THE EVANGELICAL CHRISTIAN CHURCH IN CANADA   (Social & Moral Conservative Guidelines)    1. Marriage Marriage is a lifelong covenant relationship between one MAN and one WOMEN to the exclusion of all others. It is a lifetime relationship in the eyes of God. We believe in the covenant faithfulness of each man and women in marriage before Jesus Christ. 2. Family The family is to provide physical, emotional, and spiritual care for its members as it enables them to serve God, groups of people, and creation. Family is the foundation to Canadian society.  3. Homosexuality Homosexuality is a sinful and unacceptable lifestyle and behavior before God, and the church of Jesus Christ. The Evangelical Christian Church will NEVER accept or bless same-sex unions of any kind. We believe that homosexual behavior is "inconsistent with New Testament Christianity." We believe that God can fully deliver a person from the practice and the inclination of homosexuality.  4. Common-law living The Evangelical Christian Church does NOT accept fornication among single couples as an excuse for living together. We support chastity and purity in relationships outside the marriage bond. 5. Abortion Abortion is the murder of innocent children and it is not a form of birth control. We oppose abortion except in rare pregnancies where the life of the mother is at risk, only after Godly counsel. We encourage all people to raise your voice against the killing of children or the elderly. 6. Abolition Movement We are a historic anti-slavery group that feels that many Africans and other groups of people are experiencing slavery around the world. We continue to show our opposition against any treatment that shackles many in the sex trade war that holds people captive against their wills. 7. Water Baptism We believe that baptism is one of two ordinances enjoined upon believers by the Lord Jesus Christ. We baptize in name of the Father, and Son, and Holy Spirit. 8. 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 Communion. 9. Death and Burial Funeral practices differ in various parts of Canada and the United States. Along with this, there is increasing divergence in conducting final rites at the time of death. The Evangelical Christian Church in Canada offers this to the public. Our traditional approach is: Organ Meditation, Scripture, Hymns, Obituary and Word of Tribute, Meditation and Prayer, and Benediction. The Evangelical Christian Church in Canada accepts the traditional and spiritual burial of the body. We also accept cremation ashes of the body. 10. Poverty & Homelessness Poverty and Homelessness are complex issues that defy a single, simple solution. Homelessness and poverty include family breakdown and violence, unemployment, recent immigration, release from prison, substance abuse and addiction, mental and physical illness and shortage of affordable housing. 11. Substance Abuse We recognize that the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and it should be treated with great respect. We are opposed to the production, sale, purchase and abuse of alcoholic beverages, tobacco, narcotics, and other harmful drugs; including the abuse of prescription drugs. We believe that people can seek and find freedom from these vices. 12. Euthanasia We do not support and believe that mercy killing should end life because of a painful and incurable disease. 13. War We do not support war, but we strive in every means to find peace among all nations of the world and common enemies. We do not accept military involvement in a country unless it is for peacekeeping assignments, or a country is threatened by a common enemy. 14. Women in Ministry The ECC accepts women in ministry and believes that the call of God is upon all those who hear and respond to it. We support men and women in all areas and positions in ministry. 15. 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 oppose to evolution. 16. Godhead (Trinity) We believe in the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit as one true God. We also believe that salvation is only through Jesus Jesus Christ who is the only Way, the Truth, and the Life. 17. Israel The ECC supports and stands with Israel because the Restoration of Israel is God's timetable for end-time prophecy. We believe that untold blessing and rewards are given to those who financially support and stand with the nation of Israel. We need to stand with her by praying for her. The Evangelical Christian Church stands by and believes that the holocaust happened during World War 2 to the Jewish people. However, the gospel must be preach to ALL people. No nation is to be above all others. 18. Bible We believe in the infallibility and inerrancy of the scriptures as originally given by (verbal) inspiration of God in both Old and New Testaments. We also believe that it is the sole and final authority on all matters of faith, life and every area it touches. We are opposed to religious error that holds people captive against their freedom in Christ. However, although tradition, creeds and councils does not rule our interpretation of scripture, it does guide it. If, upon reading a particular passage, we come up with an interpretation that has escaped the notice of every other Christian for two thousand years, or has been championed by universally recognized heretics, chances are pretty good that we had better abandon our interpretation. 19. 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 Savior. 20. 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 no matter the Christian denomination. 21. Gifts of the Holy Spirit We believe that each believer is given a spiritual enablement by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and given 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. The issue over tongues and fivefold ministry gifts of the church are only in the power and the control of the Holy Spirit. It is our responsibility to judge the working of the Spirit with prayerful discernment. 22. Creeds Our only creed is the Bible and Jesus Christ; however we also accept the reform position within the Restoration Movement, and also doctrines of the Armenian Faith. 23. Environment The Evangelical Christian Church believes that the earth is the Lord's and it is the responsibility and the purpose of every Christian and non-Christian to clean up the environment within their communities in Canada and in all nations around the world. We also believe that the events taking place with the weather around the world is according to end-time prophecy. 24. Diversity The Evangelical Christian Church does not expect their ministers to follow a certain dress code or a certain way of worshiping God. We do not have a certain mode of preaching or practices in keeping with certain feast days. We do not indicate what Bible translation our ministers must read and preach from. Diversity of ministry and race are accepted within the Evangelical Christian Church. 25. Denominationalism The Evangelical Christian Church 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. We also enjoy fellowship together within all Christian denominations, and all Christians in the love of Christ. 26. Stewardship The Evangelical Christian Church believes in the biblical principle of stewardship as commanded and practiced by Christ. 27. Grace We believe in the gospel of grace, (that the Christian is fully dependent on God), and the blood of Jesus cleanses all believers from all sin - past present and future.