“The only intelligible sense that progress or advance can have among men, is that we have a definite vision, and that we wish to make the whole world like that vision…. Progress should mean that we are always changing the world to suit the vision. Progress does mean (just now) that we are always changing the vision.” — G.K. Chesterton
A Creed is the rock to which the Church clings and which sets forth the bases of its teaching and vision for both its adherents and for all who come to it seeking the way to true, everlasting life. A church without a creed, is a church without a vision, having no faith to confess.
The term creed comes from the Latin word credo which means “I believe.” Thus in its simplest terms a creed is a statement or confession of faith.
According to the Random House/ Webster’s Dictionary a creed is:
“an authoritative statement of the chief articles of Christian belief.” It is a confession of faith set forth for use by the public and is considered by its framers to be that which is necessary for salvation and/or for the spiritual well-being of the church.
- At Baptism in the PNCC the Priest, and the child’s sponsors recite the Apostles Creed as they approach the Baptismal Font. It is a public declaration of faith on behalf of the child to be Baptized.
- At Confirmation, the confirmands recite the Apostles Creed as part of their public ‘Declaration of the Confirmed.’
- Every Sunday the congregation recites the Nicene Creed as a public declaration of our personal faith, beginning with “I believe.”
The Church recognizes the four ecumenical creeds. These creeds are those which are held in common by the Greek, Latin, and Evangelical Protestant Churches. These four commonly held ecumenical creeds are: the Apostles’ Creed; the Nicene Creed; the Athanasian Creed, and the Chalcedonian Creed. The beliefs of the Polish National Catholic Church are also spelled out and documented in The Confession of Faith of the Polish National Catholic Church adopted in 1914.
