Church
Saint John the Forerunner
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America (GOARCH): a neutral profile of what this congregation describes about its beliefs.
Where to find them
Public details for this congregation.
No public contact details yetKnow this congregation's address or website? Point us to it.Suggest details
41.7361° N, 87.8713° WOpen map →TraditionGreek Orthodox Archdiocese of America (GOARCH)About →
Sourcing statusTradition default
Beliefs on file1040 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 89 of 1040 positions across 18 topics. Expand any topic to see the rest.
God & the Trinity55 positions
- Analogical LanguageStrongly affirmsTradition defaultHuman language about God is analogical: true but never capturing God univocally as it captures creatures.Estimated, not verified
- Apophatic PriorityStrongly affirmsTradition 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
Christ70 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 fall54 positions
- Adams Sin Brought Physical DeathAffirmsTradition 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 EquallyRejectsTradition 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
Salvation65 positions
- Assurance Of Salvation PossibleRejectsTradition defaultA believer can have a settled present assurance that they are saved.Estimated, not verified
- Atonement Heals Human Nature TheosisStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe atonement's deepest purpose is to heal and divinize human nature (joining humanity to God), more than to settle a legal account.Estimated, not verified
The Holy Spirit55 positions
- Anointing For Special MinistryAffirmsTradition defaultThe Spirit grants a special "anointing" empowering particular individuals for ministry beyond the common indwelling.Estimated, not verified
- Assurance Is Normal For BelieversRejectsTradition defaultSettled assurance of salvation is normal and to be expected for genuine believers in this life.Estimated, not verified
- Blasphemy Against Spirit UnforgivableAffirmsTradition defaultThere is a specific sin against the Holy Spirit that is unforgivable.Estimated, not verified
- Deliverance Ministry NormativeAffirmsTradition defaultCasting out demons (deliverance ministry) should be a normal, expected part of the church's ministry today.Estimated, not verified
- Father Sole Cause Of SpiritStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe Father alone is the single ultimate cause (monarchia) of the Spirit's eternal origination.Estimated, not verified
- Filioque Creedal Addition LegitimateStrongly rejectsTradition defaultAdding "and the Son" to the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed was a legitimate clarification the whole Church may accept.Estimated, not verified
- Filioque Double ProcessionStrongly rejectsTradition defaultThe Holy Spirit eternally proceeds from the Father AND the Son (filioque).Estimated, not verified
- Filling Is Repeatable CommandNo firm positionTradition defaultBeing "filled with the Spirit" is a repeatable, commanded experience distinct from the one-time indwelling.Estimated, not verified
- Fruit More Than Gifts Is The EvidenceAffirmsTradition defaultThe fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, etc.) is the truest evidence of the Spirit's presence, more than the spectacular gifts.Estimated, not verified
- Gift Of Healing ContinuesAffirmsTradition defaultThe gift of supernatural healing operates through believers today.Estimated, not verified
- Indwelling Via Baptism Or SacramentStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe Spirit's indwelling is conferred chiefly through the sacrament of baptism (and/or chrismation/confirmation).Estimated, not verified
- Inner Light AuthoritativeStrongly rejectsTradition defaultThe Spirit's direct inner light within each person is a primary and sufficient source of religious truth and direction.Estimated, not verified
- Lack Of Healing Implies Lack Of FaithRejectsTradition defaultWhen prayed-for healing does not occur, the usual explanation is insufficient faith on the part of those involved.Estimated, not verified
- Miraculous Gifts CeasedRejectsTradition defaultThe miraculous/sign gifts (prophecy, tongues, healings, miracles) ceased with the apostolic age and are not normative today.Estimated, not verified
- Modern Prophets Speak With Scripture AuthorityStrongly rejectsTradition defaultRecognized prophets today can speak with binding, Scripture-level authority over the church.Estimated, not verified
- Office Of Apostle Prophet RestoredStrongly rejectsTradition defaultThe governing offices of apostle and prophet have been restored and should lead the church today.Estimated, not verified
- Oneness One Person Three ManifestationsStrongly rejectsTradition defaultGod is one indivisible person who manifests successively or simultaneously as Father, Son, and Spirit, rather than three eternally distinct persons.Estimated, not verified
- Public Tongues Require InterpretationStrongly affirmsTradition defaultPublic tongues-speaking in the gathered assembly must be accompanied by interpretation or remain silent.Estimated, not verified
- Regeneration Monergistic By SpiritStrongly rejectsTradition defaultRegeneration is monergistic: the Spirit gives new life before and apart from any cooperating act of the human will.Estimated, not verified
- Sanctification Is Spirit Empowered CooperationStrongly affirmsTradition defaultSanctification is the Spirit's ongoing work in which the believer actively cooperates ("walk by the Spirit").Estimated, not verified
