This Statement of Faith reflects both the core religious beliefs and relational posture of Gathering Table Ministries (GTM). We believe faith is most faithfully lived out in authentic community, where truth is spoken in love, lives are shaped through relationship, and Christ is made known through the way we gather, serve, and walk together. This Statement of Faith represents the core religious beliefs of GTM and shall guide its governance, training, leadership, employment decisions, volunteer standards, and ministry practices. These beliefs guide not only what the organization affirms, but how it governs, leads, gathers, and conducts its ministry.

 (a) The Holy Scriptures. We believe that the Holy Bible, consisting of the Old and New Testaments, is the inspired Word of God, verbally inspired by the Holy Spirit and without error in the original manuscripts. Scripture is the final authority for faith, doctrine, moral conduct, and practice, and is sufficient for all matters of belief and life. We seek to know God through His Word and to honor Scripture as His revealed truth, shaping both what we believe and how we live.

 (b) The One True God. We believe in one God, eternally existing in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These three are equal in essence, power, and glory, yet distinct in person and role. God is sovereign, holy, just, loving, and unchanging.

 (c) God the Father. We believe God the Father is the Creator and Sustainer of all things, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love. He mercifully concerns Himself with the affairs of humanity, hears and answers prayer, and saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ.

 (d) Jesus Christ. We believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, fully God and fully man, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. We believe in His sinless life, substitutionary death on the cross for the sins of mankind, bodily resurrection from the dead, ascension into heaven, present intercession for believers, and His personal, visible return in power and glory. Through Christ alone, we are reconciled to God and invited into restored relationship with Him. Jesus is both our Savior and our example, calling us to live in faithful obedience and Christlike love.

 (e) The Holy Spirit. We believe in the Holy Spirit, who convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, regenerates those who believe in Christ, and indwells, seals, sanctifies, and empowers believers for godly living and service. The Holy Spirit glorifies Christ and does not speak contrary to Scripture.

 (f) Humanity. We believe that God created humanity in His image, male and female, and that human life is sacred from conception to natural death. Through Adam’s sin, all people are born with a sinful nature and are separated from God, incapable of saving themselves apart from divine grace.

 (g) Salvation. We believe that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone. Salvation is not earned by works, merit, or religious observance, but is the gift of God, resulting in regeneration, justification, sanctification, and eternal life.

 (h) The Church. We believe that the Church is the body of Christ, composed of all true believers. The Church exists to glorify God through worship, prayer, teaching of the Word, fellowship, evangelism, and service. Faith is intended to be lived out in community, where believers walk together in truth, love, humility, and accountability. Christ alone is the head of the Church.

 (i) Marriage, Family, and Human Sexuality. We believe that marriage is a sacred covenant instituted by God and defined exclusively as the union of one biological man and one biological woman. We believe that sexual intimacy is reserved for marriage as defined by Scripture, and that any sexual activity outside of this covenant is contrary to God’s design. We affirm that God created humanity as male and female, and that one’s biological sex is a gift from God and not subject to personal alteration.

 (j) Christian Conduct. We believe that believers are called to live holy lives in obedience to Scripture, marked by love, humility, truth, and moral integrity. While Christians are not perfect, they are called to repentance, accountability, spiritual growth, and Christlike character, shaped through both personal faith and life lived in community.

 (k) Religious Liberty and Ministry Authority. We believe that God alone is Lord of the conscience and that GTM has the right and responsibility to govern its internal affairs, beliefs, leadership, membership standards, and ministry practices in accordance with Scripture. The ministry shall operate free from undue interference by civil authorities, while honoring lawful government insofar as it does not conflict with obedience to God.

 (l) Authority of Interpretation. This Statement of Faith does not exhaust the full extent of our beliefs. The Bible itself, as the inspired and infallible Word of God, speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of mankind. For purposes of GTM’s faith, doctrine, practice, policy, and discipline, the Board of Directors serves as the final interpretive authority on the meaning and application of Scripture.