Church
Good Shepherd
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32.9012° N, 96.8367° WOpen map →TraditionThe Episcopal ChurchAbout →
Sourcing statusTradition default
Beliefs on file903 positions
Statement of faithNot on file
Where they stand
Each position below is labelled by how it was sourced, so you can weigh it for yourself.
VerifiedConfirmed by the church
From their statement of faithEstimated, not verified
Tradition defaultEstimated, not verified
Showing 81 of 903 positions across 18 topics. Expand any topic to see the rest.
God & the Trinity53 positions
- Analogical LanguageAffirmsTradition defaultHuman language about God is analogical: true but never capturing God univocally as it captures creatures.Estimated, not verified
- Apophatic PriorityAffirmsTradition defaultWhat God is in himself is ultimately beyond human comprehension, so negative ("God is not...") statements are more reliable than positive ones.Estimated, not verified
Christ65 positions
- Assumed Fallen Human NatureStrongly rejectsTradition defaultChrist assumed a fully fallen human nature (subject to the effects of the Fall) in order to heal it from within.Estimated, not verified
- Assumed Unfallen Human NatureStrongly affirmsTradition defaultChrist assumed an unfallen, sinless human nature, untouched by original sin/corruption.Estimated, not verified
Sin & the fall42 positions
- Adams Sin Brought Physical DeathStrongly affirmsTradition defaultPhysical death entered the human race as a consequence of Adam's sin; humans were not originally subject to death.Estimated, not verified
- All Sin Deserves Death EquallyStrongly affirmsTradition defaultEvery sin, however small, deserves God's condemnation/death: there is no class of sin that does not by nature merit it.Estimated, not verified
Salvation50 positions
- Active Obedience ImputedStrongly affirmsTradition defaultChrist's lifelong law-keeping (his "active obedience"), not only his death, is imputed to the believer as their positive righteousness.Estimated, not verified
- Assurance Grounded In Christ AloneStrongly affirmsTradition defaultAssurance rests on Christ's finished work and God's promise, not on the believer's own works or sacramental performance.Estimated, not verified
The Holy Spirit47 positions
- Assurance Is Normal For BelieversStrongly affirmsTradition defaultSettled assurance of salvation is normal and to be expected for genuine believers in this life.Estimated, not verified
- Blasphemy Against Spirit UnforgivableStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThere is a specific sin against the Holy Spirit that is unforgivable.Estimated, not verified
The Church52 positions
- Apostolicity Is Doctrinal Not SuccessionalRejectsTradition defaultApostolicity consists primarily in fidelity to apostolic DOCTRINE, not in an unbroken chain of ordinations from the apostles.Estimated, not verified
- Baptism Is The Entry Into The ChurchStrongly affirmsTradition defaultBaptism is the rite of entry/incorporation into the visible church.Estimated, not verified
Sacraments & ordinances44 positions
- Anointing Sick Is A SacramentRejectsTradition defaultAnointing of the sick with oil is a sacrament conveying grace, healing, and forgiveness to the seriously ill.Estimated, not verified
- Baptism Mode Immersion RequiredRejectsTradition defaultValid baptism requires full immersion of the body in water.Estimated, not verified
Worship & liturgy32 positions
- Bowing And ProstrationStrongly rejectsTradition defaultBowing, prostration, or full physical reverence before the altar, icons, or sacrament is fitting in worship.Estimated, not verified
- Communion Only SeasonallyStrongly rejectsTradition defaultCommunion seasons (a few solemn observances a year with extensive preparation) are the fitting pattern.Estimated, not verified
Last things27 positions
- A Literal Mark Of The Beast Is ComingAffirmsTradition defaultA literal future "mark of the beast" will be imposed as a condition of economic participation.Estimated, not verified
- Apocalyptic Prophecy Read Literally FuturisticallyRejectsTradition defaultThe prophecies of Daniel and Revelation should be read primarily as literal predictions of still-future events.Estimated, not verified
Scripture56 positions
- Authority Holy Tradition OrthodoxStrongly rejectsTradition defaultScripture is rightly read only within Holy Tradition: the Fathers, councils, liturgy, and consensus of the Church.Estimated, not verified
- Authority Magisterium InterpretsStrongly rejectsTradition defaultThe authentic interpretation of Scripture is entrusted to the Church's living teaching office (Magisterium), whose judgments bind the faithful.Estimated, not verified
Revelation, creation & science47 positions
- Adam Special Creation From DustStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe first human was specially and directly created by God from the dust, not biologically descended from earlier hominins.Estimated, not verified
- Angels Created BeingsStrongly affirmsTradition defaultAngels and other spiritual beings are part of God's created order, made by God.Estimated, not verified
- Barth No Natural TheologyRejectsTradition defaultThere is no genuine knowledge of God available through nature or human reason apart from God's revelation in Jesus Christ.Estimated, not verified
- Biblical Miracles Actually HappenedLeans toward rejectingTradition defaultThe miracles recorded in Scripture (e.g., the parting of the sea, Jesus' healings, walking on water) actually occurred as described.Estimated, not verified
- Big Bang Compatible With CreationStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe Big Bang cosmology (a universe with a finite beginning ~13.8 billion years ago) is compatible with, or even supportive of, the doctrine of creation.Estimated, not verified
