Warren AME Church Beliefs
Warren believes the Bible is the Word of God. The Holy Scripture contains all things necessary to salvation; so that whatever is not read therein, nor proved thereby, is not required of any man or woman.
Warren believes that the Scriptures teach that there is but one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons, of one substance, and power: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. God’s Son, Jesus Christ, was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life and died on the cross in payment of Man’s sins. He rose from the dead on the third day and shall return to judge all Men at the last day: (I Thessalonica 4).
Warren believes that salvation is a free gift (Eph. 2:8-9), given by God’s grace and received by faith. The Bible teaches that Baptism is not only a sign of profession, and a mark of difference; but it is a sign of regeneration, or the new birth and is symbolic of the believer’s identification with Christ’s death, burial and resurrection. Christ is the source of a believer’s salvation (I Corinthians 15:1-5). The baptism of children is recognized in this church.
Warren believes that the Church is the “Bride of Christ” and the body of Christ. This local congregation is governed in accordance with the Doctrine and Discipline of the African Methodist Episcopal Church (I Timothy 3). The mission and purpose of the church is to minister to the spiritual, intellectual, physical, emotional, and environmental needs of all people by spreading Christ’s liberating gospel through word and deed.
Warren believes that the Bible teaches that the Lord gives Christians spiritual gifts which enable them to serve in the local church (Ephesus 4:11-16).
Warren believes that as Christians we should be concerned with the total person.
Thus Warren is committed to seek out and save the lost, and serve the needy through a continuing ministry of:
(1) preaching the gospel,
(2) feeding the hungry;
(3) clothing the naked,
(4) housing for the homeless,
(5) cheering the fallen,
(6) providing jobs for the jobless,
(7) administering to the needs of those in prisons, hospitals, nursing homes, mental hospitals, senior citizens’ homes, caring for the sick, the shut-in, the mentally and socially disturbed, and
(8) encouraging thrift and economic advancement. (Luke 4:18)