Jaroslav Pelikan said that, "Traditionalism is the dead faith of the living and Tradition is the living faith of the dead." 

Creeds and creedalism have tended to scare Protestants and especially Baptists. Our tradition has taught us that we find truth in the person of Christ who is communicated to us through Scripture. While holding this to be true we also believe that the historical church has given us a gift by having difficult conversations and confessing the truths that affirm the tenets of Christian faith. 

The Nicene Creed then, is a summary of our faith. It both gives us a foundation to stand on and a direction to move. The creed does not stifle our ability to do theology and have meaningful conversations about faith, while it does remind us of where we have been and what has already been said. The creed empowers us to be creative without being heretical.

THE NICENE CREED

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 truly 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, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who 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.
 

UBC SEEKS TO FORM A COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE INTO THE WAY OF CHRIST THAT EMBRACES BEAUTY AND LIVES MISSIONALLY.

FORM:

At UBC we strive to be a community formed into the image of Christ, becoming the people God has called us to be and doing the things God has called us to do. We recognize that this formation is a lifelong process that occurs through regular practices of Christian worship, nurturing a healthy and consistent life of prayer, living authentically within mutually submissive and loving relationships, and seeking ways to realize the dream of God in our world. Our goal is not to house a collection of super-Christians who fit within a puritanical mold of sterile morality, but to congregate and send out a community of passionate pilgrims who are on an intentional journey toward Christ. 

EMBRACE BEAUTY:

The first thing we know about God from scripture is that God is a creator and says of creation, "this is very good." At UBC we seek to be a people that recognizes the beauty of God’s creation, often in the ordinary, everyday affairs and relationships of our lives. Rather than separating the spiritual life (sacred) from everyday living (secular), we desire to value art, beauty, creativity, and diversity—all of which emanates from and points to God and God’s creation. We also seek to imitate our creator through the act of creating. We recognize and celebrate that living life to the fullest for some in our community includes artistic expression. We believe that whenever we create art to celebrate, praise, lament, or express emotion, we are participating in the nature and work of God. 

LIVE MISSIONALLY:

As people on an intentional journey toward Christ, we are to be active participants in bringing the kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven. We strive to be missional, to be the incarnate Christ immersed in the world, without becoming a product of it. In each situation we find ourselves in (i.e. - work, home, school, church, the grocery store, the pub, etc.), we seek to actively love those around us through word and deed, and to consistently seek out opportunities to live and be caught up in the life Christ embodied.

Being a UBC'er

Belonging

Authentic Self Expression within a loving community

At UBC we encourage you to be yourself.  You will not be marginalized because of your past, your questions, your look, political/social/theological views.  We celebrate how God has uniquely crafted you through your journey.

Sacred/Secular

The division between what is sacred and what is secular is a false one.  We believe “all truth is God’s truth,” we can encounter God in creation, art, culture, and the ordinary/everyday.

Questions (check +)

We believe questions are an essential part of the faith journey, and we encourage those questions however they form.  Acknowledging that they may be difficult, and maybe left unanswered, but there is grace and growth in the asking. 

Ownership

Liturgy – Ancient Future

UBC participates with the global Church through a traditional liturgical calendar, and also celebrates UBC’s distinct history.  We also acknowledge the continual work of the Spirit, and value creative forms of worship. You can learn more about our liturgical approach here.

Reflective Faith

At UBC we encourage our people to cultivate a faith that is mindful and intentional about being formed in the way of Christ, always asking ourselves, “why do we (you) believe what we (you) believe?”

Living Missionally -

As UBC we seek to be the incarnate Christ immersed in the world by serving others in our daily lives (work, roommates, neighbors, etc..), and servingas a community of faith through our local and global partnerships (CCMS, SWCC, JSL, and Thailand).

ITLOTC – In the Life of the Church

At UBC we expect you to know what is going on in the life of the church by reading the newsletter and attending quarterly town halls; we also encourage you to make your voice heard by engaging in the town hall meetings, or by contacting the staff and/or leadership team.

Accountability

UBC’ers, recognizing that mistakes will be made individually and as a community, and we commit to a willingness to let others speak into our lives and a courage to speak into the lives of those around us.

Consistent Involvement (community)
As UBC’ers we commit to engaging in at least one small group (Sunday School, MiCasa, Women’s Group, College Women’s Group, Middle Ages, UBCYP, Pub Group, College Men’s Group, Fall Retreat, Spring Retreat, and Order of the Phoenix), and participating in at least one community event (Back to School Luncheon, Lovefeast, Chili Cook Off, Summer Parties, and Feast Days).

Consistent Involvement (service)

As UBC’ers we commit to volunteering in at least one of the following ways: Scripture Readers, Booth Crew, Pray-ers, Kids Sunday School Teachers, Kids Check-in team, date night volunteers, Coffee Makers, mug cleaners, mi casa leaders, clean team, lunch buddies, Halloween Carnival, Easter Egg Hunt, benevolence ministry, lovefeast volunteers, greeters, and SWCC professional development.

Spiritual Practices

UBC’ers, commit to being formed through the practice of spiritual disciplines (traditional and non-traditional): 

Prayer (journaling, prayer of examen, etc…); Meditation; Meal sharing; Study of scripture; Silence; Sabbath; Fasting; and Giving