How We Understand the Christian Faith
OpenCenter Fellowship is a Christian community inspired by the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.
We seek to live according to the practical teachings of Jesus, with humility, compassion, integrity, and respect for the dignity and freedom of every person.
Contents
Part I — Foundations of Faith
- A Spirit of Humility
- Jesus Christ
- God
- The Holy Spirit
- Reading the Bible
- Interpreting the Christian Faith Today
- Science and Faith
Part II — The Way of Christ
Part III — Living the Christian Life
- The Purpose of Christianity
- Worship
- The Church
- Community
- OpenCenter House Fellowships
- Baptism
- Communion
- Leadership
Part IV — Faith in Practice
- Ethics
- Compassion and Service
- Living Our Faith
- Society
- Questions and Dialogue
- Everyone is Welcome
- Our Mission
Part V — Governance Framework
Introduction
This document explains how OpenCenter Fellowship understands the Christian faith today. It is intended to help visitors, members, and anyone interested in our community understand the beliefs and values that shape our life together.
It is not intended to answer every theological question. Rather, it describes the convictions that guide the life, worship, community, and mission of OpenCenter Fellowship.
Throughout history, Christians have understood Scripture and the Christian faith in different ways. We recognise this diversity as part of the ongoing conversation through which the Christian faith has developed across the centuries.
At OpenCenter Fellowship, we approach the Christian faith as both timeless and continually relevant. We seek to understand the Bible within its historical and cultural context while exploring the enduring wisdom it offers for life today.
Rather than reading every passage literally, we look for the spiritual, moral, and practical wisdom that speaks to the realities of everyday life. We understand this wisdom as an invitation to grow in compassion, wisdom, forgiveness, justice, hope, and care for one another.
The chapters that follow describe how these perspectives shape our worship, community, leadership, relationships, and shared life.
They are offered not as the end of a conversation, but as an invitation to explore the Christian faith together with openness, humility, curiosity, and respect.
1. A Spirit of Humility
At OpenCenter Fellowship, humility is understood as one of the foundations of the Christian life. We recognise that no human being can fully comprehend the nature of God and that every description of God is necessarily limited.
For that reason, we approach the Christian faith with both conviction and openness. We seek to continue learning throughout our lives, remaining willing to reflect, ask questions, and deepen our understanding.
We recognise that thoughtful dialogue, historical study, scientific discovery, personal experience, and the insights of others can all contribute to a richer understanding of the Christian faith, ourselves, and the world around us.
Rather than claiming certainty on every question, we seek to live with humility, wisdom, compassion, and integrity, following the example of Jesus while remaining open to continued learning and growth.
2. Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ is the central figure of the Christian faith and the inspiration for the life of OpenCenter Fellowship.
In his life and teachings, we see a way of living shaped by love, compassion, forgiveness, humility, justice, and service. His example encourages us to recognise the inherent dignity of every person and to treat others with kindness, respect, mercy, and generosity.
Jesus consistently challenged religious legalism, exclusion, hypocrisy, and the misuse of power. He placed greater importance on compassion than on ritual, on mercy rather than condemnation, and on the transformation of the heart rather than outward appearances.
Jesus taught that love for God and love for our neighbour stand at the heart of the Christian life. We seek to let these teachings shape our relationships, our communities, and the way we live each day.
At OpenCenter Fellowship, Christianity is understood not simply as a set of doctrines to accept, but as a way of life. We seek to let the life and teachings of Jesus shape our relationships, our decisions, and the way we engage with the world.
We believe the example of Jesus continues to offer wisdom, hope, and guidance for the challenges and opportunities of life today.
3. God
At OpenCenter Fellowship, God is understood as the source of all life and the life-giving presence that sustains all creation.
We understand creation as a gift that reflects God’s sustaining presence and invites us to live with gratitude, wonder, responsibility, and care.
Because God transcends human understanding, we recognise that every description of God is necessarily limited. Faith therefore calls us to hold our understanding of God with reverence and humility, acknowledging that there is always more to discover than we can fully comprehend.
God’s grace is understood as the unconditional love that sustains and welcomes every person. Rather than inspiring fear or condemnation, grace offers hope, encourages healing and reconciliation, and reminds us that new beginnings are always possible.
