Our Mission
Conewago Christian Fellowship exists to provide a place where God’s children can collectively glorify God our Creator and Sustainer, honor Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord, and embrace the Holy Spirit as our Guide and Teacher.
We prioritize relationships, first in love for God with all our hearts, souls and minds, and second in loving others as we want to be loved. We place a high value on love and a forgiving attitude in all of our relationships. We demonstrate respect for each other through clear and honest communication.
We are privileged to fulfill the purpose of God that was modeled by Jesus who served the people He lived among. We are committed to stewarding the time and resources that God has entrusted to us for the well being and advancement of His Kingdom.
Our Vision
We place a high value on love and a forgiving attitude in all of our relationships. We will
demonstrate respect for each other through clear and honest communication.
We will actively seek ways to “bring heaven to earth” in our local community and support the
spreading of the Good News in all the world.
ARTICLES OF FAITH
Taken from the 1921 Garden City Confession of Faith.
Article 1
OF THE WORD OF GOD
We believe in the plenary and verbal inspiration of the Bible as the Word of God; that it is authentic in is matter, authoritative in its counsels, inerrant in the original writings, and the only infallible rule of faith and practice. Ex. 4:12; II Sam. 23:2; Ps. 12:6; 119:160; Jer. 1:9l Mt. 5:18; 24:35; II Tim. 3:16; II Pet. 1:20, 21.
Article II
OF THE EXISTENCE AND NATURE OF GOD
We believe that there is but one God, eternal, infinite, perfect, and unchangeable, who exists and reveals Himself in three persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Duet.6:4; Ps. 90:2; Gen. 17:1; Ps 147:5; 139:7-12; Isa 40:28; 57:15; Mal. 3:6; Gen 1:2; Heb. 1:8.
Article III
OF THE CREATION
We believe that the Genesis account of the Creation is a historic fact and literally true. Gen. 1:1, 21, 27; Ex. 20:11; Mk. 10:6-9; Heb. 1:10; 4:4; Heb. 11:3.
Article IV
OF THE FALL OF MAN
We believe that man was created by an immediate act of God: In His own image and after His likeness; that by one act of disobedience he became sinful in his nature, spiritually dead, subject to physical death and to the power of the devil, from which fallen condition he was unable to save himself. Gen.1:26, 27, 16, 17; 3:1-7; Eph. 2:1-3, 12; Jon 6:44; Rom. 5:6
Article V
OF JESUS CHRIST
We believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, that He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin-the perfect Godman; that He was without sin… Making the only adequate atonement for sin by the shedding of His blood, thus reconciling man to God; that He was raised from the dead, ascended to glory and “ever liveth to make intercession for us.” Jon. 1:1, 14, 18; Heb. 1:8; 13:8; Gen. 3:15; Isa. 7:15; Lk. 1:35; Mt. 1:20-25; Isa. 53:5, 6; II Cor. 5:14, 21; Gal. 3:13; I Pet. 2:22, 24; 3:18; Rom. 5:8-10; Mt. 28:6; Acts 2:24; 10:39-41; 17:31; I Cor. 15:20; Acts 1:11; Eph. 1:19, 20; Rev. 1:18; Col. 3:1; Heb. 6:20; I Jon. 2:1, 2; Heb. 7:25.
Article VI
OF SALVATION
We believe that man is saved alone by grace through faith in the finished work of Christ that he is justified from all things on the ground of His shed blood; that through the new birth he becomes a child of God, partaker of eternal life, and blessed with all spiritual blessings in Christ. Eph. 2:8 Rom. 3:20-26; Acts 13:38, 39; Jon. 1:12, 13; 3:4, 8, 16; 5:24; Eph. 1:3.
Article VII
OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe in the deity and personality of the Holy Spirit; that He convinces the world of sin, righteousness, and of judgment; that He indwells and comforts the believer, guides him into all truth, empowers for service and enables him to live a life of righteousness. Acts 5:3,4; II Cor. 3:3, 17; Jon 16:7, 8, 13; I Cor. 3:16; Gal. 4:6; Acts 1:8; Rom. 8:1-4.
