Sunrise Community Church is part of the Alliance of Reformed Churches (ARC)—a movement of gospel-centered congregations committed to biblical faithfulness, spiritual renewal, and mission in the world.

We believe denominations, though not biblically mandated, are valuable tools that help promote unity, accountability, and shared ministry among churches. As members of the Alliance, we hold to a shared confession that Christ is the head of the Church and that we are united by “one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all” (Ephesians 4:5–6).

We align ourselves with churches that share our core Christian beliefs and our distinct Reformed identity, so that we can move forward together in mission with clarity and unity.

I. Our Core Convictions

• The Bible is the inspired, infallible, and authoritative Word of God. It is our final rule for faith and life.

• We are part of God’s story of redemption, built on His unchanging promises and covenants.

• Sound interpretation of Scripture requires faithful exegesis, including grammatical, historical, and theological context guided by a consistent, biblical theology.

II. Reformed Foundations

• We affirm the sovereignty of God in all things, and that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, revealed in Scripture alone, to the glory of God alone.

• Jesus Christ is the only King and Head of the Church. All believers are part of His royal priesthood.

• We affirm the Apostles’, Nicene, and Athanasian Creeds as expressions of the historic, global Christian faith.

• As a Reformed church, we hold to the:

  • Heidelberg Catechism

  • Belgic Confession

  • Canons of Dort

  These historic confessions help us understand Scripture and shape our doctrine and practice.

• We also affirm:

  • The Belhar Confession, which deepens our understanding of biblical unity.

  • The Great Lakes Catechism on Marriage and Sexuality, which articulates a biblical view of human sexuality and marriage.

III. The Church and Its Mission

• The Church is God’s chosen people, united by faith, and sent into the world to proclaim the gospel.

• We believe in the multiplication of disciples and churches. Planting new churches and strengthening existing ones is central to our mission.

IV. Relational Beliefs

• We are a covenant people—in relationship with God and each other. We are called to love, encourage, pray for, and hold each other accountable in grace.

• Every human being is made in God’s image, and God is glorified in the diversity of His people.

• We believe Jesus is the answer to every challenge facing our culture. The Church is called to engage the world with truth, grace, and love—just as Jesus did.

V. Congregational Authority

• The local church is primary. The Alliance exists to equip and support congregations—not control them.

• Each congregation has full ownership and stewardship of its assets and property, under the Lordship of Christ.

• We affirm that both men and women are created in God’s image and can be called to lead and serve in ministry.

• We recognize two biblically grounded views on the role of women in ordained office and allow each congregation to determine their practice.

VI. Theological Education

• We value theological training that is biblical, Reformed, and practical, producing leaders of Christ-like character who can equip the Church for ministry.

• Ordained leaders in the Alliance should also be members of a local Alliance church, for accountability and connection.

VII. Missional Partnerships

• Healthy mission begins at the local level. We encourage churches to form strong partnerships that build God’s Kingdom.

• In some seasons, outside help is needed. The Alliance provides coaches, transitional pastors, conflict resolution experts, and other resources to support and strengthen churches.

VIII. Safe Congregations

• Ministry must take place in an environment that is physically and spiritually safe. Churches are responsible for having proper training, policies, and practices in place to ensure the well-being of all participants.

IX. Organizational Limits

• The Alliance is committed to empowering churches to self-govern biblically. While it may offer guidance, it does not impose doctrine beyond what Scripture requires.

• Funding for the Alliance is intentionally limited to leadership, governance, and essential congregational support, to keep the focus on local church ministry.