We do not understand suffering as evidence of God’s punishment. Some suffering arises through human choices, while other forms are part of the realities of life, such as illness, loss, or natural events beyond human control. In every circumstance, we seek to respond with compassion, wisdom, courage, and hope.
Inspired by the life and teachings of Jesus, we understand our relationship with God as an invitation to grow in love, compassion, wisdom, justice, reconciliation, and hope.
4. The Holy Spirit
At OpenCenter Fellowship, the Holy Spirit is understood as God’s living presence within and among us.
The Holy Spirit is experienced as a quiet and continuing presence that encourages love, wisdom, compassion, forgiveness, courage, and inner renewal. Rather than compelling or controlling, the Spirit gently invites us to become more aware of God, ourselves, and one another.
As we become more attentive to the Holy Spirit, we often discover greater gratitude, humility, resilience, and care for others. We recognise the work of the Holy Spirit not only in extraordinary experiences, but also in the ordinary moments of everyday life, where compassion overcomes indifference, forgiveness overcomes resentment, justice overcomes injustice, and hope is renewed.
5. Reading the Bible
The Bible holds a central place in the life of OpenCenter Fellowship as a source of spiritual wisdom, reflection, and guidance.
We read Scripture with careful attention to its historical setting, literary style, and cultural context, recognising that its books were written by different authors, in different times, and for different audiences. Understanding that context helps us appreciate both the richness of the biblical writings and their continuing relevance.
Rather than approaching every passage as literal history, we seek the spiritual, moral, and practical wisdom that speaks into life today. Some biblical accounts may describe historical events, while others are more meaningfully understood through symbolism, poetry, metaphor, or narrative. Our primary concern is not to resolve every historical question but to explore the enduring wisdom each passage offers.
We read the Bible not simply to gain knowledge, but to deepen our understanding of God, ourselves, and one another, and to allow its wisdom to shape the way we live each day.
We continue to read the Bible in conversation with history, science, psychology, ethics, and human experience, trusting that its wisdom remains relevant as our understanding of the world continues to grow.
6. Interpreting the Christian Faith Today
Christianity has always been interpreted within the context of the time and culture in which people live. Throughout history, Christians have revisited familiar passages, asked new questions, and sought deeper understanding as society, knowledge, and human experience have developed.
At OpenCenter Fellowship, we see this continuing process of interpretation as both natural and necessary. While the life and teachings of Jesus remain at the heart of our faith, our understanding of Scripture continues to be informed by historical research, contemporary knowledge, psychology, ethics, science, and the realities of modern life.
We welcome sincere questions and recognise that faith continues to grow through reflection, dialogue, learning, and openness to deeper insight. Different perspectives need not be a threat to faith; they can become opportunities for greater understanding and wisdom.
Our aim is not simply to preserve inherited interpretations, but to explore how the enduring wisdom of the Christian faith continues to guide people towards lives of compassion, justice, integrity, hope, and service in today’s world.
7. Science and Faith
At OpenCenter Fellowship, science and faith are understood as different yet complementary ways of exploring reality.
Science seeks to understand the natural world through observation, evidence, and discovery. Faith explores questions of meaning, purpose, values, and the deeper dimensions of human existence. Each contributes to our understanding in different ways.
Scientific discoveries have transformed our understanding of the universe and continue to expand our knowledge of life, nature, and humanity. Rather than seeing these discoveries as a challenge to faith, we welcome them as opportunities to deepen our appreciation of the complexity, beauty, and wonder of creation.
At the same time, questions of meaning, consciousness, morality, beauty, and human purpose continue to invite philosophical and spiritual reflection. We therefore do not see science and faith as competing with one another, but as different ways of exploring and understanding reality.
For this reason, we continue to read Scripture alongside historical scholarship, scientific knowledge, psychology, ethics, and human experience, trusting that faith and honest inquiry can strengthen rather than diminish one another.
8. The Cross
The cross stands at the heart of the Christian story and remains one of its most enduring symbols.
At OpenCenter Fellowship, the cross expresses self-giving love, forgiveness, courage, reconciliation, and the willingness to remain faithful to compassion even in the face of suffering and injustice.
We do not understand the crucifixion as God’s punishment being transferred to Jesus on behalf of humanity. Instead, we see the cross as revealing the depth of God’s love and the transforming power of responding to hatred without hatred, violence without revenge, and suffering without abandoning compassion.
