Our Faith
ENCOUNTERING JESUS...
Reba Place Church is a community grounded in the radical and refreshing life of Jesus. We seek to understand and follow his fearlessly loving ways in this present-day moment. Encountering Jesus is more than learning information or agreeing to a creed. It’s growing in a relationship with God -- God who cares enough about us to experience human life as we do... God who provides healing and forgiveness and a fresh start when we need it… God who invites us to join the work of building a just and peaceful and loving world for all.
& THE Anabaptist MOVEMENT
Reba Place Church is affiliated with the Mennonite Church USA. MC USA is part of the Anabaptist movement which began in sixteenth century Europe as Christians attempted to realize the fullness and vitality of the church envisioned in the New Testament. As contemporary Anabaptists we are declaring our continuity with a Christian tradition that separated the church from state control, refused to practice violence, and emphasized the vision of church as a Jesus-centered community. We actively collaborate with God to build a resilient peace that transforms our own hearts and the world as well, for the benefit of everyone.
BEING LED AND EMPOWERED BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD
Reba Place Church is a community that seeks the gifting, guidance, power and love supplied by the Spirit of God. We’re not capable by ourselves of fixing ourselves or the broken systems of this world. But we believe God’s Spirit responds when we ask for help, empowering us for worship, for being life-giving neighbors, for speaking truth to power, for enjoying healthy relationships and families, for creating beauty, and for knowing sustaining joy even in hard times.
WORKING AGAINST RACISM IN OUR CHURCH AND WORLD
Reba Place Church is a community that embraces a calling to be anti-racist – to swim against the strong current of racism in our nation and world. We acknowledge and repent from our complicity in oppressive structures and actively work to create brave spaces, free from hatred and fear, where all learn and grow beyond the legacy of oppression in our nation. We seek ways inside and outside of our walls to support freedom, justice, equity and thriving for all.
WELCOMING EVERYONE
Reba Place Church is an inclusive community where neighbors learn to love one another. So if you feel “different” for one reason or another then you are welcome to join us as we worship God together. We celebrate the diversity of God’s family and are publicly affirming of people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer. Here’s our inclusion policy established in 2018. We are committed to a stance of love and choose to welcome everyone.
LEARNING FROM THE LOCAL AND GLOBAL CHURCH
Reba Place Church is a community that recognizes our membership in a worldwide church that is not bound by language, ethnicity, nationality, or citizenship. We acknowledge the importance and integrity of our inherited faith traditions and ethnic cultures, yet we seek to learn from others in order to expose our own blind spots and celebrate the creativity and diversity of God’s family.
EXPERIENCING TOGETHER THE GOOD NEWS OF JESUS
Reba Place Church is a community where the joy and restoration and peace and life giving power of following Jesus is overflowing and we can’t keep it a secret. We strive to hold a space of generous hospitality, with a posture of openness and curiosity for friends and strangers to join this journey of faith. Together we seek God, love one another and our neighbors, study and wrestle with the Bible, humbly share our experiences and insights and resources, and welcome the questions and challenges which inevitably arise.