Church
Third Presbyterian
Presbyterian: a neutral profile of what this congregation describes about its beliefs.
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Public details for this congregation.
TraditionPresbyterianAbout →
Sourcing statusTradition default
Beliefs on file942 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 84 of 942 positions across 18 topics. Expand any topic to see the rest.
God & the Trinity59 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
Christ69 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 fall61 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
Salvation73 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
- Annihilationism Conditional ImmortalityStrongly rejectsTradition defaultThe finally lost are ultimately destroyed/cease to exist rather than suffering everlasting conscious torment (annihilationism / conditional immortality).Estimated, not verified
The Holy Spirit48 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 Church54 positions
- Apostolicity Is Doctrinal Not SuccessionalStrongly affirmsTradition 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 & ordinances47 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 Aspersion ValidStrongly affirmsTradition defaultBaptism by sprinkling (aspersion) is a fully valid mode.Estimated, not verified
Worship & liturgy36 positions
- Bowing And ProstrationStrongly rejectsTradition defaultBowing, prostration, or full physical reverence before the altar, icons, or sacrament is fitting in worship.Estimated, not verified
- Cessationism No Charismatic GiftsStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe miraculous sign gifts (tongues, prophecy, healing) ceased with the apostolic age and have no place in worship today.Estimated, not verified
Last things29 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
Scripture62 positions
- Authority Creeds SubordinateStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe ecumenical creeds and confessions are authoritative only insofar as they faithfully summarize Scripture.Estimated, not verified
- 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
Revelation, creation & science34 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 & bioethics58 positions
- Abortion Gravely Wrong In PrincipleStrongly affirmsTradition defaultDeliberately ending a pregnancy by killing the unborn is in itself a grave moral wrong.Estimated, not verified
- Abortion Permitted To Save Mothers LifeAffirmsTradition defaultAbortion is morally permissible when continuing the pregnancy would directly threaten the mother's life.Estimated, not verified
Sexuality & marriage50 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 MarriageRejectsTradition defaultSome unions that appeared to be marriages were never valid marriages, and the church can rightly declare them null (annulment).Estimated, not verified
- Artificial Contraception Is WrongRejectsTradition defaultArtificial contraception (barrier, hormonal, sterilization) is intrinsically morally wrong.Estimated, not verified
- Celibacy Is A Higher CallingStrongly rejectsTradition defaultConsecrated celibacy/virginity is a higher or more excellent state than marriage.Estimated, not verified
- Chastity Is A Positive VirtueStrongly affirmsTradition defaultChastity (rightly ordered sexuality according to one's state in life) is a positive virtue to be actively cultivated, not merely abstinence.Estimated, not verified
- Church Should Bless Same Sex UnionsStrongly rejectsTradition defaultThe church should liturgically bless and solemnize same-sex unions.Estimated, not verified
- Civil Marriage Is Valid MarriageStrongly affirmsTradition defaultA marriage contracted before the state (civil marriage) is a fully valid marriage in God's sight.Estimated, not verified
- Clergy Should Be CelibateStrongly rejectsTradition defaultThose ordained to the priesthood/ministry should be celibate.Estimated, not verified
- Contraception Fully PermissibleStrongly affirmsTradition defaultMarried couples may use contraception freely as a matter of prudent stewardship, with no moral cloud over it.Estimated, not verified
- Divorce Permitted For AbandonmentStrongly affirmsTradition defaultDivorce is also permitted when an unbelieving or abusive spouse deserts/abandons the marriage (the "Pauline privilege" / desertion ground).Estimated, not verified
- Divorce Permitted For AdulteryStrongly affirmsTradition defaultDivorce is permitted in the case of a spouse's sexual unfaithfulness (the "exception clause").Estimated, not verified
- Divorced Remarried Barred From CommunionStrongly rejectsTradition defaultA person divorced and civilly remarried without annulment should be barred from receiving Communion.Estimated, not verified
- Every Sex Act Open To ProcreationRejectsTradition defaultEvery marital sexual act must remain open to the possibility of procreation.Estimated, not verified
- Experience And Conscience AuthoritativeStrongly rejectsTradition defaultThe lived experience and conscience of faithful believers (including LGBTQ Christians) is a legitimate source that can correct inherited sexual teaching.Estimated, not verified
- Gay Christians Called To CelibacyStrongly affirmsTradition defaultChristians who experience exclusive same-sex attraction are called to lifelong celibacy or to a mixed-orientation marriage with the opposite sex.Estimated, not verified
- Historical Polygamy Was Divinely ToleratedRejectsTradition defaultOld Testament polygamy was genuinely permitted/tolerated by God for that era, not merely recorded as sin.Estimated, not verified
- Husband Is Head Of WifeStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe husband is the divinely appointed head of the wife, who is called to submit to his leadership.Estimated, not verified
- Lustful Desire Itself Is SinStrongly affirmsTradition defaultInternal lustful desire/fantasy, even without any outward act, is itself sin.Estimated, not verified
- Marital Sex Acts Have Moral LimitsLeans toward rejectingTradition defaultEven within marriage, some sexual acts are morally illicit (not "anything goes" between spouses).Estimated, not verified
- Marriage Is A CovenantStrongly affirmsTradition defaultMarriage is essentially a covenant (a binding, God-witnessed promise) more than a contract or a means to ends.Estimated, not verified