Article VIII
OF ASSURANCE
We believe that it is the privilege of all believers to know that they have passed from death unto life; that God is able to keep them from falling, but that the obedience of faith is essential to the maintenance of one’s salvation and growth in grace. I Jon. 3:14; 5:13; Rom. 8:16; II Cor. 12:9; Jude 24, 25; Rom. 16:25, 26; 1:5; Gal. 3:11; Jon. 8:31; II Pet. 1:5-11.
Article IX
OF THE CHURCH
We believe that the Church is the body of Christ, composed of all those who through repentance toward God, and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ have been born again and were baptized by one Spirit into one Body, and that it is her divinely appointed mission to preach the gospel to every creature, teaching obedience to all His commandments. Mt. 15:18; Eph. 1:23; Col 1:18; Acts 20:21; Lk. 24:47; Acts 17:30; 16:31; Gal. 3:26; I Cor. 12:13; Mt. 28:19, 20; Mk. 16:15; Acts 1:8.
Article X
OF SEPARATION
We believe that we are called with a holy calling to a life of separation from the world and its follies, sinful practices, and methods; further that it is the duty of the Church to keep herself aloof from all movements which seek the reformation of society independent of the merits of the death of Christ and the experiences of the new birth. I Pet. 2:9; Tit. 2:11-14; 2:15; Mt. 28:19, 20; 18:15-18; Eph. 4:11-16; Heb. 13:17; Acts 14:21-23; 1:15-26.
Article XI
OF DISCIPLINE
We believe that the Lord has vested the Church with authority in accordance with Scriptural teaching: (1) to choose officials, (2) to regulate the observance of ordinances, (3) to exercise wholesome discipline, and (4) to organize and conduct her work in a manner consistent with her high calling and essential to her highest efficiency. Acts 6:1-6; 13:1-3; II Tim. 2:2; Tit. 1:5-9; 2:15; Mt. 28:19-20; 18:15-18; Eph. 4:11-16; Heb. 13:17; Acts 14:21-23; 1:15-26.
Article XII
OF ORDINANCES
We believe that Christian baptism should be administered upon confession of faith; that the Lord’s Supper should be observed as a memorial of His death by those of like precious faith who have peace with god; that feet washing as an ordinance should be literally observed by all believers; that Christian women praying or prophesying should have their heads covered; that the salutation of the holy kiss should be duly and appropriately observed by all believers; that anointing with oil should be administered to the sick who call for it in faith; that marriage between one man and woman is a divine institution dissoluble only by death, that on the part of a Christian it should be “only in the Lord” and that consistency requires that the marriage relation be entered only by those of like precious faith. Lk. 22:19-20. 1 Cor. 11:23-28; Acts 2:39; 8:12; 18:8; Jon. 13:1-7; 1 Cor. 11:2-16; 16:20; Jas. 5:14-16; Mk. 10:6-12; Rom. 7:2; 1 Cor. 7:39; Amos 3:3
Article XIII
OF RESTRICTIONS
We believe that all Christians should honor, pray for, and pay tribute to, and obey in all thins those who are in authority in state and nation, provided however, that should instances arise in which such obedience would violate the higher law of god “we ought to obey God, rather than mane,” that Church and State are separate, and while believers are to be subject to, they are not a part of the civil, administrative powers; that it is contrary to the teachings of Christ and the apostles to engage in carnal warfare; that Christians should “adorn themselves in modest apparel … not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array”; that the swearing of oaths is forbidden in the New Testament Scriptures; that secret orders are antagonistic to the tenor and spirit of the Gospel; and that life insurance is inconsistent with the filial trust in the he providence and care of our heavenly Father. 1 Pet. 2:13, 14, 17; Rom. 13:1-7; 1 Tim. 2:1, 2; Acts 5:29; Mt. 22:21; Mk. 10:42-44; Jon. 18:36; 2 Cor. 10:4; 1 Tim 2:9, 10; 1 Pet 3:3-5; Mt. 5:34-37; Jas. 5:12; Jon. 18:20; Eph. 5:11, 12; I Jon 3:17; Gal. 6:10; Jer. 49:11; Eph. 1:22, 23.
