The Gospel

The word “gospel” (literally “good news”) was a technical term in the ancient world that signified news of life-changing significance.  The gospel of Christianity, therefore, is not a program of religious instruction or moral development, but an announcement of what God has done for us by his grace.  The gospel proclaims that God has come down to us despite our sin in the person of Jesus Christ to restore us in relationship to himself and to renew the whole world through the perfect, sinless life, the substitutionary, atoning death, and the powerful, bodily resurrection of Jesus.  The gospel changes everything and therefore forms the center of all we are and all that we do as a church. 

We are committed to:

• Creating an environment that encourages people regardless of their beliefs or doubts to investigate the claims of Jesus Christ without pressure or fear of judgment so that all people might have an opportunity to receive and experience the gospel.

• Applying the gospel to every aspect of human life to promote maturity and growth in the Christian faith and to produce personal change through a richer experience of grace.

• Expressing and enacting a biblical vision of restoration and renewal that leads us to faithfully engage our world.

Community

Central places a high priority on the relationships we enjoy with one another, and this is not without reason.  Jesus not only calls us to follow him as individuals, but also gathers us into a community in which we learn to live out the implications of the gospel together.  Authentic community, therefore, is vital to the Christian life.  Amidst the frenzied pace and dizzying transience of New York City, Central provides a unique environment to forge meaningful relationships with others despite our many differences.   Moreover, the depth of relationships we enjoy provides us with opportunities to sacrificially love and serve one another and to attend to the specific needs of our neighborhood with greater attentiveness and intentionality.

We are committed to:

• Cultivating an authentic community of people of different ages, cultures, and vocations by drawing people from a wide cross-section of New York and by crafting beautiful, dynamic worship that unites us despite our different backgrounds and preferences.

• Providing for the spiritual nurture of our families through an excellent children’s ministry recognizing that our children are indispensable contributors to the life of the church.

• Fostering robust Christian formation and leadership development through mentoring, biblical and theological education, and collaborative efforts with other organizations that will lead to a transformative presence within the city.

Mission

The root of the word mission means “to send,” and we believe that God draws us into relationship with himself in order to send us out to engage the world.  Jesus instructed his disciples that he would send his followers into the world as witnesses, ambassadors and agents of the loving and dynamic reign of God.  We, therefore, understand ourselves to be people who have been sent into the city to form an alternate community that pursues the common good and contributes to the flourishing of New York City. 

We are committed to:

• Maintaining our distinctive Christian beliefs and practices while engaging the city with integrity and faithfulness through our relationships, families, tasks, and spheres of influence.

• Integrating our faith and our work so that we might pursue our unique vocations with excellence and distinctiveness and contribute to public life through our involvement in the city.

• Expressing God’s care for the city individually and corporately by pursuing wholeness for the poor, justice for the oppressed, and responsible stewardship of the physical world.