THE DIOCESE OF THE WEST – MISSION STATEMENT & VALUES
A. MISSION STATEMENT
We are a fellowship of Christian believers whose mission is to make disciples of all nations by preaching the biblical gospel, teaching God’s Word faithfully, and supporting one another in this mission and ministry of the Church to the glory of God alone.
B. VALUES
TRINITARIAN – focused on our Triune God, relying on Him, and walking in wholehearted devotion to Him. Knowing Him, delighting in Him, and enjoying Him forever. Exalting and proclaiming Him, and relying on the Holy Spirit for Christian life, witness, and ministry.
CHRIST CENTERED – Christians are accounted righteous before God only by the merit of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, perfect God and perfect Man; by faith and not by any works or deserving. We believe in grounding our work in those formational historical events of the incarnation, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension of Christ.
BIBLICAL – The Scriptures of the Old and New Testament are the inspired Word of God and our primary authority for faith and morals. We are Bible-Driven; hence, committed to expounding the Bible, with Bible delight, wholeheartedly walking in the way of God’s Word, preaching it to ourselves and to others. Desiring to do everything in Bible ways and with Bible means.
HISTORIC ANGLICANISM – We trace our identity to the 16th century English Reformation that valued the Apostolic faith, expressed in Holy Scripture, summarized in the Creeds, celebrated in the dominical Sacraments, and preserved by the traditional Anglican formularies.
MISSIONARY – We will equip Anglican Christians to live as beacons of hope and light in their workplaces, neighborhoods and families, and plant new churches with a special focus on extending the love of God to growing ethnic populations. We are Gospel-Motivated, eager to organize our life and ministry around Jesus’ mission. Proclaiming the objective biblical gospel of Jesus Christ to non-Christians for their conversion, and proclaiming the objective biblical gospel of Jesus Christ to Christians for their growth. Making disciple-making disciples of Jesus.
LOCAL CONGREGATIONS – The primary place where the Christian life is lived and shared is the local congregation. The local congregation must be committed to the Great Commission and the Great Commandment. The function of the diocese, therefore, is to give direction, support and encouragement to local congregations, discern new opportunities for churches, and to ensure that God’s Word is faithfully preached, practiced, and taught. It is also the godly responsibility of local congregations to connect and share resources with other congregations as well as support the diocese.
GENEROUS – In our commitment to strengthen our Christian witness, our Anglican identity, our episcopal bonds, and our presence in the world, each parishioner and each congregation is encouraged to give generously, joyfully, sacrificially, with the understanding that all we have is a gift from God. Each Christian is encouraged to give 10% tithe to the Congregation. Each Congregation is encouraged to join in the cheerful giving of 5-10% to support the diocese and bishop, and 5-10% to outreach and missions. Every Congregation and Christian needs to realize the joys and blessedness, as the Bible says, of being generous to their clergy and staff.