The cross invites us to examine our own lives, to let go of fear, resentment, pride, and selfishness, and to embrace a way of living shaped by mercy, forgiveness, humility, and hope.
Its significance lies not in suffering itself, but in the enduring witness that love can overcome fear, reconciliation can overcome division, and hope can endure even in life’s darkest moments.
9. The Resurrection
At OpenCenter Fellowship, the resurrection is understood primarily as a profound symbol of renewal, hope, and the possibility of new life.
Whether reflected in personal growth, reconciliation, forgiveness, or the courage to begin again, resurrection points towards the continual possibility of transformation within human life.
Rather than focusing primarily on how the resurrection took place, we explore what it reveals about the enduring power of hope, the renewal of the human spirit, and the possibility of living differently.
The resurrection reminds us that despair need not have the final word. It encourages us to recognise where change is needed, to leave behind attitudes and behaviours that diminish life, and to embrace a future shaped by compassion, wisdom, forgiveness, and love.
In this understanding, the resurrection is not only the story of Jesus, but also an invitation to continual renewal within our own lives, our relationships, and our communities.
10. Salvation
At OpenCenter Fellowship, salvation is understood as an ongoing journey of renewal and wholeness rather than a single moment or event.
It is expressed through the gradual transformation of our attitudes, relationships, and the way we live as we grow in love, compassion, wisdom, forgiveness, and integrity. In this sense, salvation is not only concerned with what lies beyond this life, but also with how we live here and now.
As we learn to let go of fear, resentment, selfishness, and behaviours that diminish life, we become more open to peace, reconciliation, and a deeper awareness of God’s presence.
Salvation is therefore understood as a lifelong journey in which the practical teachings of Jesus increasingly shape the way we live, leading us towards lives marked by compassion, justice, hope, and service.
11. Prayer
Prayer is understood as an opportunity to become more attentive to God’s presence in our lives and in the world around us.
It creates space for reflection, gratitude, honesty, listening, and renewal. Through prayer, we become more aware of ourselves, our relationships, and the ways we are invited to grow in compassion, wisdom, forgiveness, and hope.
Prayer is not understood as an attempt to persuade God to act according to our wishes. Rather, it helps us become more open to insight, courage, peace, and a deeper awareness of God’s presence in everyday life.
Prayer may be spoken or silent, personal or shared, structured or spontaneous. It can be practised anywhere and at any time, individually or together with others.
12. Sin
At OpenCenter Fellowship, sin is understood as those attitudes, choices, and patterns of behaviour that separate us from lives of love, compassion, justice, honesty, and peace.
It is expressed wherever selfishness, hatred, greed, pride, dishonesty, violence, injustice, or indifference diminish our relationship with God, with one another, with ourselves, or with the wider world.
Recognising our shortcomings is not about self-condemnation but about honest self-reflection. Growth begins when we become aware of the ways our thoughts, words, and actions affect both ourselves and others, and when we choose a more compassionate and life-giving path.
Forgiveness holds a central place within this understanding. It does not deny that harm has been done or remove the need for justice and accountability. Instead, it offers the possibility of healing, reconciliation, and freedom from allowing resentment or revenge to define our lives.
We recognise that forgiveness is often a gradual process rather than a single decision. It calls for courage, patience, wisdom, and, at times, the support of others. Wherever forgiveness becomes possible, it opens the way to healing, renewed relationships, and new beginnings.
13. Heaven and Hell
At OpenCenter Fellowship, heaven and hell are understood primarily as realities that can be experienced within human life, while also serving as enduring symbols within the Christian tradition.
Experiences of love, peace, reconciliation, joy, hope, and meaningful relationships offer glimpses of what many people describe as heaven. Experiences of hatred, fear, violence, loneliness, injustice, grief, or despair can feel like a living hell.
These images remind us that our choices, relationships, and attitudes shape both our own lives and the lives of those around us. They encourage us to choose compassion over indifference, forgiveness over resentment, hope over despair, and reconciliation over division.
Questions about what lies beyond death have been understood in different ways throughout Christian history. At OpenCenter Fellowship, we approach these questions with humility, recognising that some mysteries remain beyond human understanding. Rather than claiming certainty where certainty is not possible, we choose to live with openness, hope, and deep respect for the mystery of life.
For us, the significance of heaven and hell lies not in fear of the future, but in the invitation to live each day with compassion, integrity, wisdom, and love, helping to create lives and communities in which people can flourish.
