The roots of the Reformed Congregational Fellowship are in the soil of the 16th and 17th century Reformation of the Christian faith, and specifically the summary of biblical doctrine expressed in the Savoy Declaration of Faith, and church order as set forth in the Cambridge Platform. Does this make us somehow nostalgic for the past? Not at all. We wish only to stand on the shoulders of those who have gone before as we engage the time in which we live. We hope you find the resources available on our website an encouragement to think and minister biblically.
What Do You Believe?
How would you answer that question? An easy answer: “I believe what the Bible says.” But it’s not as simple as that, is it? History is witness to many who have cited the Bible as the basis of their creed who go on to prove that the content of their confession could not be supported by the word of God.
The apostle Paul would have expected an answer to the question that reflected, “the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me.” (2 Timothy 1:13) How we answer the question will shed light on what we understand to be the substance of “the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.” (Jude 3)
In reality, every church, every minister, has a creed, whether it’s acknowledged or not. Dr. Carl Trueman, in his work, “The Creedal Imperative,” cites a pastor who from his pulpit, with a Bible held aloft, simply said, “The Bible and the Bible alone is our only creed and our only confession.” As it turns out, this church was characterized by teaching Calvinism, Dispensationalism, and a Plymouth Brethren form of church government. So, in fact, there was a creed and confession… it just wasn’t written down and subject to public examination and assessment!
We believe that among the instruments that God has graciously provided to sustain the “pattern of sound words,” the once-delivered faith, are the creeds and confessions of the church. Whether it’s the Apostles' Creed, Nicene Creed, Heidelberg Catechism, Westminster Confession, or the Savoy Declaration of Faith and Cambridge Platform, such thoughtful and hard won summations of biblical faith keep us on track. They provide a protective doctrinal fence for the safety of church leadership and the congregation.
So, what do you believe?