We believe the Bible is the inspired and infallible Word of God. The Bible is our rule for what we believe about God and what duty He requires of us. (2 Tim.3:14-17)
We believe that the Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms are the most accurate summary of what the Bible teaches.
Our Beliefs
Our Profession
Here is the public profession of faith made by all members of Covenant Orthodox Presbyterian Church:
On The Bible
I believe the Bible, consisting of the Old and New Testaments, is the Word of God, and Its doctrine of salvation is the only perfect and true doctrine of salvation. (Ps. 119, Lk.24: 25-27, , Jn.5:46, 2 Tim.3:14-17, I Pt.1:3-25)
On GOd
I believe in one living and true God, in whom eternally there are three distinct Persons – God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit – who are the same in being and equal in power and glory, and that Jesus Christ is God the Son, come in the flesh. (Dt.6:4, Isa.44:6, I Cor.8:4-6, Jn. 1:1-18, 20:28)
On Salvation
I believe that I am a sinner and I confess that because of my sinfulness I hate and humble myself before God and that I repent of my sin, and that I do not trust in myself for salvation but in Jesus Christ alone. (Rom.3:1-31, 4: 1-25, 6:23, Jn.3:16, 36, 6:32-40, 14:6)
On Christian Living
I believe that Jesus Christ is my sovereign Lord, and I promise that, in reliance on the grace of God, I will serve Him with all that is within me, forsake the world, resist the devil, put to death my sinful deeds and desires, and lead a godly life. (Mt. 10: 24-42, Jn.14:15, I Jn. 2:1-6)
On The Church
I promise to participate faithfully in this church’s worship and service, to submit in the Lord to its government, and to heed its discipline, even in case I should be found erring in doctrine or life. (Exod.20: 8-11, Acts 2: 37-47, Heb.10:23-25, 13: 7, 17, Eph. 4:11-12, I Tim.3: 1-13, Mt.18:15-20, I Cor.5:1-13)
John Schortmann
Our Pastor
Our pastor is John Schortmann. He hails from Massachusetts. And now a longtime resident of Florida. Pastor John is the founding minister since 2002. A graduate of Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. He is married to his college sweetheart Mona, 37 years of the Lord’s kindness. Together they have two married children and four grandsons. Our pastor loves God, His Word and His people. His passion is to see people believe in Christ and live for Christ.
I CORINTHIANS 9:23
“I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.”
“For whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.”
Philippians 3: 7-9
Our Purpose
Our purpose is to do all things for the sake of the Gospel – to share in Its blessings.
Since Christ has purchased us, body and soul with His precious blood, we are no longer our own, we belong to God as His beloved children. As such we desire to live for Him and to help others live for Him.
Our main goal is to glorify God in our thoughts, words, and deeds and to enjoy God in this life and in the next.
We strive to love God, our brothers and sisters in Christ, our neighbors as ourselves, and even our enemies for Christ’s sake – with words and deeds.
Our great joy and privilege and duty is to tell our family, our friends, our neighbors, and the whole world about The Good News of Christ , about the holiness, the power, the wisdom, the goodness, the love, the mercy, the forgiveness, and the hope found in the One True and Living God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. By Grace Alone. Through Faith Alone. In Christ Alone. As Found In Scripture Alone.