Who We Are
We are an independent, non-denominational church founded in Wheatland, Wyoming in 1972. Our desire is to advance the cause of Jesus Christ through the worship of God, the preaching of the Gospel, consistent Christian living, personal evangelism, missions, and Christian education.
Mission Statement
Wheatland Bible Church exists
to equip the saints for the work of ministry and
to build up the body of Christ.
Ephesians 4:12
Wheatland Bible Church exists
to equip the saints for the work of ministry and
to build up the body of Christ.
Ephesians 4:12
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Our History
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Wheatland Bible Church was born out of a desire to have a non-denominational church in our community. Many families gathered together to begin this fellowship in the spring of 1972. There were 36 charter members and by October 1973, there were 66 members. The church began in the basement of a home and as the membership grew, the location was moved to a roller mill, then to the Odd Fellows Lodge where it remained for six years. During this period there was considerable growth and there the Sunday school classes met next door at the C.H. Brown Company. Because of the power plant construction, the congregation greatly increased. With the encouragement of Pastor Gordon Swedberg who came in 1974, plans and fund drives were already underway to build our own facility. A ground breaking ceremony was held in April 1980, at the corner of Highway 312 and Palmer Canyon Road. The outside structure was completed within months.
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After that, the people of the church took over and more than 80% of the inside work was donated. The first Sunday in the new building was February 1, 1981. After several years, WBC was again feeling the need to expand because the education rooms were too small for Pioneer Club and Sunday school classes. Planning began for the construction of the west building with five classrooms and a sixth one that could de divided by a folding partition and included a kitchen and a fireplace. Except for the cement floor, this new building was built by volunteer labor of men and women within the church. The use of this building began in the fall of 1998 with Denzil Mauk as Pastor. Fall 1999, a covered walkway was added to join the two buildings. In 2006, two more rooms were added to the west.
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Our Beliefs
STATEMENT OF FAITH
I. OF THE SCRIPTURES
We believe that the Holy Bible as originally written was verbally inspired and the product of Spirit-controlled men and therefore, has truth without any admixture of error for its matter. We believe the Bible to be the true center of Christian union and supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds and unions shall be tried. [2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21]
II. OF THE TRUE GOD
We believe there is one and only one living and true God, and infinite Spirit, the Maker and Supreme Ruler of heaven and earth; inexpressibly glorious in holiness, and worthy of all possible honor, confidence and love; and that in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, equal in every divine perfection, and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption. [Exodus 20:2-3; 1 Corinthian 8:6; Revelation 4:11; 1 John 5:]
III. OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person, with God the Father and God the Son and of the same nature; that He was active in the creation; that in His relation to the unbelieving world He restrains the evil one until God’s purpose is fulfilled; that He convicts of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; that He bears witness to the truth of the gospel in preaching and testimony; that He is the agent in the new birth; that He seals, endues, guides,, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies and helps the believer. [John 14:16-17; Matthew 28:19; Hebrews 9:14; John 14:26; Luke 1:35; Genesis 1:1-3; John 16:8-11; Acts 5:30-32; John 3:5-6; Ephesians 1:13-14; Mark 1:8; John 1:33; Acts 11:16; Luke 24:49; Romans 8:14, 16, 26-27]
IV. OF THE DEVIL, SATAN
We believe in the personality of Satan, that he is the unholy god of this age, and the author of all the powers of darkness, and is destined to the judgment of an eternal justice in the lake of fire. [Matthew 4:1-3; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Revelation 20:10]
V. OF CREATION
We accept the Genesis account of creation and believe that man came by direct creation of God and not by evolution. [Genesis 1:2; Colossians 1:6-17; John 1:3]
VI. OF THE FALL OF MAN
We believe that man was created in innocence and under the law of his Maker, but by voluntary transgression fell from his sinless and happy state in consequence of which all mankind are now sinners, not only by constraint, but of choice; and therefore under just condemnation without defense or excuse. [Genesis 3:1-3; Romans 5:10-19; Romans 1:18, 32]
