Doctrinal Affirmations

The St Benedict Center for Spiritual Formation is based on the tradition of classical, orthodox Christian theology. Theology affects instruction, discussion, and practical training experiences. All offerings at the St Benedict Center seek to be anchored in Scripture and rooted in ancient Christian theology. We have included our doctrinal affirmations below:

The Nicene Creed

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, visible and invisible.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again 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.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Additional Doctrinal Affirmations

The Holy Trinity

There is but one living and true God, everlasting, without body, parts, or passions; of infinite power, wisdom, and goodness; the Maker, and Preserver of all things both visible and invisible. And in unity of this Godhead there be three Persons, of one substance, power, and eternity; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Scriptures

We confess the canonical books of the Old and New Testaments to be the inspired Word of God, containing all things necessary for salvation, and to be the final authority and unchangeable standard for Christian faith and life. Whatever is not contained in Scripture, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required as an article of the Faith necessary for salvation.

The Uniqueness of Jesus Christ

We gladly proclaim and submit to the unique and universal Lordship of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, humanity’s only Savior from sin, judgement and hell, who lived the life we could not live and died the death that we deserve. By his atoning death and glorious resurrection, he secured the redemption of all who come to him in repentance and faith. While we may hope for — and certainly pray for and work toward — the salvation of all those who have not heard of Christ or, having heard, have rejected him, we cannot assert the salvation of all (universalism) as a tenet of the Faith, nor may we suppose or teach that there is any other way to the Father but through Jesus Christ alone.

The Sacraments

We confess Baptism and the Supper of the Lord to be Sacraments ordained by Christ Himself in the Gospel. Baptism is the sacrament of initiation into the Body of Christ through which one expresses repentance, proclaims faith, accepts the Lordship of Christ, and takes one’s place in the Church.  Holy Eucharist (Communion, the Lord’s Supper) is the sacrament of the body and blood of Christ by which one is spiritually nourished and strengthened for the work of the kingdom.

On Gender and Christian Marriage

We acknowledge God’s creation of humankind as male and female and the unchangeable standard of Christian marriage between one man and one woman as the proper place for sexual intimacy and the basis of the family.