14. Miracles
At OpenCenter Fellowship, miracles are understood with humility and openness.
Some experiences may point towards realities that are not yet fully understood, while others may eventually find explanation through continued scientific discovery. Rather than placing faith and knowledge in opposition, we recognise that both wonder and understanding have an important place in human life.
The natural world itself inspires awe. The existence of life, the beauty of creation, the complexity of the universe, and the depth of human consciousness all invite gratitude, wonder, and reflection.
When reading the miracle stories of the Bible, we seek to understand the spiritual, moral, and practical wisdom they communicate. Whether a story is read as historical, symbolic, or both, our primary concern is the wisdom it offers and the way it encourages lives shaped by compassion, hope, courage, and trust.
Wonder remains an important part of faith. Not everything can be fully explained, and mystery continues to invite curiosity, humility, gratitude, and deeper reflection.
15. The End Times
Throughout Christian history, the biblical passages concerning the future have been interpreted in many different ways.
At OpenCenter Fellowship, we recognise this diversity and approach such questions with humility rather than certainty. While these passages have inspired hope, reflection, and discussion across the centuries, we do not claim to possess definitive answers about the future.
Rather than becoming preoccupied with speculation, we believe our attention is best directed towards the opportunities and responsibilities of the present. The life and teachings of Jesus continually call us to lives of compassion, justice, forgiveness, integrity, and hope.
Questions about life after death remain part of the Christian faith. We recognise that faithful Christians have reached different conclusions, and we respect that diversity of understanding.
Whatever the future may hold, our faith is shaped more by hope than by fear, and more by the way we live today than by speculation about tomorrow.
16. The Purpose of Christianity
At OpenCenter Fellowship, Christianity is understood as a way of life inspired by the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.
We understand the purpose of Christianity not simply as affirming certain beliefs or observing religious traditions, but as cultivating lives marked by compassion, wisdom, integrity, forgiveness, justice, and hope. We seek to live out these values in our relationships, our communities, and our engagement with the wider world.
One of the central themes of Jesus’ teaching was the Kingdom of God. At OpenCenter Fellowship, we understand this as expressing God’s vision for humanity and creation, becoming increasingly visible wherever compassion, justice, reconciliation, peace, and hope shape the way people live together. It is, in our understanding, both an enduring hope and a present invitation to participate in lives that reflect these values.
The Christian faith also offers hope. Hope encourages resilience in times of difficulty, confidence that reconciliation is possible, and the courage to continue growing through life’s challenges. It reminds us that love, compassion, and goodness can continue to shape our lives, even in the face of suffering or uncertainty.
As individuals and communities grow in these values, they contribute to a more just, peaceful, and compassionate society.
Christianity is therefore understood as a lifelong journey of learning, reflection, growth, and service, continually shaped by the practical teachings of Jesus.
17. Worship
At OpenCenter Fellowship, worship is understood as a response of gratitude, reverence, and openness to God’s presence in our lives.
While worship may include prayer, music, silence, reflection, reading, and shared gatherings, it is not limited to any particular form or setting. Worship can also be expressed through compassion, generosity, justice, creativity, hospitality, and the everyday choices that reflect the life and teachings of Jesus.
Gathering together for worship encourages reflection, strengthens community, and provides space to learn from one another, support one another, and renew our shared commitment to living with humility, integrity, and compassion.
In this understanding, worship is not confined to a particular place or moment. It becomes a way of life that expresses gratitude for life, care for others, and openness to God’s continuing presence.
18. The Church
At OpenCenter Fellowship, the Church is understood first and foremost as a community of people rather than a building or an institution.
Across cultures and throughout history, Christians have gathered to worship, learn, support one another, and seek to live in ways inspired by the life and teachings of Jesus. Whether these gatherings take place in churches, homes, or online, they express a shared desire to grow in faith, compassion, and mutual care.
Each Christian community contributes its own gifts, experiences, and perspectives to the wider Christian tradition. We value this diversity and recognise that faithful people may understand and practise their faith in different ways while remaining united by a shared commitment to the life and teachings of Jesus.
For us, belonging to the Church means participating in a community where people encourage one another, learn together, care for one another, and seek the wellbeing of the wider world.
19. Community
At OpenCenter Fellowship, community is understood as an essential part of the Christian life.
