Commonly Asked Questions
Yes. Clare Gramley is our staff counselor. He partners with Lincoln Pastoral Counseling Services. You can reach Claire at (217) 732-6225
2. What is your church’s belief concerning baptism?
Baptism is a believer’s decision to be immersed into Jesus Christ. The purpose of baptism is not to become a member of the Jefferson Street Christian Church. The purpose of baptism, according to Scripture, is to be cleansed by Jesus Christ and to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. We realize that many churches do not practice baptism in this manner. While we do not recognize infant baptism or sprinkling in our congregation, our intention is not to condemn those who do. We simply desire to practice baptism as it was practiced in the Bible.
3. What are the requirements for membership at JSCC?
The only requirements for membership at JSCC are the ones the Bible gives, which include:
• Believing that Jesus is the Christ, God’s Son
• Being immersed into Christ for the forgiveness of sin and to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit
• A commitment to becoming like Christ
You do not have to:
• Get up in front of the congregation (You are welcome to come forward during the time of commitment, but it is not mandatory.)
• Sign on the dotted line
• Get a letter from your previous church
• Commit to a creed (other than the Bible)
Simply stated, membership at JSCC is a Christian’s affirmation that they commit themselves to this church family. Just contact the church office, one of the ministerial staff, or an elder of our congregation.
4. Is JSCC affiliated with a denomination?
No. Our church is an independent Christian Church that affiliates with other churches within our brotherhood, which is commonly known as the Restoration Movement.
The Restoration Movement is a group of churches that are founded upon the premise of Christian unity. We believe that this unity can be accomplished when the ideals of the church are restored to their original intent as seen in the New Testament. We realize that this is a difficult task, since nearly 2,000 years have passed since the church began. The most important step in this process is looking beyond our own preconceived notions and biases about church and returning to the Scriptures.
Since we are not a denomination, we are not forced to agree with any doctrine simply because a denomination says we must. We are free follow the Scriptures by our convictions as the Holy Spirit leads us. We also do not have to contend with any denominational hierarchy. Rather, we choose to associate with churches and organizations that have similar beliefs and values.
