Our Approach
At Central Reformed, our worship, theology, and ministries are grounded in the wide witness of the Reformed tradition. Ours is a faith that’s more interrogative and less doctrinaire. This means we wrestle with our doubts and attempt to tackle those nagging existential questions in community. We also recognize the gift of diversity and the value of all human beings as image-bearers with God-given worth and dignity. Together, we affirm those tenets that have traditionally united us as a Reformed Church: the wonder of creation; the humility of God in Jesus Christ; the transforming power of the Holy Spirit; the miracle of forgiveness of sins; the gift of new life in communion; the call to the ministry of reconciliation; the promise of the consummation of God’s reign. As confessional Protestants who adhere to a Trinitarian theology, we emphasize the belief that salvation is by grace through faith alone.
Becoming a Member
As a congregation of the Reformed Church in America, we welcome all who profess faith in Jesus Christ to become part of the membership of our church. Membership is a declaration that you share in the fellowship, work, and witness of this congregation. Being a member doesn’t mean you have it all figured out, but it does mean you’re willing and committed to figuring it out alongside others at Central. We receive new members by profession of faith upon baptism, reaffirmation of faith, or letter of transfer from another church. If you are interested in learning more, please speak with a pastor, or email the main office by using the link below.
Baptism
Baptism is a sign and seal of God’s covenant of grace with us and welcomes us into the family of God. It reminds us that God forgives our sins, adopts us as sons and daughters, and gives us the gift of the Holy Spirit. The journey of faith that begins in individual baptism continues and is strengthened in the church community. At Central, we recognize the cleansing and refreshing characteristics of water and use the sprinkling of water as our method of baptism. We administer the sacrament for infants, older children, and adults.
Profession of Faith
A profession of faith is the act of a baptized person publicly stating their faith in Christ. Upon this profession, the individual becomes a confessing member of the church and is granted full participatory privileges of the local congregation, such as voting and governance. Those who wish to make profession of faith will work with our church’s elders to prepare for this step before declaring their faith in front of our congregation. For those who have not been baptized at a young age, baptism, and profession of faith are often paired together.
Communion
Communion, or the Lord’s Supper, is the sign and seal of eating and drinking in communion with the crucified and risen Lord. In this act, we remember that during his earthly ministry, Jesus shared meals with his followers and sat at dinner tables as a sign of acceptance of the sinner and the outcast. In the last meal before his death, Jesus took and shared with his disciples bread and wine, speaking of these elements as his body and blood, symbols of the new relationship with God brought about by his impending death. On the day of his resurrection, the risen Jesus made himself known to his followers in the breaking of bread. In the act of remembering that is the Lord’s Supper, we receive and trust the love of Christ present to us and to the world. Through it, we are renewed and empowered to be the church, the body of Christ, in the world.
Weddings
We perform wedding ceremonies for members of our congregation both in our sanctuary and in Dykstra Chapel. To learn more, please contact our lead wedding coordinator, Jennifer Webb, at 651-315-5020.