Faith is enriched through relationships. By learning together, supporting one another, sharing our experiences, and walking alongside one another through both joyful and difficult seasons of life, we grow not only as individuals but also as a community.
We recognise that faithful Christians have understood Scripture and the Christian faith in different ways throughout history. Each person therefore brings unique experiences, perspectives, and gifts that contribute to the wisdom and wellbeing of the whole community. For this reason, we value listening as much as speaking and recognise that genuine dialogue deepens both understanding and relationships.
Healthy communities are built on mutual respect, compassion, honesty, generosity, forgiveness, and a willingness to care for one another. They provide places where people are encouraged to ask questions, contribute their gifts, and continue growing together.
Our hope is that everyone who becomes part of OpenCenter Fellowship experiences a community in which they are welcomed, valued, supported, and able to flourish alongside others.
20. OpenCenter House Fellowships
OpenCenter House Fellowships are small local gatherings where people come together to explore the Christian faith, build meaningful relationships, and support one another in everyday life.
Meeting in smaller groups creates opportunities for thoughtful conversation, shared learning, prayer, mutual encouragement, and genuine friendship that are often more difficult to cultivate in larger gatherings.
An OpenCenter House Fellowship is more than a Bible study or discussion group. It is a place where people share life together, care for one another, reflect on Scripture, explore its relevance for life today, and encourage one another to live with compassion, integrity, and hope.
Everyone is encouraged to participate, ask questions, contribute their experiences, and learn from one another within an atmosphere of openness, respect, and trust.
As OpenCenter Fellowship grows, we hope to establish House Fellowships in communities around the world, creating an international network of welcoming Christian communities united by shared values, mutual support, and a commitment to living according to the practical teachings of Jesus.
21. Baptism
At OpenCenter Fellowship, baptism is understood as a meaningful symbol of personal commitment and spiritual renewal.
For many Christians, baptism marks a person’s decision to identify with the Christian faith and to begin living in response to the life and teachings of Jesus. It is an outward expression of an inward commitment and a public affirmation of a person’s intention to follow the life and teachings of Jesus.
Because this commitment is deeply personal, we believe baptism should be entered into freely and with understanding. For this reason, OpenCenter Fellowship practises believer’s baptism rather than infant baptism.
Parents who wish to celebrate the beginning of a child’s life within the community are invited to participate in a service of dedication. During this celebration, parents, family, and the community express their commitment to nurture the child with love, wisdom, encouragement, and care, while respecting the child’s freedom to make their own decisions about faith as they mature.
Baptism is encouraged but never required as a condition of belonging. Participation in the life of OpenCenter Fellowship is always grounded in freedom of conscience, respect, welcome, and personal choice rather than obligation or pressure.
22. Communion
At OpenCenter Fellowship, communion is understood as a symbolic act of remembrance, gratitude, and shared commitment.
By sharing bread and wine, or other suitable food and drink, we remember the life, example, and self-giving love of Jesus. Communion invites us to reflect on the values he embodied and to renew our commitment to lives shaped by compassion, forgiveness, humility, and service.
We understand the bread and wine symbolically. Their significance lies in what they represent and in the opportunity they provide for reflection, gratitude, and shared belonging.
Communion also expresses the unity of the community. As we gather around a common table, we recognise our shared humanity, our responsibility to care for one another, and our shared desire to contribute to a more compassionate and just world.
Participation in communion is always voluntary. Everyone is invited to take part thoughtfully, respectfully, and according to their own conscience.
23. Leadership
Leadership at OpenCenter Fellowship exists to support the life, mission, and wellbeing of the community.
The fellowship is led by a Lead Pastor, supported by a Leadership Team, OpenCenter House Fellowship Leaders, and an independent Supervisory Board that provides accountability, oversight, and good governance.
Leadership is understood as a responsibility of service rather than a position of status or personal authority. Those entrusted with leadership are expected to demonstrate humility, integrity, wisdom, compassion, accountability, and a commitment to the values of OpenCenter Fellowship.
Leadership roles are open to qualified men and women and are filled on the basis of Christian character, spiritual maturity, demonstrated servant leadership, integrity, and suitability for the responsibilities of the role.
Healthy leadership is built on transparency, mutual accountability, shared responsibility, and respect for others. No individual stands above these principles, and every leader remains accountable within the governance structures of OpenCenter Fellowship.
