom and character. These distinctions are for our good and His glory. In the home, we believe biblical headship is modeled after Christ’s sacrificial love for the church (Ephesians 5). Husbands are called to love their wives unconditionally, and wives are called to respect their husbands. This mutual expression of love and respect reflects God's design and order, without implying superiority or inferiority. In the church, both men and women are called to serve, lead, and use their spiritual gifts for the building up of the body (1 Corinthians 12). However, we believe the role of Elder/Pastor is reserved for qualified men, as outlined in Scripture (1 Timothy 2–3; Titus 1). Mixed-gender teaching environments fall under the oversight of the Elders and are to be led by qualified men. Gender-specific environments (such as women’s or men’s ministries) are led by individuals of the same gender.  Women may serve as ministry leaders and may teach in contexts such as women's, youth, and children’s ministries. Key Scripture References: Genesis 2:18–25; 1 Corinthians 12:4–31; Galatians 3:28–29; 1 Timothy 2:8–15; 1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 2:3–5; 1 Peter 3:1–7; Ephesians 5

Spiritual Gifts

We believe that the Holy Spirit graciously gives a variety of spiritual gifts to believers for the purpose of serving the body of Christ, building up the local church, and glorifying God. Scripture compares the church to a physical body—with many different parts working together under the leadership of Christ, the head. In this design, every person plays a vital role and is called to use their God-given gifts for the good of the whole (Romans 12:3–8; 1 Cor. 12). We acknowledge that there are differing views within the broader Christian community regarding the use of spiritual gifts—particularly the so-called “miraculous” gifts (such as tongues, healing, and prophecy). Some believe all spiritual gifts are still active today, others believe only some remain, and some believe these gifts ceased with the end of the apostolic age. We affirm that a person can hold any of these views and still be a faithful follower of Jesus. We also affirm that the Holy Spirit always operates in alignment with the truth of Gods Word . At Anchor Church, our view of spiritual gifts seeks to promote unity, order, and love within the body. As such, we will operate in the following ways: 1. We believe God still works in miraculous ways, answering prayer and intervening in our lives according to His will. 2. We believe God empowers His people for service through the gifts and work of the Holy Spirit. 3. We believe the fruit of the Spirit—such as love, joy, peace, and self-control—is the evidence of ongoing spiritual transformation (Galatians 5:22–23). 4. We believe in pursuing unity over division in areas of secondary doctrine. Therefore, in our organized, public gatherings, we do not encourage or practice the gift of tongues. Key Scripture References: Romans 12:3–8; Galatians 5:22–23; 1 Corinthians 12–14; 1 Peter 4:7–11

Sanctity of Human Life

We believe that all human life is sacred because every person is created by God in His image (Genesis 1:26–27). This gives every human life inherent dignity, value, and worth—regardless of age, ability, or circumstance. From the moment of conception to natural death, every human being reflects the image of God and is worthy of protection, care, and respect. This includes the unborn, infants, the elderly, those with physical or mental disabilities, and all people at every stage of life. Because of this, we affirm the responsibility of the Church to speak clearly and compassionately about the value of every human life. Accordingly, we believe that both abortion and euthanasia are inconsistent with God’s design and violate the sanctity of human life. We are committed to promoting a culture of life through teaching, support, and loving care for all people. Key Scripture References: Genesis 1:26–28; Psalm 139:13–16; Luke 1:41–44

Baptism

We believe all Christians are commanded to be baptized. It is a public proclamation of the reality of Jesus Christ and our participation in His death and resurrection. It is a picture of what we have entered into by faith as followers of Jesus. We understand that baptism is commanded to all who have repented and trusted in Jesus as their Lord and Savior and, for this reason, we reject infant baptism on the grounds that baptism is meant solely for the believer. We do not believe baptism is necessary for salvation.

Key Scripture references:

Matt. 28:18-20; Acts 2:37-38; Rom. 6:3-4; I Corinthians 1:14-17