OTTERBEIN’S CONFESSION OF FAITH IS THE CORNERSTONE OF WHAT WE BELIEVE TODAY!

It was the spring of 1774.  There had been several years of turmoil in the German Reformed Church in Baltimore over who would serve as pastor.  At the urging of the local Methodist Bishop, Francis Asbury and others, Rev. William Otterbein was called to serve the congregation and he accepted.  Mr. Otterbein took charge of the congregation in Baltimore on May 4, 1774.  Following the outcome of the Revolutionary War, Mr. Otterbein and the church elders adopted a series of rules for its own government. These were called "The Church Book of the Evangelical Reformed Church".  

In the years that followed, Otterbein served in many ways as a teaching pastor, talking with and meeting with a body of laymen who were filled with the same evangelical fire.  In 1789, fourteen men were called gather at Otterbein's parsonage.  Seven came to participate in what is considered the first conference.  Two actions were taken that set the course for the creation in 1800 of a new denomination; the adoption of a distinct confession of faith and a series of disciplinary rules, "The Church Book" were approved.  Otterbein had earlier written these two documents for use in the independent church.

Today, we continue to affirm our faith with this historic and unique Confession of Faith.

Article 1:  In the name of God we confess before all men,
that we believe in the only true God, Father, Son and Holy
Ghost; that these three are one; the Father in the Son, the
Son in the Father, and the Holy Ghost equal in essence with
both; that this God created heaven and earth and all that in
them is, visible as well as invisible, and sustains,
governs, protects, and supports the same.

Article 2:  We believe in Jesus Christ; that he is very God
and man, Savior and Redeemer of the whole world; that all
men through him may be saved if they will; that this Jesus
suffered for us; that he died and was buried, rose on the
third day, ascended into heaven, and that he will come
again, at the last day, to judge the living and the dead.

Article 3:  We believe in the Holy Ghost; that he proceeds
from the Father and the Son; that we through him must be
sanctified and receive faith, thereby being  cleansed from
all the filthiness of the flesh and spirit.

Article 4: We believe that the Bible is the word of God;
that it contains the true way to our souls’ well-being and
salvation; that every true Christian is bound to acknowledge
and receive it, with the influences of the Spirit of God, as
his only rule and guide; and that without repentance, faith
in Jesus Christ, forgiveness of sins, and following after
Jesus Christ, no one can be a true Christian.

Article 5:  We believe that the doctrine which the Holy
Scriptures contain, namely, the fall in Adam and salvation
through Jesus Christ, shall be preached and proclaimed
throughout the whole world.