Mission Statement

We exist to glorify God:

1) by worshipping him in ways that effectively build up and produce an appreciation of God's grace and power in Jesus Christ. 

2) by encouraging an obedient walk in the Holy Spirit in an open community where the word of God is proclaimed, where families are brought together, where the unity of all Christians is demonstrated, and where members are equipped for joyous service. 

3) by serving the community and supporting mission and benevolent works around the world.

Leadership Team Guidelines

 

 

 

When Paul preached in the urban centers of the Greek world, he presented Jesus as the bridge between many fractured cultures and the Judaism of his day. The church served to integrate many different peoples into one body.  Believing "all things--even heaven and earth are being drawn together under the one head that is Jesus Christ,"  we also believe God has positioned the Speedway church at a point of welcome at the confluence of numerous cultural streams.  Indianapolis, was the crossroads of America long before there was an Interstate Highway system.  It is where the cultural South meets the Midwest.  And increasingly it is where the Midwest meets multi-cultural populations from around the globe.   Originally formed by the intersection of efficient engineering and the daring, racing spirit, the Civil Town of Speedway is a rare mix of small-town, urban and high-tech culture. At the confluence of so many social forces we are practicing ministry accross ethnic economic and all denominational barriers.

Many of us come from a tradition emphasizing the unity of all believers in Christ, and in this post-denominational culture we remain a unity-minded, informal tradition, emphasizing the faithful observance of baptism and the Lord’s Supper.  Without making first century forms into binding mandates for the twenty-first century, we still read scripture for an ongoing authoritative voice.    Sister churches tease us as “the eating church,” because we attempt to restore the agape love feast where we have fellowship meals together, pray for one another and support each other in small and confidential groups. 

Some Historical Highlights: Founded in 1885 as the Christian Church at Blaine Avenue, by the 1920's the congregation was known as the Blaine Avenue Church of Christ.  The congregation called it's first "full-time" minister in the 1960's. In 1980 the congregation moved to its present location in Speedway.  In 1994 it purchased a community center; it began small group ministries in 1995, hosted unity forums and Christian Liberty conferences in 1996-1997. In more recent years focus has been on collective spiritual formation and more missional engagement with the community.

Values

Grace:
We believe as an expression of his unmerited favor God sent his son, Jesus, to die as a sin offering.  We believe he was raised triumphantly from the grave and is seated in the heavenly realms interceding for his followers. (Eph 2:1-6) We believe that through trust in Christ we know the assurance of restored relationship with God.  This salvation comes to us as a free gift of grace through faith--not the result of our own work. (Eph 2:8) Obedience is rather empowered by the Spirit, and central to our obedience to God is graciously accepting, loving and serving others upon this same undeserved basis.

Open Community: The grace of Christ makes it possible for us to risk knowing others and risk being deeply known.  Since our worth as persons depends entirely upon the value God places on us rather than on how well we live or how others perceive us, this is a community where we are free to discuss convictions, confess sins, and openly share our dreams together so that we may be of deep support to one another seeing Christ formed in each person to the glory of God.

Unity :             Barriers between Christians are contrary to the will of God and harmful to the church's witness; thus, we are committed to building bridges in the Kingdom of God.  We seek to be an undenominational group of disciples who accept differing believers just as Christ accepted us to the glory of God.

Christ-Centered Authority:
The Bible's primary purpose is the bear witness to the saving work and person of Jesus Christ.  We find our common bond in a shared relationship with him rather than any particular understanding of theology or scripture.  While we are not the only ones belonging to Christ, we do seek to make manifest our allegiance to him by being more focused on him than any lesser object.