Further information about governance, leadership responsibilities, safeguarding, and accountability can be found in the Leadership & Governance document.
24. Ethics
At OpenCenter Fellowship, ethics is understood as the practical expression of our faith in everyday life.
Ethical decisions are guided by compassion, wisdom, justice, honesty, humility, and respect for the dignity and freedom of every person. Rather than relying solely on fixed rules, we seek to understand the deeper principles reflected in Scripture and apply them thoughtfully within the realities of life today.
Many ethical questions are complex and require careful reflection. We therefore value dialogue, prayer, historical understanding, scientific knowledge, psychology, human experience, and concern for the wellbeing of others as we seek responses that promote justice, compassion, and human flourishing.
We recognise that sincere people may sometimes reach different conclusions. For that reason, ethical discussions are approached with humility, openness, and mutual respect rather than certainty or condemnation.
Care for creation forms an important part of our ethical responsibility. We understand the natural world as a gift entrusted to our care, calling us to live responsibly, use resources wisely, and consider the wellbeing of future generations.
This responsibility also includes caring for ourselves, for one another, and for the wider community of life. Every decision—whether affecting people, animals, or the environment—offers an opportunity to express gratitude, responsibility, compassion, and respect.
25. Compassion and Service
Compassion and service are central expressions of life within OpenCenter Fellowship.
The example of Jesus encourages us to recognise the dignity and worth of every person, particularly those who are overlooked, vulnerable, or in need. Genuine faith is expressed not only through what we believe, but through the way we treat one another in everyday life.
Compassion begins with attentive listening, understanding, kindness, forgiveness, and a willingness to respond to the needs of others. Service is one of the practical ways these values become visible, whether through caring for a neighbour, welcoming a stranger, supporting someone in difficulty, contributing to the community, or offering our time and gifts for the benefit of others.
Christian life is also marked by gratitude, joy, creativity, friendship, and celebration. Even in difficult circumstances, these qualities remind us of the goodness that continues to exist within people, communities, and creation.
By living with generosity, humility, and compassion, we contribute to communities in which people are supported, relationships are strengthened, and hope becomes tangible in everyday life.
26. Living Our Faith
At OpenCenter Fellowship, faith is expressed most clearly through the way we live.
The values of compassion, integrity, humility, justice, forgiveness, and generosity become meaningful when they are reflected in our relationships, our work, our communities, and our everyday decisions.
Conversations about faith arise naturally through openness, respect, and genuine human connection. We welcome these conversations without pressure or expectation, recognising that every person is free to explore spiritual questions, reach their own conclusions, and follow their own journey.
We value dialogue with people of every background, culture, belief, and worldview. Differences are approached with curiosity and respect rather than judgement or competition.
Our hope is that the character of our community speaks more clearly than our words. We believe the way we live together is the most authentic expression of the faith we seek to embody.
27. Society
OpenCenter Fellowship seeks to contribute positively to the communities and societies of which it is part.
Rather than withdrawing from the world, we encourage active participation in society through compassion, integrity, wisdom, responsibility, and service. Our faith finds expression not only within church life but also in our homes, workplaces, neighbourhoods, and public life.
We value openness and transparency. Our worship services, House Fellowships, educational activities, and community initiatives are open to all who wish to participate, creating opportunities for learning, dialogue, friendship, and mutual support.
We recognise the importance of education, science, the arts, culture, and thoughtful public conversation. People of different beliefs and backgrounds can work together for the common good while treating one another with dignity and respect.
We encourage responsible citizenship, care for local communities, and thoughtful stewardship of the natural world. Through everyday acts of kindness, justice, and cooperation, we seek to contribute to a society in which people and communities can flourish.
28. Questions and Dialogue
At OpenCenter Fellowship, questions are welcomed as a natural and valuable part of the life of faith.
Throughout Christian history, people have explored Scripture, reflected on their experiences, and engaged in thoughtful conversation as they sought a deeper understanding of God and the Christian tradition. We see this ongoing exploration as an important part of continuing personal and spiritual growth.
We encourage people to think independently, ask honest questions, consider different perspectives, and engage thoughtfully with Scripture, history, science, psychology, ethics, and human experience.
Meaningful dialogue depends upon mutual respect. Every person deserves to be treated with dignity, kindness, and courtesy, regardless of their beliefs, background, opinions, or life experience.
