Our faith and certain hope
Teach and urge these things. If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing.
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version, (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 1 Tim 6:2–4.
Canterbury Presbyterian Church is a constituent part of the Presbyterian Church of Victoria. The supreme standard of the church is the Word of God in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments. The subordinate standard of the church is the Westminster Confession of Faith (1646), as amended from time to time by the General Assembly of Australia, read in the light of the Declaratory Statement contained in the Basis of Union (1901).
Summary Statement of Faith
We believe that there is One God who is the Creator and Judge of the world. In the fullness of time He has revealed Himself as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
- God has made himself known in his inerrant word, the Bible.
- We believe that human beings are created in God’s image. However, when Adam sinned, that image was stained and tarnished. We inherit Adam’s fallen nature.
- The penalty for sin is death, leading ultimately to the second death which is everlasting judgement.
- The law reveals that we are sinners but does not save us.
- Christ is the Lord from heaven who came to lead a sinless life, and offer Himself up as the sinless sacrifice to pay the death penalty which we deserve.
- We cannot earn salvation. We can only receive it when the Holy Spirit enables us to have faith in Christ alone.
- Trusting in Christ and not our own merits, we seek to live godly lives, loving God and our neighbour.
- We seek to serve Christ in the fellowship of the body of His people, the Church. Our joining this body is signified by baptism, our ongoing commitment to Christ is signified by taking part in the Lord’s Supper.
PCV Vision Statement
As part of the redeemed people of God, having been brought out of darkness into God’s light through faith in Jesus Christ, the Presbyterian Church of Victoria seeks to glorify and enjoy God – as Father, Son and Holy Spirit – serving, loving and obeying him, in the light of his revealed Word, the Bible.
The Presbyterian Church of Victoria holds the Bible to be the inspired and inerrant revelation of God, a book fully trustworthy to guide the church in all matters of faith and practice. Embracing this particular view of inspiration of Scripture means that our work and witness has distinctive guiding values, these being expressed in what is known as:
- reformed doctrines and church practice.
- the confessional position of the Westminster Confession of Faith (1647).
We seek to serve and obey God by:
- worshiping God in Spirit and truth;
- edifying God’s people, by teaching God’s Word, in order that they become mature in Christ, living a holy life;
- evangelising the lost through proclaiming and living the gospel;
- engaging in social witness, demonstrating God’s love and righteousness in both word and deed.
By being faithful in these things it is our passionate prayer that, by God’s grace:
- lives will be changed according to the pattern of Christ’s life;
- there will be growth and maturity in existing churches;
- the unsaved will come to faith in Christ;
- new churches will be planted;
- and in all this, churches will have an effect in changing society’s values for good.
In pursuing this mission we seek to:
- depend at all times on God’s leading;
- be aware of the culture in which we minister;
- be prepared to take bold steps to fulfil this mission in the State of Victoria, throughout Australia and toward all parts of the world.
Summary Vision Statement
By God’s grace we exist to glorify and enjoy God through worship, teaching God’s Word, evangelism and social interaction, always in the light of the inspired Scriptures and relying on God’s presence, power and wisdom.