St. Peter Lutheran Church and School Statement of Beliefs

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These are the beliefs of St. Peter Lutheran Church and School in accordance with the LCMS.

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St. Peter Lutheran Church and School is a Recognized Service Organization of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS, Synod). The LCMS is a mission-oriented and Bible-based denomination that confesses the historic, orthodox Christian faith in the Triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, a faith built on “the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone” (Ephesians 2:20). With the universal Christian Church, the LCMS teaches and responds to the love of the Triune God, who created all that exists; became a man to suffer, die, and rise again for the world’s redemption; and brings people to faith and new life through His Word and Sacraments. The three persons of the Trinity - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - are coequal and coeternal, one God.

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LCMS ministries voluntarily choose to belong to the Synod, and, although diverse in many ways, all hold to a shared confession of Jesus Christ as taught in Holy Scripture. We believe without reservation that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament are the written Word of God and the only rule and norm of faith and of practice. In addition, the LCMS accepts without reservation the writings contained in the Book of Concord:  The Confessions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church.  

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Believing in the authority of Holy Scripture and that the Lutheran Confessions are a correct interpretation and presentation of biblical doctrine, LCMS ministries agree to conform all their teaching and practice to the Scriptures and the Confessions.

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The Synod “is not an ecclesiastical government, exercising legislative or coercive powers” (LCMS Constitution, Article VII) concerning its members and ministers. However, the voluntary association of member ministries and ministers includes their agreement to respect and honor and uphold (Bylaw 1.7.2, 1.8.1) decisions (resolutions) made by the Synod in its national conventions regarding the understanding of the teachings of Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions and practices that are consistent with such teaching. The Synod in convention is the “principal legislative assembly” of the LCMS (Bylaw 3. 1.1) and its resolutions and statements are the position of the Synod in matters of doctrine and life. The Constitution and Bylaws of the LCMS provide specific guidance for the implementation and supervision of the teaching and practice of members.

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Ministries of the LCMS, while upholding teachings and practices that are consistent with Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions and while honoring Synod convention resolution, are self-governed and establish policies based on local circumstance and expediency. An LCMS ministry operates according to its own constitution and bylaws - which are required by Synod Bylaws to be reviewed by the District through which the ministry holds membership in the Synod - and therein establishes an orderly way of making decisions and determines which individuals or entities within the ministry will have the authority to act on behalf of the ministry in specific circumstances. The Constitution and bylaws of St. Peter Lutheran Church govern its decision-making and policies. A copy is available upon request.

Statement of Belief on Marriage, Gender, and Sexuality 

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We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female. These two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God (Genesis 1:26-27). Rejection of one’s biological sex is a rejection of the image of God within that person.

We believe that the term marriage has only one meaning: the uniting of one man and one woman in a single exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture (Genesis 2:18-25).  We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and a woman who are married to each other (1 Corinthians 6:18; 7:2-5; Hebrews 13:4). We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of marriage between a man and a woman.

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We believe that any form of sexual immorality (including but not limited to adultery, fornication, homosexual behavior, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest and use of pornography) is sinful and offensive to God (Matthew 15:18-20; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10).

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We believe that in order to preserve the function and integrity of St. Peter Lutheran Church and School as the local Body of Christ, and to provide a biblical role model to the St. Peter Lutheran students and the community, it is imperative that all persons employed by St. Peter Lutheran Church and School, or who serve as volunteers, agree to and abide by this Statement of Belief on Marriage, Gender, and Sexuality (Matthew 15:6; Philippians 2:14-16; 1 Thessalonians 5:22).

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We believe that God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ (Acts 3:19-21; Romans 10:9-10; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11).

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We believe that every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity (Mark 12:28-31; Luke 6:31).  Hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual are to be repudiated and acknowledged as not in accord with scripture nor the policies of St. Peter Lutheran Church and School. 

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Statement on the Sanctity of Human Life 

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We believe all human life is sacred and created by God in His image. Human life is of inestimable worth in all its dimensions, including pre-born babies, the aged, the physically or mentally challenged, and every other stage or condition from conception through natural death. We are therefore called to defend, protect, and value all human life (Ps. 139).