Who We Are
West Side is a welcoming Presbyterian congregation in the
mainline Protestant tradition. We are a God-centered church, with strong
mission, worship, music, and youth components. As disciples of Jesus Christ,
inspired by the power of the Holy Spirit, we are transforming lives by sharing
our faith. We embrace everyone who wants to join with us in worship and we
offer a voice to anyone who wants to contribute to our efforts to serve God in
the modern world.
We are called as leaders in:
• growing
our mission and witnessing for social justice and peace
• cultivating
programs that nurture spiritual growth
• expanding strong educational programs for all ages
• offering a variety of worship experiences to a diverse congregation.
Our Mission Statement
West Side Presbyterian Church is a welcoming community
with varied backgrounds, talents, and ages, bound together by a common faith in
God as revealed in Jesus Christ, our Lord. With the guidance of the Holy
Spirit, we are dedicated to celebrating God's love, nurturing individual
growth, sharing our faith, and serving the needs of others.
What We Believe
West Side Presbyterian Church is part of the Presbyterian Church (USA), which subscribes to the "reformed theology" of John Calvin. A brief outline of these beliefs includes:
1. God is in charge of everything, everywhere, and is actively concerned about everyone and everything.
2. Humans fall short of the glory of God, and we can never be good enough to earn our salvation. Therefore, no one can be judgmental of another--we are all in the same boat.
3. Salvation is a gift from God brought about by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. God can save anyone God wishes; it is not up to human rules, criteria, or preferences. Therefore, we cannot know about anyone else's salvation.
4. We believe in the Trinity and in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
5. The Bible is the sole authority and guide.
6. There is one universal church, and denominations are merely different expressions of this unity. We recognize and accept as brothers and sisters all from any denomination that practices communion and baptism and believes in the most central of tenets. The Presbyterian "specialty" as a part of the universal church ("The Body of Christ") is education and service to those in need.