VII. OF THE VIRGIN BIRTH
We believe that Jesus was begotten of the Holy Ghost in a miraculous manner, born of Mary, a virgin, as no other man was ever born or can ever be born of a woman, and that He is both the Son and God. [Genesis 3:15; Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:35; John 1:4]
VIII. OF ATONEMENT FOR SIN
We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace, through the mediatorial office of the Son of God, who by the appointment of the Father, freely took upon Him our nature, yet without sin, honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and by His death made full and vicarious atonement for our sins; that His atonement consists not in setting us an example by His death as a martyr, but as a voluntary substitution of Himself in the sinner’s place, the Just dying for the unjust; Christ, the Lord bearing our sins in His own body on the tree; that having risen from the dead He is now enthroned in heaven, and uniting in His wonderful person the tenderest sympathies with divine perfection, He is in every way qualified to be suitable and compassionate and all sufficient Savior. [Ephesians 2:8; Acts 15:11; Romans 3:24-25; John 3:16; Matthew 18:11; Philippians 2:7; Hebrews 2:14; Isaiah 53:4-7; 1 John 4:10; 1 Corinthians 15:3; 2 Corinthians 5:21]
IX. OF GRACE IN THE NEW CREATION
We believe that in order to be saved, a sinner must be born again; that in the new birth is a new creation in Christ Jesus; that it is instantaneous and not a process; that in the new birth the one dead in trespasses and in sins is made a partaker of the divine nature and receives eternal life, the free gift of God; that the new creation is brought about in a manner above our comprehension, solely by the power of the Holy Spirit, according to the divine truth, so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the gospel; that is proper evidence appears in the holy fruit of repentance and faith and newness of life. [John 3:3; 2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 John 5:1; John 3:6-7; Acts 16:30-33; 2 Peter 1:4; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:1; 2 Corinthians 5:19; Colossians 2:13; John 3:8]
X. JUSTIFICATION
We believe that the great gospel blessing which Christ secures to such as believe in Him is justification: A) That justification includes the pardon of sin, and the gift of eternal life, on principles of righteousness; B) That it is bestowed not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done, but solely through faith in the Redeemer’s blood, His righteousness is imputed to us [Acts 13:39; Isaiah 53:11; Romans 5:1-9; 8:1]
XI. OF FAITH AND SALVATION
We believe that faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is the only condition of salvation. [Acts 16:31; Romans 10:9-10; John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8-9]
XII. OF THE LOCAL CHURCH
We believe that a local church is a congregation of believers, associated by a covenant of faith and fellowship of the gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ; governed by laws; and exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word; that its officers are pastors and elders, whose qualification, claims and duties, are clearly defined in the Scriptures. We believe in the true mission of the church is the edification of believers and the faithful witnessing of Christ to all men as we have opportunity. We hold that the local church has the absolute right of self government, free from the interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organization; and that the one and only Superintendent is Christ through the Holy Spirit; that it is scriptural for the true churches to cooperate with each other in contending for the faith and for the furtherance of the gospel; that each local church is the sole judge of the measure and method of its cooperation on all matters of membership, of policy of government , of discipline , of benevolence, the will of the local church is final. [Acts 2:41-42; 15:13-18; 20:17-28; 1 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 1:22-23; 4:11; 5:23-24; 1 Timothy 3:17; Colossians 1:18]
XIII. OF BAPTISM AND THE LORD’S SUPPER
We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in the water to show forth in a solemn and beautiful emblem of our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Lord and Savior, with it effect in our death to sin and resurrection to a new life. We believe that the Lord’s Supper is the commemoration of His death until He comes and should be preceded always by a solemn self-examination. [Acts 8:26-39; John 3:23; Romans 6:3-6; Matthew 3:16; Colossians 2:12; 1 Corinthians 11:23-28]
XIV. OF THE SECURITY OF THE SAINTS
We believe that all who are truly born again are kept by God the Father for Jesus Christ. [Philippians 1:6; John 10:28-29; Romans 8:35-39; Jude 1 (R.V.)]
