Complete information about all the areas of ministry of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church can be found at www.cumberland.org which is our denomination's website.

What Cumberland Presbyterians Believe - "We believe and therefore we speak." - 2 Cor. 4:13

Quotes from our Confession of Faith: (The official statement of doctrine of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.)

The Bible

"God inspired persons of the covenant community to write the scriptures. In and through the scriptures God speaks about creation, sin, judgment, salvation, the church and growth of believers. The scriptures are the infallible rule of faith and practice, the authoritative guide for Christian living." -- (sect. 1.05) We believe that the best interpretation of scripture is the comparison of scripture with scripture. Thus, we do not depend upon a particular verse as literal proof of all beliefs and practices.

The Godhead

"The one living God who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the Holy Trinity, speaks through the Holy Scriptures, the events of nature history, apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers, but uniquely in Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh." -- (Sect. 1.02)

The Church

"The church, as the covenant community of believers who are redeemed, includes all people in all ages, past, present, and future, who respond in faith to God's covenant of grace, and all who are unable to respond, for reasons known to God, but who are saved by his grace." -- (Sect. 5.06) We believe in our denomination as a part of the church of which Christ is the head and all believers in Christ are a part. We believe in cooperation with all who accept Jesus as Christ and Lord.

Salvation

"Repentance is that attitude toward God wherein sinners firmly resolve to forsake sin, trust in Christ, and live in grateful obedience to God." -- (Sect. 4.05) "Saving faith is response to God, prompted by the Holy Spirit, wherein persons rely solely upon God's grace in Jesus Christ for salvation. Such faith includes trust in the truthfulness of God's promises in the scriptures, sorrow for sin (repentance), and determination to serve God and neighbor. " -- (Sect. 4.08) All infants dying in infancy and all persons who have never had the faculty of reason are regenerated and saved through Christ. We do not believe that good works will save our souls, but that good deeds are the result of a regenerated life.

The Sacraments

"Sacraments are signs and testimonies of God's covenant of grace. Circumcision and Passover are the sacraments of the Old Testament: baptism and the Lord's Supper are the sacraments of the New Testament. They are given by God and through his presence, word, and will are made effective." -- (Sect. 5.16) Water Baptism is a sign or symbol of the baptism of the Holy Spirit and a seal of the covenant of Grace. Since the Holy Spirit is always represented in the Scriptures as being poured out on a person, its renewal and cleansing is best symbolized by pouring or sprinkling water upon the head of the one being baptized. There is no saving power in water baptism, yet it is the duty of all believers not previously baptized to confess Christ in this solemn ordinance and present their infant children for baptism. In the Lord's Supper symbols to be used are bread and grape juice, which remain after consecration literal bread and juice. Since it is the Lord's Supper and not an ordinance of a particular church, all who acknowledge Jesus as Christ and who have faith to understand the significance of this sacrament are invited to partake of it with us, regardless of their denominational affiliation.