Holy Trinity Reformed Church affirms that Holy Scripture is the only infallible and highest authority for faith and life. At the same time, the Church is called to state clearly what it believes and teaches. This is precisely why confessions exist: they do not replace the Bible, but provide a responsible, ecclesially tested summary of biblical doctrine that helps preserve truth, unity, and sound teaching.
Our confessional standards have two interconnected levels: the ecumenical (catholic) creeds shared by the historic Church, and the Reformed confessions that shape our confessional identity within the tradition of the Reformation.
1) Ecumenical Creeds
The Nicene Creed
The Nicene Creed is the shared confession of the historic Church, and it affirms with particular clarity the biblical doctrine of the Holy Trinity and the full deity of Jesus Christ. It helps the Church preserve the evangelical center: God has revealed Himself as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and the salvation accomplished by Christ is truly God’s work in history.
The Athanasian Creed
The Athanasian Creed is a comprehensive and very precise formulation of Christian teaching on the Trinity and on the two natures of Christ—truly divine and truly human—in one Person. This creed serves as a doctrinal “compass” for confessing who Christ is and who the God we worship is, and therefore what the foundation of our hope is.
2) Reformed Confessions
The primary Reformed documents that we receive as a faithful expression of biblical faith are the Three Forms of Unity and the Second Helvetic Confession. These texts are not an “addition” to Scripture, but the Church’s testimony of how the Reformed tradition understands biblical teaching about God, salvation, the Church, the sacraments, and the Christian life.
The Three Forms of Unity
The Heidelberg Catechism (1563)
Pastoral in tone and yet theologically profound, the catechism teaches the faith in the form of questions and answers. It is especially helpful for personal growth, family instruction, and preparation for conscious membership in the congregation. Its content is centered on the comfort of the Gospel: what it means to belong to Christ, how grace forms faith, and how that faith is lived out.
The Belgic Confession (1561)
The Belgic Confession presents a structured summary of the central truths of the Christian faith: God, Holy Scripture, creation and sin, salvation in Christ, the Church, the sacraments, and the Christian life. It helps preserve clarity on the most important questions of faith and fosters theological responsibility in preaching and teaching.
The Canons of Dort (1618–1619)
This document highlights biblical teaching on salvation by grace: God’s election, Christ’s saving work, the calling of the Holy Spirit, and the perseverance of believers. The Canons emphasize that salvation is God’s work from beginning to end, and that faith and repentance are gifts of God’s mercy that lead to new life.
3) The Second Helvetic Confession (1566)
The Second Helvetic Confession is one of the most authoritative documents of the early Reformation and has been widely received by many Reformed churches throughout Europe. It addresses key theological themes: Holy Scripture, God and His providence, humanity and sin, Christ and salvation, the Church, ministry, discipline, the sacraments, and the practical implications of faith.
For our congregation, this confession is especially valuable because it combines doctrinal precision with pastoral and ecclesial practice. It shows that truth must shape worship, pastoral care, the order of church life, and Christian ethics.
4) Why the Church Needs Confessions Today
We receive these confessions not as a formality, but as a useful and proven instrument for the life of the Church.
They help us to:
- preserve unity in the faith and faithfulness to the Gospel;
- teach the congregation—children, teenagers, and adults—consistently and clearly;
- support sound preaching and the theological accountability of ministers;
- discern errors and avoid distortions of biblical doctrine;
- shape church practice: worship, the sacraments, discipline, pastoral care, and mission.
5) How These Documents Function in Our Congregation
In the life of Holy Trinity Reformed Church, the confessions have practical application. They:
- form the foundation of catechesis and educational courses;
- assist in preparation for membership and spiritual mentoring;
- provide a framework for preaching and theological ministry;
- serve as guidance in matters of the sacraments, church order, and pastoral care.
Summary
We affirm the ecumenical creeds—the Nicene and the Athanasian—as the shared confession of the historic Church of Christ. We also receive the Reformed confessions—the Three Forms of Unity (the Heidelberg Catechism, the Belgic Confession, and the Canons of Dort) and the Second Helvetic Confession—as a faithful expression of biblical teaching within the tradition of the Reformation.
Our goal is not merely to have correct formulations, but to live by the Gospel: to worship God in truth, to grow in holiness, and to bear witness to Christ in our city and beyond its borders.