XV. OF THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED
We believe that there is a radical essential difference between the righteous and the wicked; that such as only through faith are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and sanctified by the Spirit of our God, are truly righteous in His esteem; while all such as continue in impenitence and unbelief are in His sight wicked, and under the curse; and that this distinction holds among men both in life and after death, in the everlasting felicity of the saved and the everlasting conscious suffering of the lost. [Malachi 3:18; Genesis 18:23; Romans 6:17, 18, 23, 7:6; 1 John 5:19; Proverbs 14:32; Luke 6:25; Matthew 25:34-41; John 8:21]
XVI. OF CIVIL GOVERNMENT
We believe that the civil government is of divine appointment for the interests and good order of human society; that magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored, and obeyed; except in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ who is the only Lord of the conscience, and the coming Prince of the kings of the earth. [Romans 13:1-7; Acts 4:19-20; 5:20, 23:5; 2 Samuel 23:3; Matthew 22:21; Daniel 3:17-18]
XVII. OF THE RESURRECTION, PERSONAL, VISIBLE, PREMILLENNIAL RETURN OF CHRIST, AND RELATED EVENTS
A) We believe in the bodily resurrection [Matthew 28:6-7; Luke 24:39; John 20:27; 1 Corinthians 15:4; Mark 16:6; Luke 24:2-6] B) The ascension [Acts 1:9-11; Luke 24:51; Mark 16:19; Revelation 3:21; Hebrews 12:2] C) The high priesthood [Hebrews 2:17, 5:9-10, 8:6; 1 Timothy 2:5; 1 John 2:1] D) The second coming [John 14:3; Acts 1:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:16; James 5:8; Hebrews 9:28] E) The resurrection of the righteous dead [1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:42-44, 52] F) The change of the living Christ [1 Corinthians 15:51-53; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Philippians 3:20-21] G) The throne of David [Luke 1:32; Isaiah 9:6-7; Acts 2:29-30] H) The millennial reign [1 Corinthians 15:25; Isaiah 32:1, 11:4-5; Psalm 72:8; Revelation 20:6, 14]
XVIII. OF MARRIAGE AND SEXUALITY
We believe the term ‘marriage’ has only one meaning: marriage is a covenant union, sanctioned by God, which joins one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture, and that God’s intent for marriage is that it be a lifetime relationship which should not be entered into nor dissolved easily. Genesis 2:23-24; Matthew 19:4-12; Mark 10:5-12; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11;15-20; 7:1-5; Ephesians 5:25-33; Hebrews 13:4; Malachi 2:13-16; Luke 16:18; Romans 7:1-3 We believe that God intends that sexual intimacy occur only within the confines of marriage. We believe that any form of sexual immorality, such as adultery, fornication, pre-marital sex, co-habitation (outside of a formal marriage covenant agreement legally recognized by the state and in agreement with biblical principles), homosexual conduct, bisexual conduct, pedophilia, bestiality, incest, pornography or any attempt to change one’s sex, or disagreement with one’s biological sexual orientation (except in the circumstance of genetic or anatomic hermaphroditism at birth), is sinful and offensive to God. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Romans 1:24-28; Jude 7; Genesis 19:5; 1 Corinthians 5:1 We believe that in order to preserve the function and integrity of the church as a local Body of Christ, and to provide a biblical role model to Wheatland Bible Church members and the community, it is imperative that all persons employed by this church in any capacity, or who serve as volunteers, should abide by and agree with this Statement on Marriage and Sexuality and conduct themselves accordingly. No minister, pastor, or representative of WBC will be allowed to officiate any marriage ceremony which is not in accordance with the definition of marriage as outlined in scripture and consistent with the above definition. No assets of WBC will be used for any type of ceremony or celebration of any union, which does not comply with the definition of marriage as outlined in scripture and consistent with the above definition. We believe that God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. We also believe that there are unavoidable consequences of sin among which may be disqualification from certain capacities within the Church. Each applicant for a leadership or volunteer position within Wheatland Bible Church will be evaluated and assessed on a case-by-case basis. These decisions will be made by the elder board, and will be a result of scriptural directive and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We believe that every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity. Hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual are to be repudiated and are not in accord with scripture nor the doctrines of the church.
