1.Classic theism: one omnipotent, all-virtuous, all-blessed God, Creator of the universe, eternally distinct from the created universe.

2.Nicene Trinitarianism: one God in three eternally existent persons, equal in power and glory, as confessed by the church at the Council of Nicea in 325 AD, and re-confirmed in the Nicene Creed of 381 AD.

3.Chalcedonian Christology: Jesus Christ as the God-Man, one person in two natures, fully human and fully divine; the one mediator between God and the human race: incarnate, virgin-born, crucified, resurrected in the body, ascended, enthroned and coming again in the body, as taught by the Council of Chalcedon in 451 AD.

4.Humanity: Created in the image of God, yet tragically fallen and profoundly in need of restoration to the Father through Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit.

5.The Visible Church: the community of the redeemed, and communion of saints, indwelt by the sanctifying Holy Spirit; the mystical body of Christ on earth; the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.

6.The Sacraments: the visible and earthly signs and seals of the invisible and heavenly grace of God, by which Christ sets us apart and ministers to us in our deep need.

7.The Christian life: characterized by the prime theological virtues of faith, hope and love. These virtues arise from God, instruct our hearts in God, and lead us back to God in the restoration of the divine image.

8.The Resurrection of the Body and the Life of the World to Come: characterized by the glorification of the once-mortal body, the perfecting of the saints, the renewal of the physical cosmos, and everlasting blessedness for the whole church in the presence of the triune God.

Sources: The Apostles' Creed, The Nicene Creed, The Formula of Chalcedon, and the writings of selected ancient Fathers of the church, Justin Martyr (c. 100-165 AD), Irenaeus (c. 130-202 AD), Tertullian (c. 160-c. 220 AD), Origen (c. 180-254 AD), and Augustine (354-430 AD), as they all sought to expound the teachings of the Holy Scriptures.