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WAREHAM UNITED REFORMED CHURCH

The Creeds

Dear Friends,

We don't tend to use the creeds often in the
United Reformed Church. However, both the
Apostles and the Nicene creeds appear in our
hymn book, 'Rejoice and Sing', from number 759.
On the next page is 'The Nature, Faith and
Order of the United Reformed Church' (Version Wikki Commons
2, as approved by the General Assembly, 1990).
This is well worth reading, if not saying together.

The Apostles' creed was developed about AD 180 and the Nicene
Creed, which is considerably longer and more detailed, from about
381 AD. The question of whether the Holy Spirit proceeds from the
Father AND the Son (the filioque clause) split the Eastern and
Western churches.

The purpose of a creed in the Christian Church is to summarise
the foundations of the Christian faith and to protect believers from
false doctrines. However, this does not mean that greater
knowledge prevents change. The 1990 statement by the General
Assembly (above) says we have:

'Faith, alive and active
Gift of an eternal source
renewed for every generation'

There are many modern creeds, and here is one written by a
member of our evening discussion group:

I believe in God the Father, who created the World.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only son who is our Lord
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born to Mary.

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