About

CHRISTIAN DENOMINATION:

As a denomination, Templar Church is a branch of the one Christian Church. We acknowledge Jesus the Christ as our Founder, Living Head and Eternal High Priest.  A “denomination” is not a separate religion, it is an organization “that is a group of fallible human beings” who gather in worship, pool funds, construct church buildings, file for nonprofit status, operate ministries, hold rummage sales and do all the other things people associate with the word “church.”

Most denominations believe the same tenets of Christian faith, which were laid down in complete form prior to the year 1000. But each denomination is separately organized and managed. So there’s unity in faith, but diversity in practice and governance. (It’s important not to confuse matters of faith with matters of church practice and governance.)

CATHOLIC, PROTESTANT, ORTHODOX:

Templar Church includes Catholics, Protestants, and Orthodox Christians.  Our clergy celebrate the liturgy and administer the seven sacraments in the traditional Christian way.

SACRAMENTAL:

We are a sacramental church. We hold that the sacraments are visible signs of a manifestation of grace and serve as aids to spiritual growth. Believe in the three creeds is the rite of passage into membership in our Church: http://templarchurch.org/beliefs/

Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Eucharist, Absolution, Holy Unction and Holy Matrimony are made available to all. Holy Orders is a higher initiation and ministry which is also made available to all members.

MODERN:

We are a modern church. We maintain that eternal truth cloaks itself in garb appropriate to the age and that the outward form of religion should keep pace with human development.

INDEPENDENT

Templar Church is an independent denomination of churches. We welcome to our altars all who reverently approach them. We grant members the widest measure of intellectual liberty and freedom of conscience.

We acknowledge that freedom of conscience makes each person fully responsible for his or her own self-development. We recognize freedom of thought and expression as essential for self-discovery.

FREE THOUGHT:

The Templar Church Denomination embodies an ancient truth for the modern world. We provide an intelligent alternative, traditional worship with the free exploration of new ideas and techniques. All seekers are encouraged to rely on the Holy Bible and the three creeds as their source of knowledge for their faith.

FELLOWSHIP:

Our Church is a spiritual fellowship of followers of Christ. We give ourselves and others encouragement to live the truth. To live the truth is to become ever more like Christ, the source of real fellowship.

LOVE CENTERED:

We are a Church of love. We accept Saint John’s testimony that God is love. For us, Christ’s ministry is the law of love: “Love the Lord, thy God, with thy whole heart, thy whole mind and thy whole strength; and love thy neighbor as thyself. This is the whole Law and the prophets.”

UNIVERSAL

We maintain that the Holy Spirit acts through pure channels everywhere. There is only one true God, however known and worshipped; hence, there is only one holy universal Church, regardless of cultural form. We revere the saints of all ages.

OPEN COMMUNION:

We hold that the chief purpose of the Church is to perpetuate the historical sacramental tradition as instituted by Christ. We maintain that the sacraments are channels for divine grace. Therefore, we make the sacraments easily available to all.

Since the Eucharist puts us in communion with Christ, it is a channel of grace without parallel. Therefore, at our altars all reverent persons are welcome to receive Communion, whether members of the Templar Church or not.

OPEN HOLY ORDERS

Holy Orders are open to all members of the Church and available to all those who wish to serve Christ in a special way.