Our Theology
What we believe.
We are a warm, welcoming, inclusive Anglican parish with intellectually curious, open-minded, incarnational theology. We are passionate about the Good News of Jesus Christ. We love diverse opinions and open discussion – you are welcome whatever your beliefs, questions, doubts or hopes may be.
Anglican Christians believe we learn about God in the Bible, in the teaching of the Church summed up in the Apostles’ and Nicene Creeds, and through sharing in the living community of faith. God’s glory is shown to us in all of Creation, and the Holy Spirit reveals God to us through our own life experience. Through this revelation we learn that God is eternal, Earth Maker, Pain Bearer, Life Giver; source of all that is and shall be; Father and Mother of us all. We learn that God is one, yet revealed as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - a Holy Trinity, a communion of love. Jesus is the promised Saviour or Christ, God with us. Uniquely conceived by God’s power and born as a human, Jesus lived, and healed and taught the Good News about God’s kingdom of justice and love. He died unjustly by crucifixion in the time of Pontius Pilate, Roman governor of Judea. Jesus was raised from death and now lives and reigns in glory. Through Christ’s incarnation, death and resurrection we are offered new life, forgiveness and oneness with God. But faith is much more than words - to really understand the Anglican ethos, you’ll need to come and worship with us, so you can experience God’s transforming love as we pray together.
Anglican Christians believe we learn about God in the Bible, in the teaching of the Church summed up in the Apostles’ and Nicene Creeds, and through sharing in the living community of faith. God’s glory is shown to us in all of Creation, and the Holy Spirit reveals God to us through our own life experience. Through this revelation we learn that God is eternal, Earth Maker, Pain Bearer, Life Giver; source of all that is and shall be; Father and Mother of us all. We learn that God is one, yet revealed as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - a Holy Trinity, a communion of love. Jesus is the promised Saviour or Christ, God with us. Uniquely conceived by God’s power and born as a human, Jesus lived, and healed and taught the Good News about God’s kingdom of justice and love. He died unjustly by crucifixion in the time of Pontius Pilate, Roman governor of Judea. Jesus was raised from death and now lives and reigns in glory. Through Christ’s incarnation, death and resurrection we are offered new life, forgiveness and oneness with God. But faith is much more than words - to really understand the Anglican ethos, you’ll need to come and worship with us, so you can experience God’s transforming love as we pray together.
What we do.
The Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia endorses the ecumenical 5 marks of mission:
(i) To proclaim the good news of the Kingdom;
(ii) To teach, baptise and nurture the new believers;
(iii) To respond to human needs by loving service;
(iv) To seek to transform unjust structures of society, to challenge violence of every kind and to pursue peace and reconciliation;
(v) To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth.
In the Otago Peninsula Parish we are always working to support one another as followers of Jesus, regardless of our age or stage in life. We strive to be growing and learning in our relationship with God, through Lenten bible-study groups, mid-week prayer, Messy Church children’s programme, and many other opportunities. A commitment to prayer and the study of Scripture is foundational to our faith and is a major part of our weekly worship services. We love to regularly experience the beautiful sacrament of Eucharistic or Holy Communion together (a worship service with bread and wine where we re-experience the last supper).
Jesus teaches us to love one another. Within the life of the Church that command demands that we treat one another with care and deep commitment to one another’s well-being, and that we act out of radical compassion towards all people. Come and join us as we push beds at the hospital, raise money for Christian World Service or support our young people at a school climate march. Give us a shout if you are sick or housebound and need a home visit.
We would love to support you in the joyful, the traumatic, and the ordinary moments of life. We offer weddings, baptisms (christenings), funerals and grief care, rest home visits, and pastoral support. We run a community playgroup, and other specific ministries you will find here [link to the groups tab].
If you want to know more about how the Christian Faith is understood in the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, check out our Catechism (teaching resource) here: https://anglicanprayerbook.nz/925.html or read the Nicene Creed below. Better still, come and worship with us, and/or talk to one of our ministry team about your question.
(i) To proclaim the good news of the Kingdom;
(ii) To teach, baptise and nurture the new believers;
(iii) To respond to human needs by loving service;
(iv) To seek to transform unjust structures of society, to challenge violence of every kind and to pursue peace and reconciliation;
(v) To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth.
In the Otago Peninsula Parish we are always working to support one another as followers of Jesus, regardless of our age or stage in life. We strive to be growing and learning in our relationship with God, through Lenten bible-study groups, mid-week prayer, Messy Church children’s programme, and many other opportunities. A commitment to prayer and the study of Scripture is foundational to our faith and is a major part of our weekly worship services. We love to regularly experience the beautiful sacrament of Eucharistic or Holy Communion together (a worship service with bread and wine where we re-experience the last supper).
Jesus teaches us to love one another. Within the life of the Church that command demands that we treat one another with care and deep commitment to one another’s well-being, and that we act out of radical compassion towards all people. Come and join us as we push beds at the hospital, raise money for Christian World Service or support our young people at a school climate march. Give us a shout if you are sick or housebound and need a home visit.
We would love to support you in the joyful, the traumatic, and the ordinary moments of life. We offer weddings, baptisms (christenings), funerals and grief care, rest home visits, and pastoral support. We run a community playgroup, and other specific ministries you will find here [link to the groups tab].
If you want to know more about how the Christian Faith is understood in the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, check out our Catechism (teaching resource) here: https://anglicanprayerbook.nz/925.html or read the Nicene Creed below. Better still, come and worship with us, and/or talk to one of our ministry team about your question.
The Nicene Creed.
We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is,
seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one being with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary
and became fully human.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate,
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge
the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who in unity with the Father and the Son
is worshipped and glorified,
and has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come.
Amen.
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is,
seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one being with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary
and became fully human.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate,
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge
the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who in unity with the Father and the Son
is worshipped and glorified,
and has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come.
Amen.
