ACP's Vision, Mission, and Values

Embracing the biblical charge to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly (Micah 6:8), we joyfully and whole-heartedly commit ourselves to discerning and doing the good work prepared for us by the grace of God (Romans 12:1-2; Ephesians 2:8-10).

• Vision – The American Church in Paris community hears God calling us to be the light of the world, a city on a hill that cannot be hidden (Matthew 5:14), and more specifically, a beacon on the Seine.
  Responding to God’s heart for the healing of the nations (Revelation 22:1-3), we shall be a house of prayer for all peoples (Isaiah 56:7) and seek the shalom of the city into which God has sent us (Jeremiah 29:7).
  Obeying Christ’s commission to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:17-20), we seek to equip the people of God for ministry (Ephesians 4:16), preach the gospel to all creation (Mark 16:15), and grow deeper in freedom, faith and love (Galatians 5:1-6). Keeping in step with the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:25) who builds strangers into the household of God (Ephesians 2:17-22), we regard one another as new creations, pursuing the ministry of reconciliation with God and neighbor and amongst ourselves (2 Corinthians 5:16-20).
• Mission – The mission of the American Church in Paris, an interdenominational and international Christian community, is to bear witness by word and deed to the love of God as revealed in Jesus Christ, to provide a place of English-language worship in the American Protestant tradition, and to engage in ministries and services that enrich the lives of residents and visitors in Paris and around the world.
• Values – At ACP we particularly value passionate worship, prayerful practices, celebratory diversity, local and international service, center-set community, Christian devotion, grace-based relationships, radical hospitality, creation care, spiritual transformation, generous stewardship, Sabbath restoration, creative ministry, inclusive welcome, and risky faith.

ACP's Affirmation of Welcome and Inclusion:

We believe that we are called to love and welcome all people of all socio-economic backgrounds, ethnicities, races, nationalities, gender identities, and sexual orientations.
We believe that all who place their faith in Jesus Christ and seek to be his disciple may become members of our church.
We believe that all members of the ACP should have the same rights and responsibilities.
Full text of Affirmation of Welcome and Inclusion at ACP here.

How is it that we are able to live into Jesus’ prayer for his church to be one (John 17:20-21)?
“In necessary things, unity; in doubtful things liberty; in all things, charity.” (Richard Baxter 17th Century Puritan)
“Generosity without orthodoxy is nothing. Orthodoxy without generosity is worse than nothing” (Hans Frei)

ACP's Faith Statement – What do we believe?

Theologically, the American Church in Paris may be characterized as belonging to the historic Christian mainstream. Our constitution states:

The Church recognizes the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as the revelation of God in matters of faith and practice, and it accepts as a symbol of our union with the great body of Christians, living and dead, the spiritual truths embodied in the Apostle’s Creed. The church asserts its belief in the freedom and responsibility of the individual and the right of private judgment exercised under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

The Apostle’s Creed (ecumenical)

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.

Church Polity: The ACP is a self-governing congregation with a representative governing body called the Church Council. Each year, two General Congregational meetings are held, one to receive annual reports from the leadership and vote on the proposed budget; and the other to elect new officers and members of the Church Council.

The elected officers of the congregation are the Moderator, Vice-Moderator, the Secretary, the Assistant Secretary, and the Treasurer. These officers, together with the Senior and Associate pastors, form the Executive Committee. The Senior Pastor is defined in the constitution as the "chief administrative officer" of the congregation, and reports both to the congregation and to the AFCU, who are his official employers.

The officers, together with the elected chairs and vice-chairs of the standing committees form the Church Council. Council Leaders normally serve a 3-year-term.