We live in extraordinary ex times, when lies and distortions of truth are promoted by authorities to sow confusion and justify the exercise of authoritarian power. Such deception stands in direct opposition to God’s vision for communal life.
As Christians, committed to following Jesus, we are called to be a public witness to his Way: to love God, to love our neighbors as ourselves, and to seek the common good. Therefore, we confess the following truths:
Commandment to Love
We confess that God commands us to love with all our heart, mind, soul, and and to love our as 5 Matthew strength, and to love our neighbors as ourselves (Deuteronomy 6:5, Matthew 22:36-40; Mark 12:30–31). We reject the falsehood that personal comfort or Mark 12:30-31) We reiect the that or communal safet he safety can be secured through exclusion, scapegoating, or persecution of others. God’s universal love embraces all creation and honors the God-given tniversal love allcreation and dignity of all people, no matter who they are or where they are from.
Love of Neighbor
We confess the truth of the Good Samaritan: Godly love is not confined by legal definitions or cultural preferences-it is universal (Luke 10:25-37). We reject the falsehood that limits our of neighhor to those who look like us talk that limits our understanding of neighbor to those who look like us, talk like us or believe what we believe Even those we may our are like us, or what we believe. Even those we may consider our enemies are our neighbors. A peace built on persecution and marginalization is a false peace that is not with that is not sustainable without oppression. True peace begins with love-of God, of self, and of neighbor.
Authentic Love
We confess that Jesus calls us to embody a love that disrupts oppression, speaks truth in love, and names injustice (Luke 4:18-19; Matthew 23:23). We reject the false notion that violence or hate can ever be reconciled with Christian doctrine. We proclaim our commitment to love and nonviolence in pursuit of God’s authentic peace.
The Cost of Love
We confess that following Jesus requires a costly love rooted in courageous faithfulness to God (Mark 8:34-35; John 15:12-13). We reject the false idea that silence or disengagement in the face of injustice is faithful. Christ calls us to visible witness– standing with the vulnerable, caring for the poor, and crossing boundaries of difference in love (Matthew 25:31-45).
Faithfulness to God
We confess that our first loyalty is to God, not to human authority, so that we may guard against idolatry (2 Timothy 1:13-14; Acts 5:29). We are called to embody Christ, who led through service, humility, and love (Matthew 20:25-28). We reject false claims that elevate political power, national identity, or human leadership above faithfulness to God’s purposes.
The sister communities of Church of the Saviour in Washington, DC, have joined together to declare these truths as the theological foundation of our identity as a Confessing Church. We call upon others to stand with us in this Confession of Faith and to embody these truths in public witness and private life. We appeal to all who share our concern to reject the falsehoods we are witnessing in public life, resist fear, confront injustice, and act in ways that lead to peaceful unity and communal well-being in faith, hope, and love.
