What We Believe

This congregation as a Member Church of the Evangelical Missionary Church of Canada (EMCC) adopts and affirms the Articles of Faith of the EMCC.

In accord with these Articles of Faith the following essentials are those things which identify us as evangelical and orthodox: The following abbreviated statement appears in the EMCC ‘Christ at the Centre’ Position Paper as a fair distillation of Articles of Faith that are the non-negotiable Essentials of the Christian faith and fully consistent with the Articles of Faith of the Evangelical Missionary Church of Canada.

The statement is Orthodox and Evangelical.

Orthodox means in agreement with the historic teaching of the Christian faith as expressed in the historic creeds.

Evangelical means an emphasis on the biblical gospel about salvation by faith in Christ and new life (regeneration) by the transforming work of the Holy Spirit. This new life is essential to the Christian walk.

The Holy Scriptures

As originally given by God, divinely inspired, infallible, entirely trustworthy; and the only supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct.

One God

Eternally existent in three Persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Our Lord Jesus Christ

God manifest in the flesh, His virgin birth, His sinless human life, His divine miracles, His bodily resurrection, His ascension, His mediatorial work, and His personal return in power and glory.

The Salvation

Of lost and sinful people through the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ by faith apart from works, and regeneration by the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit

By whose indwelling the believer is enabled to live a holy life to witness and work for the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Unity

In the Spirit of all true believers, the Body of Christ. The local church as the tangible expression of the Body of Christ, an organized body of believers in Christ who are voluntarily joined together for public worship and evangelism, teaching the Word, fellowship with the saints, observance of the ordinances, exercise in prayer, and who are commissioned with the responsibility to administer discipline.

The Resurrection

Of both the saved and the lost; they that are saved unto the resurrection of life, and they that are lost unto the resurrection of death.

Marriage
Further, in keeping with the EMCC Articles of Faith and Practice, we embrace the following statement on marriage:
  1. As a matter of belief, doctrine and religious practice, Markham Missionary Church reserves the term “marriage” for the public covenant relationship between one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others.
  2. Members of our staff or clergy are permitted to arrange for, officiate at or take part in the solemnization or celebration of a marriage only when it conforms to the EMCC and Markham Missionary Church statements on marriage.