Not every church emphasizes these values. But to The Table, nothing is more important. We plan worship, create programs, engage in mission work, and these values guide our decisions. We believe that when these values are practiced, we are closer to living like Jesus.
Click on any of the Core Values below to read more
Unity
One the founders of our denomination, Barton W. Stone, was known to say, “Unity is our polar star.” Even after 200 plus years, we still strive to find unity in diversity. We proclaim that unity does not mean uniformity; wholeness is not sameness. Diversity is a gift from God that must be nurtured, cherished, and encouraged as God’s truth is usually too much for any one of us alone. Our unity is a gift from God that we celebrate as we gather with joy around one, central table. Together… we are learning with God’s help, to love one another through fearless conversation, forgiveness, and mutual support. back to top
Passionate Spirituality
We boldly proclaim that faith is less about certainty and correct answers, and more about dialogue, conversations, and learning to embrace the ambiguity and mysteries of faith. We believe that all Christians should be free to read and interpret the Bible for themselves, and to construct a faith that includes reason. Our faith includes the heart, but not at the expense of using the mind. Our relationship with God is a lifelong journey that grows and develops over the course of one’s life, through prayer, study, and dialogue. We seek fearless conversation wth God and one another, as we seek the convergence of our stories with God’s story of redemption and beauty. back to top
Progressive and Journey-Focused
Progressive Christianity is an open, intelligent, and collaborative approach to the Christian tradition and the life and teachings of Jesus that creates the pathway into an authentic and relevant religious experience. We have a living faith in a living God- we recognize that God is in our midst, shaping and forming our life together. We celebrate that God is always doing a new thing, and our faithful response is to continually be open to new ways of being church together. We are figuring out what faith looks like in the 21st century. We’re figuring out what questions we can ask together. We’re listening for the ways God continues to speak. We’re on a journey, seeking what God continues to call us to become. back to top
Love
The God we see and experience in Jesus is not vengeful, warlike, or fear-minded; rather, loving and gracious. Thus, we allow the love of God to shape and mold our lives, determine how we relate to one another, and guide us day by day in our lives. We seek to follow in Christ’s example of unconditional love, allowing God’s love to flow through us. It is by love that others might come to know Jesus. We love- with no strings attached. There no gospel but love. back to top
Radical Hospitality
All are welcome. REALLY! ALL are welcome. We openly welcome persons of all sexual orientation, gender expression, socioeconomic status, family configuration, age, national origin, race, religious or non-religious background, and physical or mental condition. We embrace all people at any point in their faith journey and recognize each person’s spiritual gifts. We proclaim God’s inclusive welcome to the Communion Table, and affirm that full and equal participation in the life and leadership of our church is open to all. We seek to continue to learn and grow in our efforts to be a movement for wholeness in a fragmented world. back to top
“Live It Out!”
We have no purpose but to serve. We believe that faith is an action verb. We are striving to live out our faith in compassionate service. Our actions tell the story of the risen Christ- the story of God’s active presence in love, grace, compassion, and justice. When Jesus washed his disciples’ feet, he set the standard for us to be humble servants. And so we will strive to be the presence of Christ in the world.back to top