- Creation Continuous Creatio ContinuaRejectsTradition defaultGod is best understood as creating continuously and in cooperation with an evolving, partly self-creating world (creatio continua), rather than as having finished creation.Estimated, not verified
- Creation Ex NihiloStrongly affirmsTradition defaultGod created the universe out of nothing (ex nihilo), not from pre-existing matter.Estimated, not verified
- Creation Ongoing ProvidenceStrongly affirmsTradition defaultGod continually sustains the universe in being; creation is not merely a past event but an ongoing dependence on God.Estimated, not verified
- Creation Purposeful TeleologyStrongly affirmsTradition defaultCreation has a real divine purpose and direction (telos), not merely the appearance of order arising from undirected processes.Estimated, not verified
- Creation Science Is Legitimate ScienceStrongly rejectsTradition defaultYoung-earth "creation science" (and/or intelligent design) constitutes legitimate science that should be taught alongside or instead of mainstream accounts.Estimated, not verified
- Day Age InterpretationStrongly rejectsTradition defaultThe "days" of Genesis 1 represent long ages or epochs, allowing for an old earth while keeping the sequence broadly historical.Estimated, not verified
- Deism No Special RevelationStrongly rejectsTradition defaultGod created the world and established its laws but does not intervene with miracles or verbal revelation; he is known through reason and nature alone.Estimated, not verified
- Earth Young Thousands Of YearsStrongly rejectsTradition defaultThe earth and universe are only thousands of years old (on the order of ~6,000-10,000 years).Estimated, not verified
- Environmental Stewardship Creation CareStrongly affirmsTradition defaultCaring for the created order (environmental stewardship) is a genuine theological duty flowing from the doctrine of creation.Estimated, not verified
- Evolution Unguided No GodStrongly rejectsTradition defaultBiological evolution is an entirely unguided, purposeless process requiring no divine involvement of any kind.Estimated, not verified
- Fine Tuning Design EvidenceStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe fine-tuning of the universe's physical constants is real evidence of intelligent design or a divine designer.Estimated, not verified
- Flood Geology Explains StrataStrongly rejectsTradition defaultMuch of the earth's fossil-bearing rock strata were laid down rapidly by the global flood, not over millions of years.Estimated, not verified
- Flood Global HistoricalRejectsTradition defaultThe Genesis flood was a real, worldwide deluge that covered the entire globe and destroyed all land life outside the ark.Estimated, not verified
- Flood Mythic TheologicalAffirmsTradition defaultThe flood narrative is primarily a theological or mythic story (akin to other ancient flood traditions) rather than a report of an actual catastrophe.Estimated, not verified
- General Revelation ConscienceStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe human conscience and moral sense are a form of God's revelation, giving real knowledge of right and wrong written on the heart.Estimated, not verified
- General Revelation RealStrongly affirmsTradition defaultGod genuinely reveals something of himself through the natural world and the created order, apart from Scripture.Estimated, not verified
- Genesis Ancient Cosmology AccommodatedStrongly affirmsTradition defaultGenesis communicates theological truth using the cosmological assumptions of its ancient Near Eastern setting (a solid firmament, waters above), which need not be taken as literal science.Estimated, not verified
- Genesis Intended As HistoryRejectsTradition defaultGenesis 1-3 is intended as an account of actual historical events, not primarily as theological symbol, poetry, or myth.Estimated, not verified
- God Sole CreatorStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe one triune God is the sole creator of everything that exists, including all spiritual and material reality.Estimated, not verified
- Historical Adam EveRejectsTradition defaultAdam and Eve were real, historical individuals, the literal first human beings.Estimated, not verified
- Historical Fall EventRejectsTradition defaultThe fall of humanity into sin was a real historical event by the first humans, not merely a symbol of the universal human condition.Estimated, not verified
- Humanity MonogenismStrongly affirmsTradition defaultAll human beings descend from a single original couple (monogenism).Estimated, not verified
- Humanity Polygenism PopulationAffirmsTradition defaultThe human population never passed through a single original couple but emerged as a group of several thousand individuals.Estimated, not verified
- Image Of God SpecialStrongly affirmsTradition defaultHumans bear the image of God in a way that sets them qualitatively apart from all other animals, by a special divine act or endowment.Estimated, not verified
- Intelligent Design DetectableAffirmsTradition defaultCertain features of biology exhibit "irreducible" or "specified" complexity that is best explained by intelligent design and could not arise by unguided evolution.Estimated, not verified
- Material Creation GoodStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe material, physical world is intrinsically good as God made it, not evil, illusory, or a prison for the soul.Estimated, not verified
- Miracles Continue TodayLeans toward affirmingTradition defaultGod still performs miracles today (healings, signs, answered prayer beyond natural explanation) as he did in biblical times.Estimated, not verified
- Miracles Possible In PrincipleStrongly affirmsTradition defaultGod can and does act in the world in ways that supersede or suspend ordinary natural causes (genuine miracles are possible).Estimated, not verified
