THE BIBLE - Cumberland Presbyterians accept the Bible as the only infallible rule of faith and practice. We believe that the Scriptures comprise the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments, and that the best rule of interpretation of Scripture is the comparison of Scripture with Scripture.


THE GODHEAD - We believe in the divinity of Jesus and the Holy Spirit as well as in God the Father. These three persons make up the Trinity.


THE CHURCH - We believe we are a part of the Church of which Christ is the head. All believers in Christ are a part of the Church regardless of their denominational affiliation.


SALVATION - We believe that every person needs regeneration and must make a personal commitment of his/her life to Christ in order to be saved. All infants, those who have not reached an “age of accountability,” and all persons who have never had the faculty of reason are eternally secured in Christ by His grace.


PRESERVATION OF BELIEVERS - We believe that a person who is truly regenerated will not totally fall away from a state of grace, but will be preserved to everlasting life. Christ is as interested in keeping us saved as he is in saving us. This does not mean that one can "do as he/she pleases" after he/she accepts Christ, but that person, if truly saved, will not be satisfied with less than a life which is pleasing to Christ. We do not believe that good works will save our souls, but that good deeds are the result of a regenerated life.


SANCTIFICATION - We believe that every child of God will use every means possible to grow in grace. We do not believe that a state of sinless perfection is possible in this life. Sanctification does not mean sinless perfection, but it does mean a setting apart of life for sacred use, similar to the idea of consecration.


THE LORD’S DAY - We believe that after the resurrection of Christ the Sabbath was changed to the first day of the week - Sunday. It is to be set aside as a day of worship, prayer, Bible reading and study, rest, good works, and renewal for the week ahead.


THE SACRAMENTS - We believe that there are two sacraments of the Church - Water Baptism and the Lord‘s Supper. They are signs and testimonies of God’s covenant of grace. AS circumcision and Passover were the sacraments of the Old Testament, baptism and the Lord’s supper are the sacraments of the New Testament.


WATER BAPTISM is a sign or symbol of the baptism of the Holy Spirit and a seal of the Covenant of Grace. Since the Holy Spirit is always represented in the Scriptures as being poured out on the person, its renewal and cleansing is best symbolized by pouring or sprinkling water upon the head of the one being baptized. We believe that infant children of Christians should be given the seal of the Covenant just as Hebrew children were in Old Testament days. Infant baptism is now that seal, and represents an act of faith on the part of the parents and the Church as the child is dedicated to the Lord. Infant baptism is not an evidence of salvation but is an evidence of non-communicant church membership. Those who have been baptized in infancy must make a personal acceptance of Christ and concur in the prior act of their baptism before sharing in the full fellowship of the Church.

There is no saving power in water baptism, yet it is the duty of all believers not previously baptized to confess Christ in this solemn ordinance and to present their infant children for baptism.


THE LORD'S SUPPER is the second sacrament. The symbols to be used are bread and grape juice, which remain after consecration literal bread and juice. Since it is the Lord's Supper and not an ordinance of a particular church, all who acknowledge Jesus as Christ and who have faith to understand the significance of this sacrament are invited to partake of it with us, regardless of their denominational affiliation.


MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE - We believe that although marriage is not a sacrament of the Church, it is a very sacred institution and should be so regarded by all people. The marriage relation should not be dissolved for any cause not justified by the teachings of the word of God. The question of marrying divorced people is left to the judgment of individual pastors and churches.


THINGS TO COME - We believe that the bodies of men after death return to dust; but their spirits return to God who gave them. The spirits of the righteous are received into heaven, and the spirits of the wicked are cast into hell. The Scriptures speak of no other place for departed spirits. We believe that God has appointed a time for the resurrection of the just and the unjust when he will judge the world in righteousness by Christ. Our Church has no statement in its doctrines concerning the Second Coming of Christ or the Millennium. Individual members hold various ideas on this subject.


CHURCH ATTENDANCE - We believe that Christians should take advantage of the opportunities provided for regular worship in the church. Church attendance is given special emphasis in the vows taken by the members because it is regarded as a means of spiritual growth as well as a means of Christian witness.


FORM OF GOVERNMENT- Individual congregations are governed by ruling elders who are members elected by the people and teaching elders (ministers) who are called by the individual church itself. These two make up the governing board called the Session. Each congregation, through its elders, calls its pastor. Ministers and church elders of an area are formed into presbyteries. Ministers are received and ordained by presbyteries. Standards for ordination are established by the General Assembly and include educational requirements of a college education and a degree from a graduate school of theology or the successful completion of the Program of Alternative Studies as approved by our General Assembly. Ministers are given authority to receive members by profession of faith and baptism, conduct communion, and officiate at the marriage ceremony. Ruling elders may receive members by letter and conduct communion in the absence of their pastor.


The official statement of doctrine of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church is called THE CONFESSION OF FAITH, which the reader is invited to consult for a more complete statement and the Scriptural supporting texts. The above statements are partly in the words of THE CONFESSION OF FAITH and are in part an interpretation of it.