Article XIV
OF APOSTASY
We believe that the later days will be characterized by general lawlessness and departure from the faith; that on the part of the world “iniquity shall abound; and “evil men shall wax worse and worse”; that on the part of the Church there will be a falling away and “the love of many shall wax cold”; that false teachers shall abound, both deceiving and being deceived and further, that present conditions indicate that we are now living in these perilous times. I Tim. 4:1, 2; Rom. 16:17,18; II Tim. 2:1-5, 13; II Peter 2:1, 2, 10; Mt. 24:11, 12; II Thes. 2:3.
Article XV
OF THE RESURRECTION
We believe in the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ and in the bodily resurrection of all men, both of the just and the unjust-of the just to the resurrection of life, and of the unjust to the resurrection of condemnation. Jon. 20:20, 24-29; Lk. 24:30, 31; I Cor. 15:42-44; Acts 24; Jon. 5:28, 29; I Cor. 15:20-23.
Article XVI
OF THE COMING OF CHRIST
We believe in the personal, imminent coming of our Lord as the blessed hope of the believer; that we who are alive and remain, together with the dead in Christ who will be raised, shall be caught up to meet the Lord in the he air and thus ever be with the Lord, Jon. 14:2, 3 Acts 1:11; Mt. 24-44; Heb. 10:37; Tit. 2:11-13; I Thes. 4:13-18.
Article XVII
OF THE INTERMEDIATE STATE
We believe that in the interval between death and resurrection, the righteous will be with Christ in a state of conscious bliss and comfort, but that the wicked will be in a place of torment, in a state of conscious suffering and despair. Lk. 16:19-31; 23:43; Phil. 1:23; II Cor. 5:1-8; I Thes. 5:10; II Pet. 2:9.
Our Values & Practices
Our patterns of life are prescribed throughout the New Testament and gleaned from the
suffering church throughout the centuries. All that God wants us to know and do cannot be
condensed into a brief statement, and compels us to diligently study the scriptures, seek the
leading of the Spirit, and disciple one another. Therefore we continuously pursue the input and
influence of our Spirit-filled brothers and sisters.
Spiritual Disciplines
●We prioritize individual and collective connection with God through prayer, fasting, study,
memorization and gatherings of believers.
● We embrace the Kingdom vocation given by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount, and we
strive to follow Him in sacrificial love.
●We earnestly seek the gifts and outpouring of the Holy Spirit, but most of all, love.
● We practice baptism as one of the first steps of obedience for all who repent and choose
to follow Jesus.
● We regularly partake in the holy communion—the bread and the cup—in remembrance of
Jesus’s body and blood given for us and following Jesus’ example, wash each other’s feet.
● As a family expresses love for each other, we embrace N.T. practices such as hospitality,
greetings of charity, laying on of hands, and mutual financial support.
● We exercise a ministry of prayer for needs of all kinds and, by the request of those
suffering, anoint with oil.
●We speak honestly and refuse to swear an oath.
Membership
●We encourage commitment to the local church through membership. Prerequisites to membership include;
-A sufficient enough time for the individual and the
congregation to learn to know each other, believer’s baptism based on repentance from sin,
and a testimony of victorious living.
– Request for membership will be made public at a monthly members’ meeting. If everything is
clear, membership will be acknowledged at a following members meeting based on a
testimony of commitment by the applicant.
– Born again individuals will be taken in as members by consent of the brotherhood and a
testimony of commitment to the local brotherhood by the applicant.
– Members humbly walk with each other, are in agreement with our beliefs, and are moving
towards each other in practice.
– Matt 5: 23,24 & 18:15-17 are our guides to resolving conflict and addressing sin.
– Unrepentant members who do not respond positively to the collective voice of the
brotherhood will be excluded from leading in worship and participation in administrative
activities.
– We practice reconciliation between ourselves and others, as part of our reconciliation to God.
Spiritual Practice
● We hold human life–and the human body–as a sacred gift from God. We place the
beginning, duration, and ending of life in his hands, refusing to end life ourselves.
