Who are we?

Though Olympic View Community Church has existed in Seattle for over 75 years, just knowing that does not help you know who we are today. Our mission is to step out in faith in the power of God’s love. Our vision is to be a church seeking transformation.

Our Vision Statement:

To build a community, grounded in love,
whose members empower each other to extend that love to others
by harnessing the unique gifts of the church community
to radically transform itself and others
through the power of God’s love,
and by being risk takers,
stepping out in faith,
and advocating for peace and justice for everyone.

Statement of Purpose

What is the basis for our beliefs?

The New Testament is our rule of faith and practice. We covenant to live by its precepts as taught and revealed in Jesus and affirmed by the apostles.  When faced with inconsistencies in scripture we lean on the words of Jesus as our guide.  We believe that the clear interpretation of scripture requires us to also understand the context, historical culture, and social customs of the times when it was recorded.  We believe that God is still revealing His will through the scriptures, but we also believe that it is not always a crystal-clear message “For now we see through a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then shall I know even as also I am known.” (I Cor 13:12)

All members are ministers. We are called not only to serve one another, but also to live in harmony with all of God’s creation.  We believe in living in harmony with all people, in peacefully solving conflict, and in not harming or degrading any other person.  Loving God and loving our neighbor is at the core of all that we do and this should extend to every living thing and to all of creation.

We believe the corporate discernment of the gathered church is our understanding of God’s will.  Each member of the church is a valued part of the whole body. God endows each member with spiritual and natural gifts, and the church values each member’s opinion and contributions.

We are known by our fruits (Mat 7:15-20), and Christ should be glorified and revealed in all we do (Mat 5:16).  We are called to help the needy in the world, for what we do for the least of these, we do for God (Jesus) (Mat 25:40-45).

We believe that Jesus came to redeem the world (John 3:16-18), and that we are saved by grace through faith (Eph 2:8-9).

Our practices:

• We believe in radical hospitality; thus, everyone is welcome at Olympic View Community Church.
• Our denomination, the Church of the Brethren, is an historic peace church whose purpose can be summed in this statement: “Continuing the work of Jesus, Peacefully, Simply, Together”
• Olympic View is open and affirming of all people without respect to their economic, social, or political status, or gender affirmation.  All people are seen as God’s children and are worthy of God’s love and grace.
• We celebrate Christmas and Easter, make communion available monthly and have a Love Feast each year on Maundy Thursday (the Thursday before Easter), remembering the Last Supper of Jesus and his disciples where we wash each other’s feet.
• We practice full immersion baptism of adults to welcome them into the body with the full faith commitment of both the new member and the congregation.