GOVERNANCE

Statement of Faith


There is one Triune God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Our beliefs in this area can be defined by the Nicene-Constantinople Creed and the Augustine/Toledo filioque.

We believe the Trinity of God created all and created man and women to be in relationship with Him.

Jesus Christ is the second Person of the Trinity. He is eternally one with Father and Spirit, begotten not made. Jesus is the exact expression of the unseen Godhead in temporality. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin, Mary. We affirm the Chalcedonian definition.

Jesus is salvation, the only way to the Father – the Kingdom of Heaven. In the two natures of Jesus’ one Person, we see the divide from human sinfulness mended. Only in Jesus’ humanity and divinity dwelling together is the contradiction between the Kingdom of God and the world of humanity answered.

We believe in the doctrine of complete atonement of sin through the death (blood, Lev. 17:11) and resurrection of Jesus Christ; the one and only God-Man. We believe that each person must make a personal decision in this earthly existence to believe and repent.

We believe that salvation is secured and cannot be lost.

We believe in the Person of the Holy Spirit. That in Him Christ and all the fulness of the Godhead comes to us (Augustine, On the Trinity, Book XV, 17.31,18.32).

We believe in the ministry of the Holy Spirit as essential for salvation and effective Christian living. The Holy Spirit is the way to victory, the truth of how we change, and the life that makes transformation possible.

*We believe in the practice of two sacraments instituted by Jesus Christ. The believer’s baptism, of full immersion on confession of faith. The remembrance of Jesus Christ and His salvation through communion.

We believe that prayer is the “chief exercise of faith by which we daily receive God’s benefits”, for the Christian life and Church ministry (Calvin, Institutes, 3,20; Barth, The Christian Life, 43).

We believe in the Church, a body of people who are called out to be separate from the world and called towards God’s eternal Kingdom. We believe in the Church as universal and local in character. We are a part of and work in and through the Church, exclusively. “So we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another” (Rom 12:5). “That all of them may be one” (John 17:21).

We believe in the return of Jesus Christ, that He will visibly come again in accordance with the promise of scripture. In this coming He will judge the world and its people. Taking all into a future state, either Heaven or Hell, depending on personal decision.

We believe in marriage and family as defined by the Bible.

We believe in the great commission (Matt 28:18-20) and that it is the responsibility of all Christians and the Church.

We believe that the methods and facilities used to communicate the unchanging message of the Gospel are open to change where needed.

We believe we can live peacefully with those who do not share our beliefs.

*We accept that different Churches practice these sacraments in varying ways.

Hope In Society is a registered religious charity reporting through the Australian Charities and Not for Profits Commission. Hope In Society’s finances are independently audited each year in accordance with the Australian Charities and Not for Profits Commission regulations. The Executive Chairman is paid a salary comparable to a local Church Pastor of the same experience level, this salary is set by the Board using the Sydney Anglican Stipend Guide. ABN: 52981145823.


Board

Chairman: Sean Nolan

Vice Chairman: Ovi Tudosa

Secretary and Treasurer: Nathan Telfer

Committee Member: Jenna Nolan

Committee Member: Timothy King