Doctrinal Distinctives
We understand that genuine Christian believers may take a different view on the following matters, but what we believe in these areas inevitably affects the way we organise our church life together. Any Christian who assents to the Statement of Faith of Trinity Church Manchester may become a member, but if they hold a different view on the matters contained in the Doctrinal Distinctives or the FIEC’s statements on Gospel Unity, Women in Ministry and Same Sex Marriage we ask them to respect the beliefs and practices of the church and not to undermine them in any way.
A person may only become an Elder of the church if he wholeheartedly subscribes to these beliefs and is willing to teach and uphold them.
Baptism
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We believe that Baptism into the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit is an outward sign which marks a person's regeneration and baptism by the Holy Spirit into membership of the Church of Jesus Christ. As such it should only properly be administered to a person who publicly professes faith in Jesus Christ. Baptism should, wherever possible, be administered by immersion in water symbolising that the person baptised has been united with Christ in his death and resurrection.
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Leadership
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We believe that a local church congregation should be led by two or more suitably gifted Elders. God created men and women absolutely equal in essence, dignity and value, but also distinct by divine design, having different yet complementary roles in the family and the church. Within the church, both men and women with appropriate gifts and character are expected to lead; however, the office of elder is reserved for qualified men.
The Elders must exercise their leadership of the local church in accordance with the character of Christ’s own leadership of the universal Church, loving the members of the church and working to present them to Christ as holy and blameless. In turn, the members of the church are to submit themselves to the leadership of the Elders in so far as such leadership is exercised in accordance with the Scriptures.
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Salvation
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We believe that God is sovereign in the salvation of men and women, choosing some to be saved not on account of any foreseen merit or faith in them but only because of His sovereign good pleasure. It was God’s will that by Christ’s work on the cross he should effectually redeem all those who were chosen from eternity to be saved. This is fully compatible with the offer of the gospel to all people and does not negate anyone’s responsibility to believe or the church’s responsibility to proclaim the gospel. God calls people through such proclamation and works in them by his Spirit so that they respond in faith. This call and work are compatible with a person’s voluntary response to the gospel. Those who are truly regenerate will be kept by God’s power and will persevere as Christians until the end of their lives. These truths ought to move believers to humility, confidence, joy, praise and faithfulness in response.
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Gifts of the Spirit
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We believe that every Christian is baptised and filled with the Holy Spirit the moment they are born again and trust in Jesus Christ and are to go on being filled with the Holy Spirit as they increasingly yield to His power, influence and control. The gifts of the Holy Spirit that were present in the New Testament are still active within the life of the church today, edifying believers and empowering their witness to the message of the gospel. The exercise of spiritual gifts is to be done in submission to the authority of the Bible and the leadership of the elders.