Baptists, since their beginnings, repeatedly have composed confessions, which expressed the doctrinal consensus among related churches. In principle, however, Baptists always have insisted that no statement of faith can be considered creedally binding even upon concurring congregations. The purpose of their doctrinal summaries was to explain to other Christians and to the larger society what Baptists believed and practiced. Within and among Baptist churches, statements of faith also provided a standard for instruction, counsel and fellowship.

In continuity with our immediate forefathers and the larger fellowship of Baptists throughout history, we seek to practice and propagate by God's grace the following convictions:

We believe the Bible is God’s Word given by divine inspiration, the record of God’s revelation of Himself to humanity. It is trustworthy, sufficient, without error-the supreme authority and guide for all doctrine and conduct. (II Timothy 3:16)

We believe in the one living and true God, perfect in wisdom, sovereignty, holiness, justice, mercy and love. He exists eternally in three coequal persons who act together in creation, providence and redemption. (I Timothy 1:17; Psalm 86:15; Deuteronomy 32:3-4)

We believe God created an order of spiritual beings called angels to serve Him and do His will. The holy angels are obedient spirits ministering to the heirs of salvation and glorifying God. Certain angels, called demons, Satan being their chief, through deliberate choice revolted and fell from their exalted position. They now tempt individuals to rebel against God. (Psalm 148:1-5; Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 1:6-7; 13-14; Revelation 12:7-9)

We believe God created man in His own image to have fellowship with Himself and to be steward over His creation. As a result, each person is unique, possesses dignity and is worthy of respect. Through the temptation of Satan, Adam chose to disobey God; this brought sin and death to the human race and suffering to all creation. Therefore, everyone is born with a sinful nature and needs to be reconciled to God. (Romans 3:9-18,23; Genesis 1:26-28; Psalm 139:13-17; Genesis 3; Romans 5:12-21; 8:22)

We believe salvation is redemption by Christ of the whole person from sin and death; it is offered as a free gift by God to all and must be received personally through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ by the regeneration of the Holy Spirit. As a child of God, the believer is acquitted of all guilt and brought into a new relationship of peace. (Romans 5:1; II Timothy 1:9-10; I Thessalonians 5:23; Galatians 2:20; Colossians 1:27)

We believe the Church is the body of which Christ is the head and all who believe in Him are members. Christians are commanded to be baptized upon profession of faith and to unite with a local church for mutual encouragement and growth in discipleship through worship, nurture, service and the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the world. (Acts 2:41-42, 47; Luke 24:45-48; Ephesians 1:22-23; Romans 12:4-5)

We believe religious liberty, rooted in Scripture, is the inalienable right of all individuals to freedom of conscience with ultimate accountability to God. Church and state exist by the will of God. Each has distinctive concerns and responsibilities, free from control by the other. (Matthew 22:21; Genesis 1;27; John 8:32; II Corinthians 3:17; Romans 8:21; Acts 5:29)

We believe Christians, individually and collectively, are salt and light in society. In a Christ-like spirit, they oppose greed, selfishness and vice; they promote truth, justice and peace; they aide the needy and preserve the dignity of people of all races. (Matthew 5:13-16).

We believe God, in His own time and in His own way, will bring all things to their appropriate end and establish the new heaven and the new earth. The certain hope of the Christian is that Jesus Christ will return to the earth suddenly, personally and visibly in glory according to His promise. (Titus 2:13, Revelation 1:7; 3:11; John 14:1-3; Ephesians 1:9-10; Revelation 21:1)

We believe that God causes human beings to be born with a specific sexual assignment as biologically male or female. We are meant to honor that biological sexual identity because it has its origination in the explicit creative work of God. (Gen. 1:27, Gen 5:1-2)

Heterosexuality is God’s revealed will for humanity. The biblical expression of this orientation is chastity for the single person and fidelity for the married partner. (Genesis 1:27, 2:24-25, 5:1-2, Hebrews 13:4)

We believe that God ordained marriage as a voluntary union for life of one man and one woman. Our creation as man and woman, who are complementary to one another, has significance in revealing aspects of the image of God, and His relationship to humanity. The permanence of the marital bond mirrors God’s faithfulness, just as its monogamy reflects God’s singular devotion to his people and his people’s singular devotion to him. (Genesis 2:18-25; Ephesians 5:31-33

Have a question about what we believe at Quail? Get in touch with a person on our lead team directly by filling out the form below.