Anchored in truth and love

We are called to walk the narrow path of grace and truth in the midst of cultural confusion. Scripture is clear about God’s design and our calling, and the gospel compels us to hold the line with tender hearts. Jesus came “full of grace and truth” (John 1:14), and His church must reflect both.

Our compass is the Word. “The sum of Your word is truth” (Psalm 119:160). We do not guess at God’s will; we receive it, trust it, and live it for the glory of Christ and the good of our neighbors.

God’s design for humanity and marriage

God created humanity as male and female, both equally bearing His image and dignity. “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them” (Genesis 1:27). This creational order is good, wise, and life-giving.

Marriage is a covenant union between one man and one woman, upheld by Christ and His apostles as the only God-ordained context for sexual intimacy (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4–6; Ephesians 5:31–32). “Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept undefiled” (Hebrews 13:4).

- Creation gives us identity and purpose.

- Marriage images Christ and the church, setting a holy pattern for family and society.

- The image of God confers inviolable worth on every person, including our LGBTQ neighbors.

Clarity on sexual holiness

God’s will is not vague. “For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality” (1 Thessalonians 4:3). Scripture forbids all sexual activity outside the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman, including homosexual behavior, fornication, adultery, and pornography (Romans 1:26–27; 1 Corinthians 6:9–10; 1 Timothy 1:8–11; Jude 7).

This clarity does not single out one group for special condemnation. The cross humbles all of us. “And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11).

- What this means: We call everyone without exception to repentance and faith, and we help believers pursue chastity, purity, and self-control by the Spirit.

- What this does not mean: We do not despise, mock, or harm image-bearers, and we do not excuse other forms of sexual sin.

The posture of gospel people

Conviction without compassion becomes harshness. Compassion without conviction becomes compromise. The gospel breeds both courage and kindness. Our speech must be truthful and gracious, our conduct holy and patient.

We answer with a clear conscience and a gentle spirit, aiming to persuade, not to provoke. We speak to hearts while guarding our own. We know change is God’s miracle, and we sow faithfully while praying for fruit.

- Compassion that listens carefully.

- Clarity that names sin and points to Christ.

- Courage that resists pressure to conform.

- Community that bears burdens and walks together.

Walking with individuals

Real people, real stories, real pain, real hope. We approach each person with dignity, listening before speaking, asking for permission to share, and keeping the door of friendship open. We trust that the gospel is the power of God for salvation and sanctification.

Discipleship means dying to self and living to Christ. “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me” (Luke 9:23). That call is costly for everyone, and Jesus is worth it for everyone.

- Listen to understand, not to win an argument.

- Share your testimony of Christ’s mercy and power.

- Open your home and church life in wise hospitality.

- Invite to Scripture, prayer, and community, not merely to events.

- Encourage practical steps of obedience, reinforced by accountability and care.

Life together: membership, discipline, and restoration

Church membership is a covenant of mutual discipleship. We receive repentant sinners and we walk together in repentance and faith. Unrepentant sin of any kind is incompatible with church membership and leadership. We practice church discipline when necessary, and we aim at restoration, not humiliation (1 Corinthians 5; Galatians 6:1; 2 Corinthians 2:6–8).

We shepherd with clarity and tenderness. We “fence the table” to protect souls and honor Christ, welcoming the repentant and warning the unrepentant. “And that is what some of you were. But you were washed” (1 Corinthians 6:11).

- Membership requires a credible profession of faith and a repentant posture.

- Leadership requires exemplary character and alignment with biblical sexual ethics (1 Timothy 3; Titus 1).

- Discipline proceeds patiently, biblically, and carefully, with privacy, integrity, and hope for restoration.

Public witness and neighbor love

We do not return insult for insult. We live visibly faithful lives and do good. “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). We seek the peace and welfare of our communities while refusing to compromise conscience.

When laws or norms demand disobedience to God, we obey God. “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). We pursue peace without surrendering truth. “If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone” (Romans 12:18).

- Serve your neighbors tangibly and consistently.

- Speak with grace and precision, avoiding caricature.

- Advocate for religious liberty and conscience protections without hostility.

- Reject harassment, threats, or harm toward any person as contrary to Christ.

Families, youth, and formation

The home is the first school of discipleship. Parents teach, model, and guard. The church equips and supports, forming resilient disciples who know and love God’s Word. “These words I am commanding you today are to be upon your hearts. And you shall teach them diligently to your children and speak of them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up” (Deuteronomy 6:6–7).

We engage technology and media with vigilance and wisdom. We build strong peer groups and mentoring pathways. We show that the church is a real family where singles, married couples, and children all belong.

- Catechize with Scripture and confessions.

- Cultivate intergenerational friendships and mentoring.

- Address identity, body, and sexuality with biblical clarity and hopeful realism.

- Equip parents to shepherd phones, media, and online spaces.

Real hope, real change

Change is not a slogan but a sanctifying work of the Spirit. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17). We refuse fatalism and offer living hope in Jesus, who forgives, cleanses, and empowers.

We walk by the Spirit in daily obedience. “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16). Progress may be slow, with setbacks and grief, but Christ is faithful. “Your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58).