We believe that the Holy Bible as originally written was verbally inspired and the product of Spirit-controlled men and therefore, has truth without any admixture of error for its matter. We believe the Bible to be the true center of Christian union and supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds and unions shall be tried. [2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21]
II. OF THE TRUE GOD
We believe there is one and only one living and true God, and infinite Spirit, the Maker and Supreme Ruler of heaven and earth; inexpressibly glorious in holiness, and worthy of all possible honor, confidence and love; and that in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, equal in every divine perfection, and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption. [Exodus 20:2-3; 1 Corinthian 8:6; Revelation 4:11; 1 John 5:]
III. OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person, with God the Father and God the Son and of the same nature; that He was active in the creation; that in His relation to the unbelieving world He restrains the evil one until God’s purpose is fulfilled; that He convicts of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; that He bears witness to the truth of the gospel in preaching and testimony; that He is the agent in the new birth; that He seals, endues, guides,, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies and helps the believer. [John 14:16-17; Matthew 28:19; Hebrews 9:14; John 14:26; Luke 1:35; Genesis 1:1-3; John 16:8-11; Acts 5:30-32; John 3:5-6; Ephesians 1:13-14; Mark 1:8; John 1:33; Acts 11:16; Luke 24:49; Romans 8:14, 16, 26-27]
IV. OF THE DEVIL, SATAN
We believe in the personality of Satan, that he is the unholy god of this age, and the author of all the powers of darkness, and is destined to the judgment of an eternal justice in the lake of fire. [Matthew 4:1-3; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Revelation 20:10]
V. OF CREATION
We accept the Genesis account of creation and believe that man came by direct creation of God and not by evolution. [Genesis 1:2; Colossians 1:6-17; John 1:3]
VI. OF THE FALL OF MAN
We believe that man was created in innocence and under the law of his Maker, but by voluntary transgression fell from his sinless and happy state in consequence of which all mankind are now sinners, not only by constraint, but of choice; and therefore under just condemnation without defense or excuse. [Genesis 3:1-3; Romans 5:10-19; Romans 1:18, 32]
VII. OF THE VIRGIN BIRTH
We believe that Jesus was begotten of the Holy Ghost in a miraculous manner, born of Mary, a virgin, as no other man was ever born or can ever be born of a woman, and that He is both the Son and God. [Genesis 3:15; Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:35; John 1:4]
VIII. OF ATONEMENT FOR SIN
We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace, through the mediatorial office of the Son of God, who by the appointment of the Father, freely took upon Him our nature, yet without sin, honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and by His death made full and vicarious atonement for our sins; that His atonement consists not in setting us an example by His death as a martyr, but as a voluntary substitution of Himself in the sinner’s place, the Just dying for the unjust; Christ, the Lord bearing our sins in His own body on the tree; that having risen from the dead He is now enthroned in heaven, and uniting in His wonderful person the tenderest sympathies with divine perfection, He is in every way qualified to be suitable and compassionate and all sufficient Savior. [Ephesians 2:8; Acts 15:11; Romans 3:24-25; John 3:16; Matthew 18:11; Philippians 2:7; Hebrews 2:14; Isaiah 53:4-7; 1 John 4:10; 1 Corinthians 15:3; 2 Corinthians 5:21]
IX. OF GRACE IN THE NEW CREATION
We believe that in order to be saved, a sinner must be born again; that in the new birth is a new creation in Christ Jesus; that it is instantaneous and not a process; that in the new birth the one dead in trespasses and in sins is made a partaker of the divine nature and receives eternal life, the free gift of God; that the new creation is brought about in a manner above our comprehension, solely by the power of the Holy Spirit, according to the divine truth, so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the gospel; that is proper evidence appears in the holy fruit of repentance and faith and newness of life. [John 3:3; 2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 John 5:1; John 3:6-7; Acts 16:30-33; 2 Peter 1:4; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:1; 2 Corinthians 5:19; Colossians 2:13; John 3:8]
X. JUSTIFICATION
We believe that the great gospel blessing which Christ secures to such as believe in Him is justification: A) That justification includes the pardon of sin, and the gift of eternal life, on principles of righteousness; B) That it is bestowed not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done, but solely through faith in the Redeemer’s blood, His righteousness is imputed to us [Acts 13:39; Isaiah 53:11; Romans 5:1-9; 8:1]
XI. OF FAITH AND SALVATION
We believe that faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is the only condition of salvation. [Acts 16:31; Romans 10:9-10; John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8-9]
XII. OF THE LOCAL CHURCH
We believe that a local church is a congregation of believers, associated by a covenant of faith and fellowship of the gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ; governed by laws; and exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word; that its officers are pastors and elders, whose qualification, claims and duties, are clearly defined in the Scriptures. We believe in the true mission of the church is the edification of believers and the faithful witnessing of Christ to all men as we have opportunity. We hold that the local church has the absolute right of self government, free from the interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organization; and that the one and only Superintendent is Christ through the Holy Spirit; that it is scriptural for the true churches to cooperate with each other in contending for the faith and for the furtherance of the gospel; that each local church is the sole judge of the measure and method of its cooperation on all matters of membership, of policy of government , of discipline , of benevolence, the will of the local church is final. [Acts 2:41-42; 15:13-18; 20:17-28; 1 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 1:22-23; 4:11; 5:23-24; 1 Timothy 3:17; Colossians 1:18]
XIII. OF BAPTISM AND THE LORD’S SUPPER
We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in the water to show forth in a solemn and beautiful emblem of our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Lord and Savior, with it effect in our death to sin and resurrection to a new life. We believe that the Lord’s Supper is the commemoration of His death until He comes and should be preceded always by a solemn self-examination. [Acts 8:26-39; John 3:23; Romans 6:3-6; Matthew 3:16; Colossians 2:12; 1 Corinthians 11:23-28]
XIV. OF THE SECURITY OF THE SAINTS
We believe that all who are truly born again are kept by God the Father for Jesus Christ. [Philippians 1:6; John 10:28-29; Romans 8:35-39; Jude 1 (R.V.)]