- Natural Knowledge Of God Saving InsufficientLeans toward affirmingTradition defaultWhatever knowledge of God nature provides is insufficient for salvation; saving knowledge requires special revelation in Christ and Scripture.Estimated, not verified
- No Animal Death Before FallRejectsTradition defaultThere was no animal death, predation, or suffering before the fall of humanity; death entered the whole creation through Adam's sin.Estimated, not verified
- Physical Death Human Consequence Of SinStrongly affirmsTradition defaultHuman physical death is a consequence of sin; humans were created to be immortal in body and would not have died apart from the fall.Estimated, not verified
- Providence Through Natural LawStrongly affirmsTradition defaultGod ordinarily acts through natural laws and secondary causes, which are themselves his ongoing governance, rather than by frequent direct intervention.Estimated, not verified
- Resurrection Bodily HistoricalStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe resurrection of Jesus was a real, bodily, historical event, not merely a symbol of hope or the disciples' inner experience.Estimated, not verified
- Science Can Correct InterpretationStrongly affirmsTradition defaultWell-established scientific findings can legitimately guide and correct how we interpret the relevant parts of Scripture.Estimated, not verified
- Science Faith ConcordismAffirmsTradition defaultProperly interpreted Scripture and properly conducted science will agree, and apparent conflicts arise from misreading one or the other.Estimated, not verified
- Science Faith ConflictStrongly rejectsTradition defaultModern science and Christian faith are fundamentally in conflict, so where they disagree, one must ultimately override the other.Estimated, not verified
- Scientific Consensus Generally ReliableStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe settled consensus of the natural sciences (e.g., on the age of the universe, common descent, the fossil record) is generally trustworthy.Estimated, not verified
- Scripture Overrides ScienceStrongly rejectsTradition defaultWhen the plain teaching of Scripture conflicts with a scientific consensus, Scripture must be followed and the science rejected or reinterpreted.Estimated, not verified
- Special Revelation NecessaryStrongly affirmsTradition defaultA clear and reliable knowledge of God and his saving purposes requires God's special, verbal self-revelation, not merely general revelation.Estimated, not verified
- Theistic Evolution Evolutionary CreationStrongly affirmsTradition defaultGod created living things, including humans, by means of the evolutionary process, including common descent.Estimated, not verified
- Universe Eternal No BeginningStrongly rejectsTradition defaultThe universe (or some physical reality) is eternal and had no absolute beginning.Estimated, not verified
- Young Earth Six 24hr DaysStrongly rejectsTradition defaultGod created the universe and all kinds of life in six literal 24-hour days.Estimated, not verified
Life & bioethics69 positions
- Abortion A Protected RightStrongly affirmsTradition defaultAccess to abortion is a fundamental right that should be legally protected.Estimated, not verified
- Abortion Can Be Compassionate ChoiceAffirmsTradition defaultAbortion can be a morally responsible, even compassionate, choice that should not carry moral stigma.Estimated, not verified
Sexuality & marriage81 positions
- Abortifacient Contraception WrongStrongly affirmsTradition defaultContraceptive methods that may act after fertilization (potential abortifacients) are morally wrong even if other contraception is permitted.Estimated, not verified
- Affirming Churches Should Be DisciplinedStrongly rejectsTradition defaultChurches or clergy that bless same-sex unions should face formal discipline or removal from the wider body.Estimated, not verified
Society & politics55 positions
- Active Nonviolent Resistance ObligatoryAffirmsTradition defaultChristians should actively resist injustice through nonviolent means (protest, civil disobedience, noncooperation), not merely abstain from violence.Estimated, not verified
- Capital Punishment LegitimateRejectsTradition defaultThe civil authority may rightly execute criminals for grave crimes.Estimated, not verified
Angelology Demonology49 positions
- Angelic Fall Caused By PrideStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe angels fell primarily through pride: refusing subjection to God / seeking to exalt themselves.Estimated, not verified
- Angelic Fall Predates Human FallAffirmsTradition defaultThe angelic rebellion occurred before the fall of humanity, and the serpent's temptation issued from an already-fallen angel.Estimated, not verified
Anthropology48 positions
- Body Essential To PersonStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe body is essential to being a complete human person, not an accidental or dispensable container for the soul.Estimated, not verified
- Body GoodStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe material human body is intrinsically good as created by God.Estimated, not verified
Covenant Law Israel25 positions
- Abrahamic Covenant Foundational And OngoingStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe Abrahamic covenant is foundational and its promises remain operative for the people of God today.Estimated, not verified
- Believers No Longer Under Laws CondemnationStrongly affirmsTradition defaultBelievers are entirely free from the law's condemning function but remain under its directing function.Estimated, not verified
Mariology Saints61 positions
- All Believers Are SaintsStrongly affirmsTradition default"Saints" in the New Testament sense means all believers, not a special canonized class.Estimated, not verified
- Altar Relics Required Or ProperStrongly rejectsTradition defaultIt is fitting (or required) that altars contain the relics of saints.Estimated, not verified
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