STATEMENT OF FAITH:

All members of the ETCSA sign an agreement with the following statement of faith. While the ETCSA is non-denominational, we are evangelical, born again Christians.

A. PRIORITIES

1. The scientific aspects of Creation are important, but are secondary in importance to the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ as Sovereign, Creator, Redeemer, and Judge.
2. The doctrines of the Creator and the Creation cannot ultimately be divorced from the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

1. The Bible is the written Word of God. It is divinely inspired and inerrant throughout. Its assertions are factually true in all the original autographs. It is the supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct.
2. The final guide to the interpretation of Scripture is Scripture itself.
3. The account of origins presented in Genesis is a simple but factual presentation of actual events and therefore provides a reliable framework for scientific research into the question of the origin and history of life, mankind, the Earth, and the universe.
4. The various original life forms ("kinds"), including mankind, were made by direct creative acts of God. The living descendants of any of the original kinds (apart from man) may represent more than one species today, reflecting the genetic potential within the original kind. Only limited biological changes (including mutational deterioration) have occurred naturally within each kind since Creation.
5. The great flood of Genesis was an actual historic event, worldwide (global) in its extent and effect.
6. The special creation of Adam (as one man) and Eve (as one woman), and their subsequent fall into sin, is the basis for the necessity of salvation for mankind.
7. Death, both physical and spiritual, entered into this world subsequent to-and as a direct consequence of-man's sin.

C. THEOLOGY

1. The Godhead is Triune--God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
2. All of mankind are sinners, inherently from Adam and individually (by choice), and are therefore subject to God's wrath and condemnation.
3. Freedom from the penalty and power of sin is available to man only through the sacrificial death and shed blood of Jesus Christ, and His complete and bodily resurrection from the dead.
4. The Holy Spirit enables the sinner to repent and believe in Jesus Christ.
5. The Holy Spirit lives and works in each believer to produce the fruits of righteousness.
6. Salvation is a gift received by faith and expressed in the individual's repentance, recognition of the death of Christ as full payment for sin, and acceptance of the risen Christ as Savior, Lord, and God.
7. Jesus Christ was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.
8. Jesus Christ rose from the dead, ascended to Heaven, and is currently seated at the right hand of God the Father, and shall return in person to this Earth as Judge of the living and the dead.
9. Satan is the personal spiritual adversary of both God and man.
10. Those who do not believe in Christ are subject to everlasting conscious punishment, but believers enjoy eternal life with God.

The following are held by the members of ETCSA to be either consistent with Scripture or implied by Scripture:

(i) Scripture teaches a recent origin for man and the whole Creation.

(ii) The days in Genesis do not correspond to geologic ages, but are six (6) consecutive twenty-four (24) hour days of Creation.

(iii) The Noachian flood was a significant geological event and much (but not all) fossiliferous sediment originated at that time.

(iv) The "gap" theory has no basis in Scripture.

(v) The view, commonly used to evade the implications or the authority of Biblical teaching, that knowledge and/or truth may be divided into "secular" and "religious" is rejected.

(vi) By definition, no apparent, perceived, or claimed evidence in any field, including history and chronology, can be valid if it contradicts the Scriptural record. Of primary importance is the fact that evidence is always subject to interpretation by fallible people who do not possess all information.

MEMBERSHIP

1. The Membership subscribes to the Statement of Faith and Mission Statement. Members do not hold to the so-called "Gap", "Day-Age", or "Multiple-Gap" theories, or any form of theistic evolution.
2. Any individual who subscribes to the Statement of Faith, Mission Statement and basic polices of the ETCSA may become a member. Membership in the ETCSA shall be available without regard to race, color, political affiliation, or national origin.
3. Membership is established upon payment of the prescribed dues and membership fees at a time and in accordance with the schedule determined by the Board of Directors and indication of agreement with section # 2 above. Membership may be terminated by unanimous vote of the Board of Directors.
4. Only members who subscribe to the statement of faith and general policies of the ETCSA are eligible to participate or vote in its business meetings, or serve in any of its elective or appointive positions. One member has one vote.