What We Believe

Our Purpose Statement

People have told us that our church is unusual.
We don’t all agree on everything, except for the one important thing: following Jesus. This brings us together in a brave space that is unlike anything else out there.
Our beliefs, understanding of scripture, and leadership lead us to anti-racism work and LGBTQIA+ advocacy. At the same time, our membership is full of people across the political spectrum.
In our differences, we value human diversity and rights. Our differences create deep friendships, open curiosity, intellectual growth, the right amount of challenge, and contagious joy.
In our church, it’s not acceptable to bad-mouth people because they vote differently. We don’t do that here. We don’t hate people for their opinions.
Here’s what we do: we eat well. We look out for each other. We welcome strangers in a way that lets them know they are at home. We work together to care for the least of these in our community. We laugh a lot.
We are bonded by our love of music, art, and storytelling, based on our mountain heritage.
Our culture is divided.
Our church is not.
We follow Jesus.

"Through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, we trust in the one triune God, the Holy One of Israel, whom alone we worship and serve.

"God comes to us in free and undeserved favor in the person of Jesus Christ who lived, died, and rose for us that we might belong to God and serve Christ in the world. Following Jesus, Presbyterians are engaged in the world and in seeking thoughtful solutions to the challenges of our time.

"Presbyterians affirm that God comes to us with grace and love in the person of Jesus Christ, who lived, died, and rose for us so that we might have eternal and abundant life in him. As Christ’s disciples, called to ministry in his name, we seek to continue his mission of teaching the truth, feeding the hungry, healing the broken, and welcoming strangers. God sends the Holy Spirit to dwell within us, giving us the energy, intelligence, imagination, and love to be Christ’s faithful disciples in the world." (source: "Get To Know the Presbyterian Church")

Canton Presbyterian Church is part of the Presbyterian Church (USA), and we participate in the mission and ministries of the Presbytery of Western North Carolina. Along with other congregations in the Asheville area, we are an Affirming Christian Church.

In addition to other local programs, we participate in the Canton Missional Network, an ecumenical group of churches and organizations that currently works to provide flood relief in stricken areas of Haywood County, together with County and other relief organizations.