● We renounce all participation in violence and force and choose to put ourselves in harm’s
way rather than inflict harm upon another.
● Where it does not conflict with Jesus’ teaching, we humbly submit to governing powers.
We forgo participation in politics and any system of earthly government, regarding these
in conflict with Jesus’ kingdom.
● We embrace the unique roles that God assigns to each gender in scripture. The unique
role of men includes leading the home and church. The unique role of women includes
nurturing her natural and spiritual family.
● We hold to an Anabaptist understanding of attire that exemplifies an embrace of
Godly femininity and masculinity, i.e., modest dresses for women, and modest
simple outfits for men.
● We embrace the teaching of headship order in I Cor. 11 that includes short, uncovered hair for
men and long hair for women covered with a veil that is recognizable as having religious
significance.
● We are intentional in consuming books, music, and media that draw us towards Jesus,
and avoiding those that do not.
● As God provides the ability and opportunity, we work to provide for ourselves, our
families, and to be able to give to help those in need.
Nature of Leadership
Jesus, to whom has been given all authority in heaven and earth by His Father, came
“not to be served, but to serve, and give His life a ransom for many”. Jesus instructed His
disciples to “walk in His footsteps”. A leadership model that fits Jesus’ description is that of a
flower, those with the most responsibility are the root structure that supports and nourishes the
rest of the organism.
Individuals are held accountable by church leaders, who are held accountable to the
brotherhood, which is held accountable to Christ Jesus our Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer, and
Triumphant King.
CCF recognizes two distinct offices of responsibility, pastors and deacons, as modeled
in the N.T. church.
Pastors oversee the functions of the church that meet spiritual needs by;
– spiritually guiding the congregation through prayer and scripture study
– taking the lead in preaching and teaching
– being responsible for the observation of ordinances
– serving as the spiritual advisor to individuals and the congregation
– fostering spiritual growth through discipleship
– applying scripture to scenes of dispute
– providing counsel and praying for the sick
– taking initiative for future leadership development
Deacons oversee the functions of the church that meet physical needs by;
– coordinating physical and financial care among the congregation
– managing the collection and distribution of monetary gifts
– promoting financial literacy and stewardship
– maintaining financial accounts and records
Pastors and deacons shall be chosen by considering gifting and calling and shall be
willing and able to continue to gain and develop skills in relationships and teaching.
Leaders shall take a minimum 6-month sabbatical after 10 years of service at which time
they have the opportunity to evaluate their willingness and ability to continue to serve. The
congregation shall also be given opportunity to evaluate the leader’s effectiveness and either
commit to continued support or ask for there to be a replacement chosen.
By the time a leader reaches 60 years of age, a replacement shall be chosen who can
be discipled to fill the position by the leader’s retirement by 65 years old.
Retired leaders shall be considered valuable sources of counsel and may be asked to
serve in temporary and one-time assignments.
Pastors and deacons shall receive monetary support in the form of daily wage, the
amount and frequency to be determined by the administrative board.
Methods of Formal Business
The congregation shall appoint an administrative board consisting of 3 members each serving
3yr terms with one term expiring each year. Their job description includes;
– schedule and chair member’s meetings
– organize the church calendar and events
– facilitate regular re-evaluation of documents and decisions
– initiate annual audit of church records
– help organize preaching schedule and invite visiting speakers
– chair the annual Sunday school reorganization
– facilitate congregational evaluation a minimum every 5yrs by an outside advisor focusing on
the health of the congregation
Administrative Norms
– Reorganization of appointed responsibilities takes place at the July members’ meeting.
– The financial fiscal year begins January 1st. Monthly financial statements shall be made
available at the members’ meetings.
– School tuition will be collected through regular offerings and submitted to the school jointly on
bi-monthly basis.
– For those participating in Medi-Share, we recommend a $12,000 deductible. Each member shall be personally responsible for the first $6000 and the congregation will help with the second
$6000 as needed.
Dissolution
In the event that CCF is dissolved, all assets are to be sold and the proceeds divided
evenly between Urban Lighthouse Ministries, Tidings of Peace Christian School, and PEACE
Ministries.
This document last reviewed and accepted 4/2025