- Marriage Is A SacramentStrongly rejectsTradition defaultMarriage between the baptized is a sacrament that confers grace.Estimated, not verified
- Marriage Is IndissolubleRejectsTradition defaultA valid, consummated marriage is absolutely indissoluble; nothing but death ends it.Estimated, not verified
- Marriage Is Lifelong MonogamousStrongly affirmsTradition defaultMarriage is by nature a lifelong, exclusively monogamous union.Estimated, not verified
- Marriage Is Male Female By DefinitionStrongly affirmsTradition defaultBy definition and divine design, marriage is the union of one man and one woman.Estimated, not verified
- Marriage Requires Proper Form And ConsentRejectsTradition defaultA valid marriage requires proper canonical form, free consent, and openness to its essential ends; defects in these can void it.Estimated, not verified
- Masturbation Is SinfulAffirmsTradition defaultMasturbation is morally wrong.Estimated, not verified
- Natural Family Planning PermissibleLeans toward rejectingTradition defaultSpacing or limiting births by natural family planning (periodic abstinence) is morally acceptable for serious reasons, where artificial means are not.Estimated, not verified
- No Grounds Justify DivorceStrongly rejectsTradition defaultThere are no grounds whatsoever that morally justify divorce for a believer.Estimated, not verified
- Orthodox Economia Permits Second MarriageRejectsTradition defaultThe church may, by pastoral mercy ("economia"), permit a second or third marriage with a penitential rite even though it is less than the ideal.Estimated, not verified
- Polyamory Can Be EthicalStrongly rejectsTradition defaultConsensual polyamorous or "ethical non-monogamous" relationships can be morally legitimate.Estimated, not verified
- Polygamous Converts May Remain MarriedRejectsTradition defaultA man already in a polygamous marriage when he converts may remain married to all his wives rather than being required to divorce.Estimated, not verified
- Polygamy Is ImmoralStrongly affirmsTradition defaultPolygamy (one man, multiple wives) is morally wrong for Christians.Estimated, not verified
- Pornography Use Is SinfulStrongly affirmsTradition defaultUsing pornography is morally wrong.Estimated, not verified
- Premarital Sex Always WrongStrongly affirmsTradition defaultPremarital sex (fornication) is always sinful, even between an engaged or committed couple.Estimated, not verified
- Remarriage Permitted For Innocent PartyStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe innocent party in a biblically justified divorce is free to remarry.Estimated, not verified
- Same Sex Acts Always SinfulStrongly affirmsTradition defaultSexual acts between two people of the same sex are always morally wrong.Estimated, not verified
- Same Sex Attraction Is DisorderedStrongly affirmsTradition defaultSame-sex sexual attraction is an objective disorder of desire even when not acted upon.Estimated, not verified
- Same Sex Marriage Is True MarriageStrongly rejectsTradition defaultA covenanted union between two people of the same sex can be a true marriage in God's sight.Estimated, not verified
- Same Sex Orientation Not SinfulRejectsTradition defaultA same-sex orientation or attraction, in itself (apart from acting on it), is not sinful.Estimated, not verified
- Scripture Norms Sexual EthicsStrongly affirmsTradition defaultScripture provides binding, authoritative norms for sexual conduct that the church is not free to revise.Estimated, not verified
- Sex Is Fixed Binary GivenStrongly affirmsTradition defaultA person's sex is a fixed, binary, God-given reality determined at conception, not something that can be changed.Estimated, not verified
- Sex Reserved For MarriageStrongly affirmsTradition defaultSexual intercourse is morally reserved exclusively for marriage.Estimated, not verified
- Sexual Ethics Are A Salvation IssueAffirmsTradition defaultOne's stance and conduct on sexual ethics bears on salvation/standing before God, not merely on discipleship maturity.Estimated, not verified
- Sexual Pleasure Is A Good In ItselfStrongly affirmsTradition defaultSexual pleasure within marriage is a genuine good to be enjoyed for its own sake, not merely tolerated for procreation.Estimated, not verified
- Sexual Sin No Worse Than Other SinRejectsTradition defaultSexual sins are not categorically graver than other sins and should not be singled out for special emphasis or discipline.Estimated, not verified
- Singleness Is A Full Equal VocationAffirmsTradition defaultLifelong singleness is a full and equal Christian vocation, not a lesser or transitional state.Estimated, not verified
- Tradition Settles Sexual EthicsRejectsTradition defaultThe consistent, unbroken teaching of the historic church on sex and marriage is itself a decisive authority that cannot be overturned.Estimated, not verified
- Unitive Companionship Is Primary EndStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe unitive good (companionship, mutual love, and one-flesh union of the spouses) is at least as central as procreation, if not more so.Estimated, not verified
- Vowed Celibacy Is BindingStrongly rejectsTradition defaultA vow of lifelong celibacy (religious life) is genuinely binding before God and should not be dispensed lightly.Estimated, not verified
- Women May Be Ordained PastorsStrongly rejectsTradition defaultWomen may be ordained as pastors/priests and hold the church's highest teaching/governing office.Estimated, not verified
Society & politics45 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 LegitimateAffirmsTradition defaultThe civil authority may rightly execute criminals for grave crimes.Estimated, not verified
Angelology Demonology52 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
Anthropology53 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 Israel51 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
- Baptism Replaces Circumcision Covenant SignStrongly affirmsTradition defaultBaptism is the New Covenant counterpart to circumcision, marking entrance into the covenant community.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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