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Imani Means Faith. "Imani" is the key Swahili translation for Faith, which very appropriately characterizes this young, vibrant, spirited, intentional multicultural congregation.

Imani Means Faith

Members describe Imani as:

"A place of acceptance, a healing station, a warm and comfortable place where the Word is the heart of the church, and people are sincere and compassionate. Though sharing and caring both inside and outside the church, Imani reflects God's love by meeting people where they are. Imani people celebrate life as a community that says thank-you, and be thankful, to our God who loves us."
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God comes to us in free and undeserved favor in the person of Jesus Christ who lived, died, and rose for us that we might belong to God and serve Christ in the world. Following Jesus, Presbyterians are engaged in the world and in seeking thoughtful solutions to the challenges of our time.


Presbyterians affirm that God comes to us with grace and love in the person of Jesus Christ, who lived, died, and rose for us so that we might have eternal and abundant life in him. As Christ’s disciples, called to ministry in his name, we seek to continue his mission of teaching the truth, feeding the hungry, healing the broken, and welcoming strangers. God sends the Holy Spirit to dwell within us, giving us the energy, intelligence, imagination, and love to be Christ’s faithful disciples in the world.

Presbyterians are BELIEVERS and DOERS
WE BELIEVE — in the Great Ends of the Church as set forth in our Book of Order: “the proclamation of the Gospel for the salvation of humankind; the shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the children of God; the maintenance of divine worship; the preservation of the truth; the promotion of social righteousness; and the exhibition of the Kingdom of Heaven to the world.”
WE BELIEVE — in a theology of mission, as expressed in the Westminster Confession of Faith: “... Christ hath commissioned his Church to go into all the world and to make disciples of all nations. All believers are therefore under obligation ... to contribute by their prayers, gifts, and personal efforts to the extension of the Kingdom of Christ throughout the whole earth.”
WE DO — mission and its related functions in “good Presbyterian order” through the structures of our General Assembly, synods, presbyteries and local churches, which provide accountability in a connectional system. The chief agencies of the General Assembly are the Office of the General Assembly, General Assembly Mission Council, Board of Pensions, Presbyterian Foundation, Presbyterian Investment and Loan Program and Presbyterian Publishing Corporation.
WE DO — mission in partnership locally, nationally and globally by prioritizing our available resources, guided by the emphases given by our General Assembly, the biannual meeting of clergy and lay commissioners who represent the presbyteries of the church. Through the General Assembly, all Presbyterians have a voice in setting directions for mission and through their general mission giving, have a vital responsibility in carrying out what the General Assembly has mandated.

POLITY OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (U.S.A.)

WHY WE ARE THE WAY WE ARE

John Calvin, when asked what would happen if each member of the church did as they pleased, answered:  "the ultimate dissolution of the church."  When joining the church, each member voluntarily submits to the church's discipline.

All societies have rules.  There would be anarchy without them.  Rules or laws are based on principles (that which is meaningful or expedient) and tradition (that which has worked in the past).  The initial rules for the Judeo-Christian societies are the Ten Commandments.

There are three forms of church rules or governments.  The "Episcopal" forms are hierarchical with bishops presiding.  The Roman Catholic Church, the Episcopal Church, and the Methodist Churches are examples of this form of government.  The "Congregational" form is democratic and independent.  A church with this form of government is often loosely connected with other churches of the same denomination.  The United Church of Christ, the Baptist Churches, and the Assemblies of God are a few examples.  The "Presbyterian" form of government is representative and consultative.  The United States government was inspired by the Presbyterian form of government.  All of the above forms of government are scripturally based.  The word presbyteros (which means "elder") occurs 72 times in the New Testament.

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is guided by a Constitution with two parts:

I.  The Book of Confessions

II.  The Book of Order

The Apostle Paul wrote,

Anyone who claims to be a prophet, or to have spiritual powers, must acknowledge that what I am writing to you is a command of the Lord.  Anyone who does not recognize this is not to be recognized.  So my friends, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues; but all things should be done decently and in order. (1Cor.14:37-40)

"Decently and in order" are bywords of our denominations.  We are guided by principles which are foundational and based on Scripture.  The first four chapters of the Book of Order formulate our understanding of these principles.

The principles in these chapters are also the foundation for the total life our church.  They provide a common language and assist members in understanding what it means to be a Presbyterian.  The Book of Confessions helps us to understand these principles in their historical context, and the Book of Order assists us in living out these principles.  The Book of Order is not just a book of arbitrary laws but a book of rules to enable us to carry out the Great Ends of the Church: the proclamation of the gospel for the salvation of humankind the shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the children of God the maintenance of divine worship the preservation of the truththe promotion of social righteousnessthe exhibition of the Kingdom of Heaven to the world   (G-1.0200)

 
 
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