XV. OF THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED
We believe that there is a radical essential difference between the righteous and the wicked; that such as only through faith are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and sanctified by the Spirit of our God, are truly righteous in His esteem; while all such as continue in impenitence and unbelief are in His sight wicked, and under the curse; and that this distinction holds among men both in life and after death, in the everlasting felicity of the saved and the everlasting conscious suffering of the lost. [Malachi 3:18; Genesis 18:23; Romans 6:17, 18, 23, 7:6; 1 John 5:19; Proverbs 14:32; Luke 6:25; Matthew 25:34-41; John 8:21]
XVI. OF CIVIL GOVERNMENT
We believe that the civil government is of divine appointment for the interests and good order of human society; that magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored, and obeyed; except in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ who is the only Lord of the conscience, and the coming Prince of the kings of the earth. [Romans 13:1-7; Acts 4:19-20; 5:20, 23:5; 2 Samuel 23:3; Matthew 22:21; Daniel 3:17-18]
XVII. OF THE RESURRECTION, PERSONAL, VISIBLE, PREMILLENNIAL RETURN OF CHRIST, AND RELATED EVENTS
A) We believe in the bodily resurrection [Matthew 28:6-7; Luke 24:39; John 20:27; 1 Corinthians 15:4; Mark 16:6; Luke 24:2-6] B) The ascension [Acts 1:9-11; Luke 24:51; Mark 16:19; Revelation 3:21; Hebrews 12:2] C) The high priesthood [Hebrews 2:17, 5:9-10, 8:6; 1 Timothy 2:5; 1 John 2:1] D) The second coming [John 14:3; Acts 1:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:16; James 5:8; Hebrews 9:28] E) The resurrection of the righteous dead [1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:42-44, 52] F) The change of the living Christ [1 Corinthians 15:51-53; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Philippians 3:20-21] G) The throne of David [Luke 1:32; Isaiah 9:6-7; Acts 2:29-30] H) The millennial reign [1 Corinthians 15:25; Isaiah 32:1, 11:4-5; Psalm 72:8; Revelation 20:6, 14]
XVIII. OF MARRIAGE AND SEXUALITY
We believe the term ‘marriage’ has only one meaning: marriage is a covenant union, sanctioned by God, which joins one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture, and that God’s intent for marriage is that it be a lifetime relationship which should not be entered into nor dissolved easily. Genesis 2:23-24; Matthew 19:4-12; Mark 10:5-12; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11;15-20; 7:1-5; Ephesians 5:25-33; Hebrews 13:4; Malachi 2:13-16; Luke 16:18; Romans 7:1-3 We believe that God intends that sexual intimacy occur only within the confines of marriage. We believe that any form of sexual immorality, such as adultery, fornication, pre-marital sex, co-habitation (outside of a formal marriage covenant agreement legally recognized by the state and in agreement with biblical principles), homosexual conduct, bisexual conduct, pedophilia, bestiality, incest, pornography or any attempt to change one’s sex, or disagreement with one’s biological sexual orientation (except in the circumstance of genetic or anatomic hermaphroditism at birth), is sinful and offensive to God. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Romans 1:24-28; Jude 7; Genesis 19:5; 1 Corinthians 5:1 We believe that in order to preserve the function and integrity of the church as a local Body of Christ, and to provide a biblical role model to Wheatland Bible Church members and the community, it is imperative that all persons employed by this church in any capacity, or who serve as volunteers, should abide by and agree with this Statement on Marriage and Sexuality and conduct themselves accordingly. No minister, pastor, or representative of WBC will be allowed to officiate any marriage ceremony which is not in accordance with the definition of marriage as outlined in scripture and consistent with the above definition. No assets of WBC will be used for any type of ceremony or celebration of any union, which does not comply with the definition of marriage as outlined in scripture and consistent with the above definition. We believe that God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. We also believe that there are unavoidable consequences of sin among which may be disqualification from certain capacities within the Church. Each applicant for a leadership or volunteer position within Wheatland Bible Church will be evaluated and assessed on a case-by-case basis. These decisions will be made by the elder board, and will be a result of scriptural directive and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We believe that every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity. Hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual are to be repudiated and are not in accord with scripture nor the doctrines of the church.