What We Believe
Rooted in Scripture and the Reformed confessions
We believe the Bible is the authoritative Word of God and confess its teaching together with the Reformed churches.
Our Foundation
Holy Scripture ↗
We believe Holy Scripture contains the will of God completely and sufficiently teaches everything we must believe for salvation. Scripture therefore stands as the final authority for the church's doctrine, worship, and life.
The Reformed Confessions
The Three Forms of Unity ↗
As a United Reformed congregation, Salem subscribes to three Reformed confessions as faithful summaries of the teaching of Scripture.
Belgic Confession
A confession of the Christian faith covering Scripture, the triune God, Christ and salvation, the church, the sacraments, and the Christian's life before God.
Read the Belgic Confession ↗02Heidelberg Catechism
A warm, pastoral summary of the Christian faith organized around our misery, our deliverance in Christ, and our gratitude to God.
Read the Heidelberg Catechism ↗03Canons of Dort
A confession of God's sovereign and gracious work in election, redemption, conversion, and the perseverance of the saints.
Read the Canons of Dort ↗Christ's Church
Word, sacraments, and discipline under Christ
The Belgic Confession identifies the marks of the true church as the pure preaching of the gospel, the pure administration of the sacraments as Christ instituted them, and the practice of church discipline. In all of this, the church is to hold Jesus Christ as its only Head.
The churches of the URCNA order their common life through a Church Order under the authority of Scripture. It addresses the biblical offices, ecclesiastical assemblies, worship and sacraments, and church discipline.
Ecumenical Creeds
The ancient creeds of the church
Alongside the Three Forms of Unity, Salem confesses the Apostles' Creed, Nicene Creed, and Athanasian Creed with the historic Christian church. These creeds set forth essential truths concerning the triune God and the person and work of Jesus Christ.