Steadfast and tender

We will not be conformed to this age. “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2). We will make disciples, teach all that Jesus commanded, and trust His presence to the end. He has us, and He has our neighbors, in His wise and holy hands.

We aim for honesty and kindness. Use names consistently and respectfully. Where pronouns are requested, act by conscience with humility and clarity, avoiding deception and avoiding unnecessary offense. “Let each one be fully convinced in his own mind” (Romans 14:5).

- Speak truthfully without mockery.

- Explain your practice calmly and consistently.

- Seek creative alternatives that preserve conscience and relationship.

Hospitality with boundaries

Practice warm, wise hospitality. Build real friendships. Do not treat non-marital unions as marriages in your words or practices. Keep the door of the gospel open while keeping your convictions clear (1 Corinthians 5:9–10).

- Share meals and life.

- Avoid celebrating what Scripture calls sin.

- Signal care without signaling approval.

Weddings, facilities, and policies

Churches bless what Scripture blesses and cannot bless what Scripture forbids. “Marriage should be honored by all” (Hebrews 13:4). Adopt clear, charitable statements on marriage, membership, leadership, and facility usage to protect unity and witness.

- Publish statements and membership covenants.

- Train leaders to apply them consistently and gently.

- Offer referrals to pastoral care even when declining requests.

Baptism, communion, and repentance

The sacraments are for repentant believers. Those who experience same-sex attraction yet live in celibate obedience may receive baptism and the Lord’s Supper as any disciple. The same standard applies to all forms of sexual sin: repent and walk in newness of life (Acts 2:38; Romans 6:4).

- Ask for a credible profession and a repentant posture.

- Provide ongoing discipleship and accountability.

- Restore quickly when repentance is evident.

Leadership standards and care

Leaders must be above reproach (1 Timothy 3; Titus 1). Those walking out of sexual sin need time, discipleship, and proven faithfulness before consideration for leadership. Shepherds must protect the flock and honor Christ’s name.

- Emphasize character, not charisma.

- Avoid haste in placing leaders.

- Pair truth with long-term pastoral care.

Compassion for the hurting and wary

Some carry wounds, trauma, or deep loneliness. Some have faced mockery or harm. “A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not extinguish” (Isaiah 42:3). Move toward people with tenderness and patience.

- Offer trusted pastoral counseling and, when needed, referrals to wise clinicians aligned with biblical ethics.

- Create support structures for parents and strugglers.

- Guard confidentiality and uphold safety.

Intersex conditions and medical ethics

Intersex conditions are rare, medically complex realities that require careful, case-by-case wisdom and compassion. Every person remains fearfully and wonderfully made. “For You formed my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb” (Psalm 139:13).

- Distinguish congenital disorders of sex development from ideological claims about self-defined identity.

- Prioritize bodily integrity, caution with irreversible interventions, and parental guardianship.

- Seek counsel from mature physicians and pastors.

Discipling the whole church in sexual holiness

The call to purity is for everyone. Secret sins undermine integrity and witness. We address pornography, cohabitation, adultery, and all impurity with the same seriousness, hope, and grace (Ephesians 5:3–14; 1 Thessalonians 4:3–8).

- Normalize confession and accountability.

- Teach a rich theology of the body, singleness, and friendship.

- Celebrate chaste singleness as a gift and calling (1 Corinthians 7:7, 32–35).

Speech and civility online and offline

Words can wound or heal. “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone” (Colossians 4:6). “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Proverbs 15:1).

- Avoid sarcasm, slander, and clickbait outrage.

- State positions clearly, charitably, and accurately.

- Major on the gospel, not tribal talking points.

Contending for the faith with sound exegesis

Be ready to explain the biblical case with careful exegesis and pastoral sensitivity. Study key texts and terms (Genesis 1–2; Matthew 19; Romans 1; 1 Corinthians 6; 1 Timothy 1). Contend “for the faith once for all delivered to the saints” with humility and courage (Jude 3).

- Read in context, showing the coherence of Scripture.

- Emphasize creation, covenant, and Christ-centered fulfillment.

- Address objections respectfully, with patience and clarity.

Pastoral process for discipline and restoration

Follow Matthew 18:15–17 and 1 Corinthians 5 with care. Document steps, involve elders, and maintain confidentiality. If excommunication is required, keep pursuing the person with tears, and be ready to reaffirm love upon repentance (2 Corinthians 2:6–8).

- Go slow, pray much, keep the Bible open.

- Protect the vulnerable, especially minors.

- Expect God to work, even after long seasons.

Vocation, workplace, and public policy

Believers navigate complex settings with integrity and wisdom. Seek peace, do good work, and keep a clear conscience. “If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone” (Romans 12:18).

- Know your rights and practice neighbor love.

- Decline what violates conscience, without hostility.

- Support policies that safeguard religious liberty for all.

Identity in Christ

Our truest name is in Jesus. “You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body” (1 Corinthians 6:19–20). We refuse to build identity on desire or struggle. We build it on union with Christ, adopted as sons and daughters by grace.

- Teach believers to put off old labels and put on Christ.

- Encourage rich, Christ-centered community where no one walks alone.

- Keep the cross and resurrection as the center of hope and holiness.