Congregationalism

"Church government is not an authority but a ministry." -John Cotton.

In 1620 the Pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock and brought with them the idea that a congregation of believers ought to be able to rule themselves. That was the beginning of the "Congregational Way" .

For three hundred years, Congregationalists have held to the ideal of local congregations seeking the guidance of God themselves, without the dictates and oversight of magistrates or bishops.

Congregationalists are a covenant people, having no defined doctrinal statement other than the Bible itself. We believe that the Word of God is living and active and constantly ready to meet the needs of people every day. We have resisted the temptation to "boil down" the whole counsel of God into a few statements of dogma. Congregationalists are thus required to think about their own faith individually and to construct their own belief system and to respect the belief systems of others.

Each member of a Congregational Church is a minister along with all the other members. It is our desire to reach out to one another and to the world in the name of Christ with love, acceptance and support.