THEOLOGICAL STATEMENT

We Believe

While we are a presbyterian congregation, every believer that has genuine faith in Christ is welcome here.*

Together, we all adhere to the Apostles’ Creed:

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived of the Holy Spirit, And born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; He descended to hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From there he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic** church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

**that is, the true Christian church of all times and all places.

VALUES

Gospel Trust

Our life together begins and ends with Jesus—the Savior who stepped into human history to redeem a broken world and restore us to God and one another. In a world marked by division and despair, we trust in the power of the Gospel: that through Christ’s life, death, and resurrection, sin’s grip is broken, shame no longer defines us, and new life is possible. Jesus walks with us still, by the Spirit, renewing hearts, healing wounds, and forming a people who reflect His love and truth. This is the good news we live by.

Healing Belonging

At Koinonia, we believe church should feel like home. A home where weary souls find rest. A place where the wounded are seen, the overlooked are embraced, and the marginalized are uplifted. Because Jesus is our refuge, we work to create a culture of welcome and safety for all—including those who have been harmed by religion, silenced by injustice, or burdened by shame.

True safety includes truth and integrity.  In the grace of Jesus, we believe healing comes through both compassion and clarity. We invite everyone into a journey of growth—from the pulpit to the last pew. This journey requires commitment to discipleship, honest engagement, the use of God-given gifts, and the daily practices of repentance and justice. We hold space for restoration, not as an end in itself, but as part of the Spirit’s transforming work in community. We honor one another as God’s Beloved. And when everyone finds their seat at the table, we feast on healing—and holiness—together.

Reimagined Power

The Son of God washed feet. He welcomed children. He lifted the poor and challenged the proud. That’s the kind of power we seek to model. At Koinonia, leadership means humble service and courageous care. We believe ministry is shared by men and women alike, across generations, in every culture and gifting. Our diverse leaders serve as unto the Lord, not for applause but for faithfulness. We raise up voices often silenced. We guard the vulnerable. We steward influence not for control, but for the flourishing of others. We honor our ordained leaders through encouragement, respect, and accountability—just as Scripture teaches: “Respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work” (1 Thessalonians 5:12–13). We also call everyone to examine how our biases—conscious or not—can impact the way we receive ministry from those the world may devalue because of their gender, ethnicity, or background. It should not be so here at Koinonia. Together, we seek justice—not just as an ideal, but as a daily practice rooted in the life and teachings of Jesus.

Grace-Inspired Humility

All that is beautiful in us flows from the grace of God. We are a people in process—learning, stumbling, growing, and being made new by the Spirit. Our confidence is not in our perfection but in Christ’s finished work. At Koinonia, we don’t pretend to have it all together. We live in grateful dependence on Jesus, and that grace keeps us grounded.

We welcome people from many walks of life—some who may not share every part of our doctrine, tradition, or convictions. Because of the Gospel, we pursue radical hospitality with open arms and open hearts, while also holding fast to the truth of Scripture with clarity and love. Jesus meets us as we are—but He never leaves us there. His love is both welcoming and transformative, calling us into lives that reflect His holiness, justice, and mercy in community with others.

Grace teaches us to live with compassion and courage—to be a people marked by love, integrity, and the humility that always points back to Him. Out of that humility, we keep asking: What pleases the Lord? And what can we learn from the historic church, the global church, and the underground church—communities who have followed Jesus faithfully in times and places far different from our own? Their witness challenges us to walk in truth and grace, always listening, always learning, always led by the Spirit.

Spirit-Fueled Prayer

We are a praying people—because we believe God listens. With wonder and reverence, we come to the Creator who invites us to call Him Father. Whether with tears, laughter, silence, or song, we come honestly, knowing He cares more than we can imagine. The Holy Spirit helps us speak when words fall short, and Jesus teaches us how to draw near.

In prayer, we grieve, rejoice, confess, listen, and intercede. It’s not a ritual—it’s our lifeline. Prayer fuels our worship, centers our work, and keeps our hearts tender to God's movement among us. At Koinonia, we depend on God for everything, and prayer is how we remember who we are and whose we are.

Join us for prayer each weekday at 6:00 AM CST on the Koinonia Prayer Line. Details at koinonianashville.com.

Cross-Cultural Equity

We follow a Savior who was a brown-skinned Jewish man, born into poverty, misunderstood by his own people, and crucified by empire. He knows what it means to live in the tension of power and marginalization. In Him, we are forming a new family—across cultures, histories, languages, and stories. At Koinonia, we celebrate the richness of every ethnicity, honor the dignity of every person, and labor toward a more just and equitable world. This is not just a value—it’s part of our discipleship.

Mutuality in Leadership

At Koinonia, we believe that men and women are called to serve together in integrity and equity, reflecting God’s good design before the fall (Genesis 1:27–28). The outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost affirmed this mutual calling—sons and daughters prophesying together (Acts 2:17–18)—and the early church bore witness to this truth as women and men labored side by side for the Gospel (Romans 16; Philippians 4:2–3). From Miriam and Moses, Deborah and Barak, to Priscilla and Aquila, Scripture gives us models of partnership that build up the church and glorify God.

Women in both the Old and New Testaments prophesied, proclaiming the Word of the Lord with authority (Exodus 15:20; Judges 4:4; Luke 2:36; Acts 21:9). Their voices remind us that God equips all his children for the work of ministry. For this reason, all of our ordained leadership teams reflect this principle—bearing witness to the Spirit’s gifts, the justice of God’s kingdom, and the flourishing of the body of Christ.

We submit ourselves to Scripture, learning from one another as siblings in Christ, so that together we may be strengthened for discipleship and bear faithful witness to the world.