- Sinless Perfection AttainableRejectsTradition defaultBy the Spirit, a believer may reach a state of entire freedom from conscious/willful sin in this life.Estimated, not verified
- Spirit Active In CreationStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe Holy Spirit was personally active in the creation of the world.Estimated, not verified
- Spirit Baptism At ConversionAffirmsTradition defaultBaptism in/with the Holy Spirit happens at conversion and is identical with becoming a Christian: not a separate later event.Estimated, not verified
- Spirit Baptism For Empowerment Not SalvationRejectsTradition defaultSpirit-baptism is primarily for power/empowerment for witness and service, distinct from the saving work that makes one a believer.Estimated, not verified
- Spirit Can Be Lost By ApostasyStrongly affirmsTradition defaultA person genuinely indwelt by the Spirit can lose that indwelling through apostasy or grave sin.Estimated, not verified
- Spirit Distinct HypostasisStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe Spirit is a distinct hypostasis/person, genuinely other than the Father and the Son, not merely a mode or aspect of the one God.Estimated, not verified
- Spirit Effects RegenerationStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe new birth (regeneration) is a work the Holy Spirit accomplishes in the believer.Estimated, not verified
- Spirit Empowers All Believers PriesthoodStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe Spirit gifts and empowers every believer for ministry (priesthood of all believers), not a clerical class alone.Estimated, not verified
- Spirit Eternal And UncreatedStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe Holy Spirit is eternal, without beginning, and shares the one uncreated divine nature.Estimated, not verified
- Spirit From Father Through SonStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe Spirit proceeds from the Father THROUGH the Son (per Filium), not from the Son as a co-cause.Estimated, not verified
- Spirit Given Through Laying On Of HandsStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe Spirit is characteristically imparted or stirred up through the laying on of hands.Estimated, not verified
- Spirit Gives Charisms To OfficesStrongly affirmsTradition defaultOrdination/consecration confers a specific charism of the Spirit for church office (priest, bishop, presbyter).Estimated, not verified
- Spirit Gives Gifts Sovereignly Not By SeekingAffirmsTradition defaultThe Spirit distributes gifts sovereignly as He wills, so believers cannot simply claim or work up a particular gift.Estimated, not verified
- Spirit Grace Irresistible In ElectStrongly rejectsTradition defaultThe Spirit's saving, regenerating grace is ultimately irresistible in those God has chosen.Estimated, not verified
- Spirit Grieved And ResistibleStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe Spirit can be resisted, grieved, and quenched by human beings.Estimated, not verified
- Spirit Guarantees Church InfallibilityStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe Spirit so guides the Church's official teaching that it can be preserved from error (infallibility) on matters of faith.Estimated, not verified
- Spirit Guidance Subordinate To ScriptureStrongly affirmsTradition defaultAny present-day prompting attributed to the Spirit must be tested by and remain subordinate to the written Scripture.Estimated, not verified
- Spirit Homoousios With Father SonStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe Spirit is of the same essence (homoousios) as the Father and the Son.Estimated, not verified
- Spirit Illumines ReaderStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe Spirit must internally illumine a reader for Scripture to be rightly understood and received as God's word.Estimated, not verified
- Spirit Impersonal Divine EnergyStrongly rejectsTradition defaultWhat Scripture calls "the Holy Spirit" is best understood as God's impersonal power or presence-in-action rather than a third "who."Estimated, not verified
- Spirit Indwells Every BelieverStrongly affirmsTradition defaultEvery true believer is permanently indwelt by the Holy Spirit from the moment of conversion.Estimated, not verified
- Spirit Inspired ScriptureStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe Holy Spirit is the divine author who inspired the writers of Scripture.Estimated, not verified
- Spirit Is Bond Of LoveRejectsTradition defaultThe Spirit can be rightly described as the mutual love or bond (vinculum amoris) between the Father and the Son.Estimated, not verified
- Spirit Is Created BeingStrongly rejectsTradition defaultThe Holy Spirit is a created being or the highest creature, not eternal and uncreated.Estimated, not verified
- Spirit Is Fully GodStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe Holy Spirit is fully and truly God, equal in divine essence to the Father and the Son.Estimated, not verified
- Spirit Is Personal AgentStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe Holy Spirit is a distinct personal agent (who can be grieved, speaks, wills, and intercedes), not merely an impersonal force or energy.Estimated, not verified
- Spirit Is World Soul Or ImmanentStrongly rejectsTradition defaultThe Holy Spirit is essentially the immanent divine presence pervading nature and the cosmos (a world-indwelling Spirit) more than a transcendent personal third.Estimated, not verified
