The Evangelical Christian Church in Canada
ECC Denominational Guidelines

Marriage

Marriage is a lifelong covenant relationship between one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others. It is a lifetime relationship before God. We believe in the covenant faithfulness of each man and women in marriage before Christ.

Common-law living

Living together as a couple unmarried is a sin against God, and it is not a guarantee for a lasting intimate relationship. We support chastity and purity, and vigorously oppose fornication. Sex is for enjoyment and procreation in a marriage according to God's pattern for the marriage and the family.

Divorce & Remarriage

Divorce and remarriage should not be an option to people unless adultery is involved. We accept divorce on Scriptural grounds. We believe that God can heal wounded relationships. We accept divorce on Scriptural grounds, and believe that divorce Christians can be restored through repentance, and the blood of the cross, while receiving God`s forgiveness. God's forgiveness extends to those divorced and remarried ministers who are being used in ministry.

Family

The family is to provide physical, emotional, and spiritual care for its members as it enables them to serve God, other persons and creation. Family is the foundation to Canadian society.

Homosexuality

Homosexuality is a sinful and unacceptable lifestyle before God and the church of Jesus Christ. God will never bless such an union. We welcome all people to come to our assemblies to hear the truth of the gospel. We believe God can deliver a person from the practice and inclination of homosexuality.

Abortion

Abortion is the murder of innocent children. We oppose abortion except in rare preqnancies where the life of the mother is at risk, only after Godly counsel. We encourage our people to get involved in the anti-abortion movement.

Abolition Movement

We are an anti-slavery group that feels that many Africans and other groups of people are experincing slavery around the world. We continue to show our opposition against any treatment that shackles many in a trade war that holds people captive against their wills.

Water Baptism

We believe that baptism is one of two ordinances enjoined upon believers by the Lord Jesus Christ. We baptize in the name of the Father, and Son, and the Holy Spirit.

The Lord's Supper

We believe that this is the most blessed bond between the body of believers and the risen Lord, and between one another, as it is experienced in the sacrament of the Communion.

Death and Burial

Funeral practices differ in various parts of Canada and the United States. Along with this, there is increasing divergency in conducting final rites at the time of death. The ECC offers this to all people. Our approach is: Organ Meditation, Scripture, Hymns, Obituary and Words of Tribute, Meditation and Prayer, and Benediction. The ECC accepts the traditional burial of the body and cremation ashes.

Poverty & Homelessness

Poverty & homelessness are complex issues that defy a single, simple solution. Homelessness and poverty include family breakdown and violence, unemployment, recent immigration or release from prison, substance abuse and addiction, mental and physical illness and shortage of afforable housing.

Substance Abuse

We recognize that the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and should be treated with great respect. We are opposed to the illegal production, sale, purchase and abuse of alcoholic beverages, tabacco, and also the abuse of perscription drugs, narcotics and harmful drugs. Our goal is to seek deliverance from these vices.

Euthanasia

We recognize the value of human life and do not condone mercy killing.

War

We do not support war, but we strive in every means to find peace among all nations. We do not accept military involvement in a country unless it is for peacekeeping assignments, and a country is threaten by a common enemy.

Women in Ministry

Women in ministry is a call of God and they can be found in all areas of ministry and all giftings of the Holy Spirit. We support men and women in all areas and positions in ministry. The ECC does believe in equal rights and opportunities for all individuals politically, economically, and religiously. We urge our ministers to dress modestly.

Creation

The three creative acts of God are recorded in Genesis: 1. the heavens and the earth; 2. animal life; 3. human life. The 6 day creative act refers to the dateless past, and gives scope for all the geologic ages.and we believe in the fall of man in sin as opposed to evolution.

Godhead (Trinity)

We believe that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit as God. We also believe that salvation is only through Jesus Christ who is the Way the Truth and the Life.

Israel

We support and stand with Israel because the Restoration of Israel is God`s time table for end-time prophecy. We believe that untold blessings and rewards are given to those who support and stand with Israel by praying for them. The ECC stands by and believes that the holocaust happened to the Jewish people.

Bible

We believe in the infallibility and inerrancy of all the scriptures as originally given by (verbal) inspiration of God, and it is the sole and final authority on all matters of faith, life and every area it touches.

Heaven and Hell

We believe in a literal eternal Heaven and Hell. Heaven is for the blood cleansed, born again saints of God, and Hell is for those who are unsaved and reject Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour.

Stewardship

The ECC believes in the biblical principle of stewardship.

Body of Christ

We believe that every believer today is the true Church of Christ`s body and bride, and we also believe in the spiritual unity of all believers in Christ.

Ethnic Backgrounds

We accept all forms of diversity, aboriginal, groups of people and their characteristics, customs, race, and languages from every nation that make up the body of Christ.

Gifts of The Holy Spirit

We believe that each believer is given a spiritual enablement by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and a capacity for specific service in the church. No believer is destitute of such gifts. For by one Spirit we are baptized into one body. We only accept these gifts when it lines up according to the Holy Scripture, and we do not limit God in any way. It is our responsibility to discern the working of the Spirit with prayerful decernment.

Creeds
Our only creed is the Bible and Christ. However, we believe in a reform position within the Restoration Movement.

Enviroment
The ECC believes that the earth is the Lord's and it is the responsibility and the purpose of every Christian to clean up the enviroment in our communities and country. We believe that global warming is according to endtime prophecy.

Diversity

The ECC does not expect their ministers to follow a certain dress code or a certain way of worshipping. We do not have a certain mode of preaching or practice in keeping certain feast days. We do not indicate what translation our ministers must read and preach from. Diversity of ministry is accepted. Our focus is only on the Bible.

Denominationalism
The ECC does not believe in denominational walls that separate believers in the Spirit of Christian unity. We believe that all Christians are one in the body of Christ, and enjoy fellowship together within all Christian denominations.

NOTE:

While these believes are found in the scriptures, it is the responsibility of every ECC minister to discern and judge each person's situation in the merit of scripture before arriving to this position. Please be advised when dealing with the sins and faults of people. we must respond the way Jesus did (love God and love the sinner).

This Position Statement is an admonition to members, but not commitments, and it will need revisions over time because of the continuing development of Truths from the scriptures and the emrgence of including members of The ECC in Canada, which all are invited to submit comments and suggests at any time to ECC. We believe that every minister or church in The ECC has the Freedom to develop his/her position from scripture.