The Ground of the Unity is a brief yet full confession of faith in the most simple form to the point of clarity. It is by nature written for everyone - lay people and clergy alike. Its sections speak to our common biblical understanding of God’s relationship to His Church.

First, it states that the Church was called into being by God Himself. "The Lord Jesus Christ calls His Church into being so that it may serve Him here on earth. . . ." Our purpose as a congregation remains just that - to serve Him. Our contract, if you will, is clear as to how long we shall serve Him. The answer is clear, "until he comes." This of course means we believe in His Second Coming. Our mission is also clear, "proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ."

Secondly, we claim and proclaim with the many communions of Christian faith that God relates to us all as God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Thus, we are Trinitarian. We believe that Jesus, the Son of God, is God (Hebrews 1:1-4, Colossians 1:19, Philippians 2:6-7, John 1:1, John 8:58-59).

God revealed Himself once and for all in His Son Jesus Christ (1 Peter 3:18, Galatians 3:13, Hebrews 2:9, 1 Peter 2:24, Romans 4:15). His redemption was wrought by the death of Jesus on the cross. It is said without apology or ambiguity, "and that there is no salvation apart from Him" (John 14:6, Acts 4:12). We also believe He is with us in the Word and the Sacrament" and "directs and unites us through His Spirit and thus forms us into a Church" (John 14:25-26, Matthew 16:18, 1 Corinthians 12:1-31, Ephesians 4:1-6, Colossians 1:15-20, Ephesians 2:19-22).

Thirdly, personal belief is up to each individual even as he seeks to adhere to the Body. "This testimony calls each individual personally, and leads him or her to the recognition of sin and to the acceptance of the redemption achieved by Christ."

Fourthly, we trust in the Word of God for our authority to speak, for it "is the only source of our life and salvation; and this Scripture is the sole standard of the doctrine and faith. . . . The Word of the Cross is at the center of all preaching. The message of the Cross is our "primary mission and our reason for being" (1 Corinthians 2:1-5, 1 Corinthians 1:17-25).

This mission will "consist in bearing witness to this joyful message." We as a church will pray that we may never "stray from this." As a church, we will be in "continual search for sound doctrine" (i.e. American form of slavery was mistakenly justified by references from the Bible concerning slavery in the first century when society was practically divided into ‘slave and employer.’ In its wisdom and by clearer revelation, the church renounced its own practice of owning human beings.) We do recognize "completely and clearly God’s will for salvation in the Bible" (John 3, Matthew 10:26-39, Luke 9:23-27, Acts 4:12, Romans 3:21-26, Romans 10:9, Ephesians 1:3-10, Ephesians 2:8-10, Hebrews 9:11-14).

Fifthly, we recognize the creeds of Christendom which have guided the Church since the beginning:

• The Apostles’ Creed which we include in our baptismal liturgy

• The Athanasian Creed

• The Nicene Creed

• The Confessions of the Unity of the Bohemian Brethren of 1535, which included 14 pages concerning the divine nature of Jesus Christ meaning He is God

• The Augsburg Confession, and others

We hold one simple creed in common with all Christian churches, "Jesus Christ Is Lord."

Sixthly, we proclaim that Jesus Christ "died that He might unite the scattered children of God into a ‘Unity’ not only as Moravians but with all other faithful followers of the one and only crucified and risen Lord." We confess our shared guilt in any division of the church and strive toward unity" (Ephesians 4:3). This has led us to seek common union with other confession churches throughout Christendom. Our open Communion services are a manifestation of this desire.

Seventhly, we hold to the principle of equality of all people as we confess that "God in Jesus Christ brings His people out of every ethnic origin and language into one body, pardons sinners beneath the Cross and brings them together" (Galatians 3:23-29, 2 Corinthians 5:11-21).

Eighthly, we are called to serve, as our Lord came not to be served (Philippians 2). We are called into mission fields of the world to all people who have not yet heard the Gospel (Matthew 28:16-20, John 13:1-11, Acts 1:8, Galatians 6:7-10, Matthew 25:31-46).

Ninthly, we are called to serve our neighbors in boundless zeal. Sunnyside Ministry is the manifestation of this resolve to serve beyond our walls of worship (Luke 10:25-37).

Tenthly, we are called to a tireless service to the whole world "with the message of the love of God, striving to promote the peace of the world." We hope without fail to proclaim the "victory of Christ . . . over sin and death so the new world will appear" (John 17).

Lastly, "Jesus Christ is the one Lord and Head of His Body: (Ephesians 1:22-23, 2:19-22). This truth is manifest in our understanding of Jesus Christ as the Chief Elder of the Moravian Church and, of course, His Headship are all we hope to become.

As we live through these days, which for some may be confusing, let us return to our common faith and to our documents of confession and discipleship for instruction and reproof. After all, we "have it in writing." There is much upon which to draw as we continue to explore and study. We would do well to return to the Catechism of the Moravian Church in America for the instruction of candidates for confirmation and church membership. We can learn so much as we ponder the depth and wonder of our liturgies and hymns. We can be reminded of our call to discipleship as we read the Essential Features of the Unity. Of course, we consult no better authority than the Holy Bible which is and shall always be the Word of God.

Remember if someone asks you, "What do Moravians believe?" Tell them what we have in writing - quote our very documents, refer them to our liturgies, and above all else tell them about Jesus.