- Spirit Proceeds From FatherStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe Holy Spirit eternally proceeds from the Father.Estimated, not verified
- Spirit Seals Believer PermanentlyStrongly rejectsTradition defaultThe Spirit "seals" the believer as a permanent guarantee of final salvation that cannot be undone.Estimated, not verified
- Spirit Speaks Through Church CouncilsStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe Spirit authoritatively speaks through the decisions of the Church's councils ("it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us").Estimated, not verified
- Spirit Subordinate In RankStrongly rejectsTradition defaultThe Spirit is genuinely subordinate to the Father and the Son in rank or authority, not merely distinct in role.Estimated, not verified
- Spirit Works Savingly Outside Visible ChurchLeans toward rejectingTradition defaultThe Spirit works savingly in people who are outside the visible institutional church, including beyond explicit Christian profession.Estimated, not verified
- Spirit Worthy Of WorshipStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe Holy Spirit is rightly worshiped and glorified together with the Father and the Son.Estimated, not verified
- Spiritual Gifts For Corporate EdificationStrongly affirmsTradition defaultSpiritual gifts exist primarily to build up the gathered body, not for individual display or status.Estimated, not verified
- Tongues Are Known Human LanguagesRejectsTradition defaultWhen exercised genuinely, tongues are real, existing human languages (xenoglossy), not unintelligible utterance.Estimated, not verified
The Church75 positions
- Apostolic Succession Required For Valid MinistryStrongly affirmsTradition defaultA minister's ordination is only VALID if conferred by a bishop standing in apostolic succession.Estimated, not verified
- Apostolicity Is Doctrinal Not SuccessionalStrongly rejectsTradition defaultApostolicity consists primarily in fidelity to apostolic DOCTRINE, not in an unbroken chain of ordinations from the apostles.Estimated, not verified
Sacraments & ordinances73 positions
- Anointing For Healing PracticeStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe church should anoint the sick with oil and pray over them for healing (per James 5).Estimated, not verified
- Anointing Sick Is A SacramentStrongly affirmsTradition defaultAnointing of the sick with oil is a sacrament conveying grace, healing, and forgiveness to the seriously ill.Estimated, not verified
Worship & liturgy65 positions
- Altar Call InvitationStrongly rejectsTradition defaultA public invitation/altar call inviting people to come forward to receive Christ or rededicate is a fitting close to worship.Estimated, not verified
- Altar Oriented ArchitectureStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe worship space should be ordered around an altar/holy table as its visual and theological focus.Estimated, not verified
Last things43 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
Scripture57 positions
- Authority Creeds SubordinateRejectsTradition defaultThe ecumenical creeds and confessions are authoritative only insofar as they faithfully summarize Scripture.Estimated, not verified
- Authority Holy Tradition OrthodoxStrongly affirmsTradition defaultScripture is rightly read only within Holy Tradition: the Fathers, councils, liturgy, and consensus of the Church.Estimated, not verified
Revelation, creation & science33 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
Life & bioethics67 positions
- Abortifacient Contraception WrongStrongly affirmsTradition defaultMethods that can prevent implantation of an already-fertilized embryo (e.g., certain IUDs, emergency contraception) are morally equivalent to early abortion and impermissible.Estimated, not verified
- Abortion Gravely Wrong In PrincipleStrongly affirmsTradition defaultDeliberately ending a pregnancy by killing the unborn is in itself a grave moral wrong.Estimated, not verified
Sexuality & marriage53 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
- Annulment Recognizes Invalid MarriageAffirmsTradition defaultSome unions that appeared to be marriages were never valid marriages, and the church can rightly declare them null (annulment).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
- Almsgiving Is A Binding ObligationStrongly affirmsTradition defaultGiving to the poor is a binding moral obligation, not optional charity, and to withhold from the needy is a sin.Estimated, not verified
Angelology Demonology58 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
Anthropology55 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 Israel32 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 Saints75 positions
- All Believers Are SaintsRejectsTradition default"Saints" in the New Testament sense means all believers, not a special canonized class.Estimated, not verified
- Altar Relics Required Or ProperStrongly affirmsTradition defaultIt is fitting (or required) that altars contain the relics of saints.Estimated, not verified
Churches nearby
Other congregations in the directory near this one.
Want to study this church's tradition at the source? Bible Gateway Plus or Logos Bible Software pair well with any statement of faith.
Keep exploring
See where the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America (GOARCH) tradition typically lands, or take the quiz to get your % match with every church.