What does "evangelical" mean?
 

St. Paul’s Church is an evangelical parish within the Anglican Church of Canada. Our

doors are wide open to people from all backgrounds who wish to join us on our faith

journey of following Jesus Christ. Week by week, for more than 250 years, people from all

walks of life have gathered in our building in joyful celebration of God’s love.

 

St Paul's identifies itself as an "evangelical parish" that is part of the Anglican Church of Canada. What does "evangelical" mean?

 

We’re people on a journey, and rejoice in the company of fellow travellers around the world. We don’t claim to have all the answers but, more importantly, know Someone who does. The congregation of St. Paul’s strives, in all things, to glorify the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ. We take seriously the message of the Bible and the orthodoxy of the historic creeds. Our vision is to welcome each person into a vibrant Christian community where the Gospel message is proclaimed and celebrated, where we grow together in our faith in the risen Christ, where we equip people to realize and use their gifts to serve others and minister in the power of the Holy Spirit to our community and world.

 

St. Paul’s Church, throughout its history, has had a theological tradition described as evangelical in emphasis. We consider scripture to be God’s Word revealed to us, and we uphold the orthodox principles of the Christian faith. Several parishioners of St. Paul’s participated in the development of the Montreal Declaration of Anglican Essentials in 1994. As faithful followers of Christ, we affirm the authority of the Bible as a source of knowledge of God and a guide to doctrine, faith and Christian living; the majesty of Jesus Christ as our Lord and the Saviour of sinful humanity; the guidance of the Holy Spirit; the need for personal

conversion; the priority of evangelism; and the importance of being in fellowship with other Christians for spiritual encouragement and growth. Within our congregation, we value an environment of love and tolerance as we travel together on the journey of faith. On many issues outside these core principles, members of our congregation hold diverse views, and we struggle together as we seek to understand how God would have us live, minister, encourage each other and engage our community in our social and geographic context.

 For more detailed information on St. Paul's Church, you may find it of interest to read the 2004 Parish Profile, prepared during the appointment process for our new rector. Be patient--it is a large document and takes time to load.