Doctrinal Statement and Style of Ministry

Calvary Chapel of Webster has been formed as a fellowship of believers in the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Our Supreme desire is to know Jesus and to be conformed into His image by the power of the Holy Spirit.

We are not a denominational church, nor are we opposed to denominations as such, only their overemphasis of the doctrinal differences that have led to the division of the Body of Christ. We believe that the only true basis of Christian Fellowship is His (Agape) love, which is greater than any differences we possess and without which we have no right to claim ourselves Christians.


Fundamental Beliefs

In order to identify Calvary Church as conservative in theology and evangelical, we set forth this general statement of fundamental beliefs:

1. We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God and inerrant in the original writings.

2. We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in the three persons, Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

3. We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His personal return in power and glory.

4. We believe that the lost and sinful man must be saved, and that man's only hope of redemption is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

5. We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and unsaved; they that are saved unto the resurrection of life and they that are unsaved unto the resurrection of damnation.

6. We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a Godly life.

7. We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.


Statement of Distinctives

We hold to...
1. ...the inerrancy of Scripture.

2. ...the continuance today of the diversities of spiritual gifts as found in 1 Corinthians 12:4-11.

3. ...simplicity in church government, rather than a complex bureaucracy.

4. ...a dependence upon the Holy Spirit to lead rather than fleshly promotion.

5. ...the pre-millenial, pre-tribulation return of Christ for His waiting Church.

6. ...the teaching of the Word of God in such a way that it can be applied to life as beneficial towards a growing maturity.

At a given time, certain issues become controversial in the church. The Calvary Chapel Church feels it necessary to take a stand in the following areas:

We reject...
1. ...the teaching of "positive confession".

2. ...the belief that true-Christians can be possessed by demons.
 
3. ..."dominion theology" or "kingdom theology".

4. ...a fatalistic Calvinistic view, which allows no room for free will.

5. ...prophesy that superseded biblical scripture.

6. ...the incorporation of humanistic psychology and philosophy into biblical teaching.

7. ..."Charismania" (the over-emphasis upon spiritual gifts, experiential signs and wonders, etc.).


Description of Services

In our services, we focus on a "personal relationship" with God through song worship and prayer and the teaching of the Word of God.  We teach both expository and topical studies. We do not allow speaking loudly in tongues or the interruption of our services with prophesy if there is a Bible study in progress. It is not that we do not hold to the using of these gifts, but we believe that everything should be done decently and in order.  We believe that God will not interrupt Himself.  We have specific "believers meetings" that do allow the exercise of spiritual gifts.

    WE BELIEVE: worship of God should be Spiritual
    THEREFORE: we remain flexible and yield to the leading of the Holy Spirit to direct our worship.

    WE BELIEVE: worship of God should be Inspirational
    THEREFORE: we give a great place to music in our worship.

    WE BELIEVE: worship of God should be Intelligent
    THEREFORE: our services are designed with great emphasis upon the teaching of the Word of God that He might instruct us how He would be worshipped.

    WE BELIEVE: worship of God is Fruitful
    THEREFORE: we look for His love in our lives as the supreme manifestation that we have truly been worshipping Him.