Our Beliefs
As a Mennonite congregation, we believe the essence of the Bible is embodied in Jesus Christ, the living, acting Word of God, and Christ is our authority. Christ calls us to love one another unconditionally just as Christ loves us: without judgment, condemnation, or conformity. We believe that practicing unconditional love calls us to welcome those who have been marginalized, and we are especially concerned for the protection of the most vulnerable in all walks of life. All who wish to meet the Living Christ are welcome to worship with us and participate fully in congregational life.
Being a Christian means more than affirming a creed or having a spiritual experience. To be a Christian means to follow Jesus in daily life. Our attitudes and actions towards God, all people, and the world are evidence that we have been transformed from an old way of life to new life that reflects the freedom found in Jesus. We interpret the Bible from a Christ-centered point of view with Jesus as the final authority for faith, life, personal and social ethics. Because Christianity is learning to walk with Jesus and one another in God's new life, we promise our loyalty to first Jesus Christ, even when the teaching and spirit of Jesus conflict with the expectations of culture or policies and regulations of those in power.
Jesus wanted his followers to not only believe in him and follow his teaching, but also to have a strong sense of belonging to each other. Being in community with each other means we need both connection and forgiveness from God and from each other. We open Scripture together as a Spirit-guided community, listening and learning from God and from each other. To that end, small face-to-face groups are central to the life of the church. We see the church as family, a group that is known by their love for each other and for all.
Being reconciled to God leads to transformed living, becoming more Christ-like in attitude and action. As Anabaptists, we are to help reconcile people to God, to each other, and to be ambassadors of reconciliation to the world. As ambassadors of reconciliation, we reject all forms of injustice and violence and encourage peaceful alternatives to war and other conflicts. And because God pronounced creation as good, we also reject mistreatment and violence to our planet and all of its inhabitants and encourage one another to "live simply so that others may simply live."
To live as a peacemaker often means making choices that are in opposition to prevailing culture. We prioritze listening over speaking, serving over directing, curiosity over reactivity, calm over chaos, slow love over quick judgements, acceptance over rejection. We teach peace to our children. We guide our youth in discerning their call and preparing files for conscientious objector status. We commit ourselves to acting in nonviolent ways and helping others to do the same. We learn from the great teachers of peace and justice. We actively support addressing inequality and meeting basic needs to improve the lives of others. We make lifestyle choices that reflect our beliefs and commitments. We work to bring about peace with justice, on both the local and global level.
We seek to live in the world without conforming to the powers of evil, witnessing to God’s grace in serving others, caring for creation and inviting all people to find true freedom and hope in God's kin-dom.
Serving others is an expression of our faith. On the international level, we assemble school kits and relief kits for children and families all over the world through the Mennonite Central Committee, an international relief and development organization. On the local level, we are supporters of The Cool Learning Experience, a unique and comprehensive educational organization serving underserved youth and families in Waukegan. We cook for women's shelters and collaborate with neighboring churches in service, learning and worship. We network with community organizations to work for justice and well-being for all people and the planet.
Mennonites believe that authentic theology must be lived theology, that beliefs and ethics must go together. We believe that we must share God’s love in word and deed, living out our faith by serving others, living in the freedom and life that Jesus brings, and in living and working for peace.
