Our Core Values

1. Effective teaching: We believe that the proclamation of the Word of God under the direction of the Spirit of God brings life-change. Effective biblical teaching informs the mind and challenges the will and is foundational to the task of making us more like Jesus and equipping us for the task of making followers of Jesus Christ.
   
   2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Timothy 4:1-5; Colossians 3:16
    
2. Prayer: We believe that prayer is an expression of our dependence on God, who brings about his purposes in response to the prayers of his people.
   
   Ephesians 6:18; Matthew 6:5-13; 1Timothy 2:1-4; Philippians 4:6
    
3. Evangelism: We believe that lost people matter to God and so matter to us. We are therefore committed to reaching out with the gospel, locally, globally, individually and collectively.
   
   Matthew 18:14; Matthew 28:18-20; Luke 5:30-32; 15; 1 Peter 3:15-16
    
4. Leadership: We believe that the church should be led by men and women with leadership gifts, people who are committed to biblical values and living a godly life.
   
   Romans 12:8; Act 6:2-5; Nehemiah 1-2; 1 Timothy 3:1-13; 1 Peter 5:1-14; Hebrews 13:17
    
5. Meeting together: We believe that meeting together regularly for prayer, praise and worship and the building of relationships is necessary for our spiritual growth and is a priority for us.
   
   Acts 2:44-77; Colossians 3:16-17; Galatians 6:1-5
    
6. Spiritual growth: We believe that every Christian should be fully devoted to Christ and his cause, and that normal Christian living is joyfully to submit relationships, work, money, possessions, time and abilities to Christ’s rule.
   
   Romans 12:1-2; Colossians 2:6-7
    
7. Cultural relevance: We believe that the church should be culturally relevant while remaining doctrinally pure. We therefore aim for ‘accessibility’ in all we do. We are committed to a creative engagement with our culture.
   
   1Corinthians 9:19-23; Acts 14:8-18; 17:16-31; 1 Corinthians 14:22-25
    
8. Generosity: We believe that we are to give generously, show mercy and live justly. Recognising that everything we have is entrusted to us by God, we are committed to sacrificially serving our neighbours by using our gifts and resources for the needs of others - especially the poor - and working for justice for the powerless.
   
   Deuteronomy 15:7-11; Luke 10:25-37; Deuteronomy 10:17-22; James 1:27; 1 Timothy 6:6-10; 1John 3:16-20; Hebrews 13:5; 2 Corinthians 8:8-9; Acts 4:32-35; Micah 6:8
    
9. Relationships: We believe the gospel creates a new community where we see different classes of people loving one another, people who could not have got along without the healing power of the gospel. Our relationships with one another should be modelled on Christ’s love and forgiveness of us. We are committed to integrity, transparency and accountability in all relationships.
   
   Galatians 3:28-29; Romans 12:14-21; John 13:34-35; 1Corinthians 13; Matthew 6:14-15; Ephesians 4:32-5:2; Matthew 18:21-35
    
10. Community: We believe that the local church is an outpost of God’s kingdom. Therefore we are committed to an engagement with our community in all its diversity, working to bring transformation and renewal of both individual lives and neighbourhoods.
    
    Matthew 5:13-16; Jeremiah 29:4-7; John 17:15-18
     
11. Excellence: We believe that all we do must be honouring to God and that only our best is good enough for Him. We therefore commit ourselves to achieving the highest standards in all that we do.
    
    Colossians 3:17; Malachi 1:6-14; Proverbs 27:17; Philippians 1:9-11; 4:8
     
12. Equipping: We believe that we are called to serve God both in the church and in every area of life by using our gifts and abilities. Therefore we are committed to encouraging and equipping Christians to serve Christ wholeheartedly and effectively.
    
    1 Corinthians 12; 14; Ephesians 4:11-13
     

St. Stephen’s is an Anglican Church, committed to the teachings expressed in the Creeds of the Christian church and the 39 Articles in the Book of Common Prayer.