Differences of opinion are approached with openness rather than hostility. We encourage careful listening, thoughtful conversation, and a willingness to learn from one another. Ridicule, humiliation, intimidation, or personal attacks have no place within our community.
Our hope is to cultivate a community in which curiosity, humility, and respectful dialogue continue to deepen both understanding and relationships.
29. Everyone is Welcome
Everyone is welcome at OpenCenter Fellowship.
We welcome people of every nationality, culture, age, background, and life experience. Whether you have been part of the Christian faith for many years, belong to another faith, are exploring spirituality, or have no religious background, you are welcome to participate in the life of our community.
We recognise that people arrive with different experiences, questions, convictions, and perspectives. Rather than expecting everyone to hold the same views, we encourage respectful conversation, thoughtful reflection, and the freedom for each person to explore matters of faith according to their own conscience.
We do not see ourselves as separate from the wider community or as a group set apart from society. We seek to relate to every person with the same dignity, kindness, compassion, and respect, regardless of whether they share our understanding of the Christian faith.
Our hope is that everyone who takes part in the life of our community—whether in person, online, or through an OpenCenter House Fellowship—experiences a place where they are welcomed, valued, supported, and free to participate without pressure or coercion.
30. Our Mission
The mission of OpenCenter Fellowship is to cultivate Christian communities inspired by the life and teachings of Jesus, where people can explore faith, grow in wisdom, support one another, and contribute positively to the world around them.
We seek to live according to the practical teachings of Jesus, with humility, compassion, integrity, and respect for the dignity and freedom of every person.
Through worship, OpenCenter House Fellowships, pastoral care, prayer, learning, and acts of practical service, we encourage lives marked by compassion, justice, hope, generosity, and responsible stewardship.
We recognise that every person has inherent dignity, unique gifts, and the capacity to contribute to the wellbeing of others. Our role is to nurture communities where those gifts can be discovered, developed, and shared in ways that strengthen both individuals and society.
As OpenCenter Fellowship grows, we hope to establish House Fellowships in communities around the world, creating an international network of Christian communities connected by shared values, mutual support, thoughtful dialogue, and a commitment to serving others.
Above all, we seek to foster communities where faith is expressed through humility, openness, compassion, integrity, and service, so that the practical teachings of Jesus continue to find meaningful expression in everyday life.
31. Related Documents
This page forms part of the governance framework of OpenCenter Fellowship and should be read alongside the following documents:
Public Governance Documents
- Our Beliefs
- Leadership & Governance
- Governance
- Code of Conduct
- Safeguarding Policy
- Complaints & Reporting Procedure
- Statutes of OpenCenter Fellowship
Internal Governance Documents
- Constitution of OpenCenter Fellowship
- Financial Management & Internal Controls Policy
Legal & Website Documents
Together, these documents establish the governance and legal framework of OpenCenter Fellowship and support our commitment to ethical leadership, responsible stewardship, safeguarding, accountability, transparency, and respect for the dignity of every person.
32. Our Commitment
OpenCenter Fellowship is committed to cultivating a Christian community where people are welcomed with humility, compassion, integrity, and respect.
We seek to live according to the practical teachings of Jesus, encourage thoughtful exploration of the Christian faith, and foster communities where every person is valued, supported, and free to grow.
We remain committed to learning, worshipping, serving, and growing together in a spirit of openness, wisdom, and mutual care, trusting that the practical teachings of Jesus continue to inspire lives of compassion, justice, hope, and service.
Document Information
Document: Our Beliefs
Approved by: Leadership team
Version: 1.1
Effective date: 6 July 2026
Last reviewed: 15 July 2026
Next scheduled review: July 2027
© 2026 OpenCenter Fellowship. All rights reserved.
This document forms part of the governance framework of OpenCenter Fellowship and should be read together with the other applicable governance documents of the fellowship.
The official Dutch version of this document is legally authoritative. This English version is provided for the convenience of international readers. In the event of any difference in interpretation, the official Dutch version shall prevail.
This document may be copied or shared for personal, educational, or other non-commercial purposes, provided it remains complete and unaltered, and OpenCenter Fellowship is acknowledged as the source. Any commercial reproduction, modification, or distribution requires the prior written permission of OpenCenter Fellowship.