Our Distinctives

What makes OCC theologically distinct in practice, from other churches in town, is its people. 

We live out these distinctives in the Way of Jesus across Church history: 

Confession: we are turning from rebellion against God to trusting Him always more fully through repentance in our ordinances and ongoing lifestyles of penance in thankfulness. 

Consensus: we are shaped by patterns of Church agreement over the centuries—historically informed—through Bible interpretation in creeds, confessions, etc. 

Compatibility: we are embracing divine election and human responsibility, elevating God’s will in all things, and are convinced that our choices shape the future. 

Continuance: we are open and eager for God’s supernatural working as members of one Body, pursuing spiritual vibrancy, taking part as unique and necessary parts of the whole. 

Constance: we are driven by the two-fold love of God and neighbor in a way people know we belong to the Father in Christ, convinced of the perseverance of the saints—those holy ones who truly belong to God—will continue in the faith forever.

Complimentary: we are not arrogantly insecure but humbly confident in who God made us as individuals and as a congregation here in Ottawa—distinct and equally important in gender roles, in the workplace and home, among local churches, and across the globe. 

Communal: we are a gathering of born-again and gospel-saturated believers from all backgrounds on mission to proclaim Jesus to every nation, tribe, peoples, and language for the fullness of their joy and completion of the Great Commission.

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We recognize the Word of God as the only divine standard of faith and practice and is our final authority in all matters of life and conduct on which it speaks (Ps 119:105; Gal 1:6–16; 2 Tim 4:1–5). 

We also humbly admit that where differences of biblical interpretation exist, we leave room for theological opinion. Where the Scriptures are clear, so we intend to be. 

Some of our governing religious values include, but are not limited to life, salvation, and family: 

We celebrate the sanctity of human life in the image of God—His unique design
  of human gender in divine likeness—from conception and the spiritual
  rebirth of all who place their faith in Christ and are regenerate of the Holy
  Spirit. Consequently, we are a safe place for all to find healing in Jesus’
  name. 

We celebrate salvation as given by God’s saving grace through repentance of sins
  and baptism in Jesus’ name for the gift of the Holy Spirit, everyone whom
  the Lord our God calls to Himself.

We celebrate marriage as a divine union between one man and one woman as
  described in Scripture in fulfillment of the creation mandate to be fruitful
  and multiply on earth. We covenant together to glorify the God of Christian
  Scriptures by enjoying Him now and forever.

We are growing in grace together. 

Our Doctrinal Commitments

The foundation of this church is the Lord Jesus Christ. We adhere to ecumenical creeds and universal confessions only insofar as they are derived from the Christian Scriptures. 

I. The Father

We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, of all 

 things visible and invisible.

II. The Son

We believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the 

Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true 

God, begotten, not made, of one essence with the Father; through Him all 

things were made. For each of us and for our salvation He came down from 

heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the virgin Mary, and became 

man. For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate, He suffered death and 

was buried and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. 

He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will 

come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and His kingdom will 

have no end.

III. The Spirit

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of life, who proceeds from 

 the Father, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who
  has spoken through the prophets.

IV. The Church

We believe in one, holy, catholic (universal) and apostolic (united) Church. We
  confess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins and we look forward to the
  resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. (381 AD)

V. The Trinity

We worship one God in Trinity and in Unity—His glorious works are one.
   The Scriptures teach the Father is Almighty, the Son Almighty, and the Holy
   Spirit Almighty. And yet they are not Three Almighties but One Almighty. So,
 the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God. And yet they are
 not Three Gods, but One God worshiped and glorified forever. (633 AD)

VI. The Christ

We worship one preeminent Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ—perfect in divinity and
 humanity—uniting in Himself two distinct natures and wills, without
 confusion, division, or separation. He was like us in all respects, only without
 sin.

VII. The Scriptures

We adhere to the spoken and written Word of God (Genesis through Revelation) as
   the only sufficient, certain, and infallible rule of all saving knowledge, faith,
 and obedience to God; to reveal Himself, and to declare His will in glory unto
 His Church.

VIII. The Salvation

We teach that every person is born in sin through their own disobedience (inherited
  from the sinful nature of the first humans) and are saved from eternal
  condemnation only by the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ Jesus applied
  by faith alone as a work of God alone.

IX. The King

Finally, we know that Jesus reigns as King in heaven both now and forever, and we
  will reign with him in glory forever if we have been buried with him in
  baptism and raised to newness of life in his resurrection to final judgment—the
  ultimate joy with eternal pleasures for every person made righteous in Christ
  and ultimate loss with eternal destruction for the lawless and wicked who
  choose to reject our Lord and King.

Our Church Covenant (1853 AD)

Having been led by the Spirit of God to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior; and on the profession of our faith, having been baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, we do now, in the presence of God, most solemnly and joyfully enter covenant with one another, as one body in Christ. 

We engage, by the aid of the Holy Spirit to walk together in Christian love; to strive for the advancement of this Church, in knowledge, holiness and comfort, to promote its prosperity and spirituality; to sustain its worship, ordinances, disciples and doctrines; to give it a sacred preeminence over all institutions of human origin; to contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry; the expenses of the Church, the relief of the poor and the spread of the Gospel through all nations. 

We also engage to maintain family and private devotions; to educate our children in the truths of God’s Word; to walk circumspectly before the world; and to be just in our dealings, faithful in our engagements, exemplary in our deportment, and zealous in our efforts to advance the kingdom of God. 

We further engage to watch over one another in brotherly love; to remember each other in prayer; to aid each other in sickness and distress; to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and courtesy in speech; and to be slow to take offense, but always ready for reconciliation and being mindful of the rules of our Savior, to secure that reconciliation without delay. 

If we move away, we will unite with some other church as soon as possible, where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant, and the principles of God's Word.

Now the God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that Great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work, to do his will; working in you that which is well-pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. 

Our Sacramental Ordinances

We recognize Baptism and the Lord’s Supper as scriptural ordinances, also referred to by some as “sacraments.” 

We believe baptism by immersion is an integral and vital step of obedience according to Scriptures (e.g., Acts 2:38) for all who repent and are united with Christ in His death and resurrection. Baptism is an outward and temporal symbol of an inward and eternal reality (1 Pet 3:21). The real work of baptism Jesus promised is indwelling of the Holy Spirit (Matt 3:11; Rom 5). We recognize former baptisms for church membership so long as the individual can demonstrate it was in accord with the Scriptures. We encourage children to be baptized when they have evidenced the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22–23), particularly in sharing their faith with others.

We believe the Lord’s Supper is for eternal life in the way Jesus describes (e.g., John 6:22–58 and 13:1–20). Eating and drinking does not justify a person, but encourages a spiritual hunger to partake in and proclaim the death and resurrection of Christ until He returns (1 Cor 11:17–34). As baptism by immersion is for the professing believer, so the bread and the cup are for remembrance and the ongoing spiritual health of a follower of Jesus. Therefore, it seems unfitting for an un-baptized person to take of this corporate communion. 

We do, also, recognize other historical ministries of the Church which are sacramental in nature: 

1) Discipleship to Jesus (confirmation)

2) Appointing leaders (elders and deacons)

3) Marriage (union of one man and one woman)

4) Confession of sin (penance)

5) Anointing of the sick (unction)