What We Believe

The central message of our preaching is the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the incarnate Son of God, who freely and humbly came down from heaven in order to serve and rescue fallen creation, at great cost to Himself, through His substitutionary death upon the cross and victorious resurrection on the third day (Philippians 2:5-11; Corinthians 15:1-4; Matthew 20:26-28; Luke 22:19-20; John 3:16; Isaiah 53). Through faith in the Son humanity is reconciled to God, and by His Spirit we are transformed into His image.

Incarnation Tallahassee is a ‘three streams’ church: 1) evangelical, 2) catholic, and 3) charismatic.

1) Our identification with the evangelical stream means that we hold to the major doctrinal distinctives of the Protestant Reformation regarding salvation, the authority of Scripture, the priesthood of all believers, the Bible in the vernacular, the freedom of clergy to marry, etc.  We believe that salvation is ‘by grace alone (sola gratia), through faith alone (sola fide), in Christ alone (solus Christus).’

We believe that the Church is called to live out the Great Commission, including spreading the Gospel, ministering the sacraments, and seeking to raise up mature disciples in every nation (Matthew 28:16-20). We are also called to live out the Great Commandment, which involves loving God above all else, sacrificially loving our neighbor, caring for the poor, and working for the common good of all humanity (Matthew 22:36-40).

For more on our evangelical heritage, our view of salvation and Scripture, our understanding of human sexuality, and our commitment to God’s global mission, see The Jerusalem Declaration (2008).

2) Our catholic heritage means that we have a high value for the Church, the sacraments, the liturgy, the historic episcopacy, and the classic Trinitarian creeds.

In particular, we hold to the Nicene Creed as a classic summary of Biblical teaching on the Trinity and the message of salvation through Jesus Christ. Drafted at the First Ecumenical Council in 325A.D., it continues to be affirmed by all Christian churches from Eastern Orthodox, to Roman Catholic, to Anglican and other churches of the Reformation.

We believe in one God,

            the Father, the Almighty,

            maker of heaven and earth,

            of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,

            the only Son of God,

            eternally begotten of the Father,

            God from God, Light from Light,

            true God from true God,

            begotten, not made,

            of one Being with the Father.

            Through him all things were made.

            For us and for our salvation

                        he came down from heaven:

                        by the power of the Holy Spirit

                        he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,

                        and was made man.

            For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;

                        he suffered death and was buried.

            On the third day he rose again

                        in accordance with the Scriptures;

                        he ascended into heaven

                        and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

            He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,

                        and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,

            who proceeds from the Father and the Son.

            With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.

            He has spoken through the Prophets.

We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.

We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

We look for the resurrection of the dead,

and the life of the world to come. Amen.

In the creed, the word catholic means “universal” or “according to the whole,” and is not specifically a reference to Roman Catholicism. Regardless of our man-made divisions (whether Anglican or Pentecostal or non-denominational), we believe that there is in reality only one Church—just as Christ has only one Bride (Eph. 5:25-32) and God’s people form one olive tree (Rom. 11).

3) Finally, we also identify with the charismatic stream in that we believe that the Holy Spirit is still miraculously intervening in the world today. The Holy Spirit points to the Son, convinces the world of sin, guides us into all truth, teaches us to pray, helps us in times of weakness, brings new birth to those who put their faith in Christ, and assures Christians of our adoption as God’s sons and daughters (see, e.g. John 16:7-16; 3:5-8; 2 Corinthians 3; Romans 8:26-27). The Spirit also bestows spiritual gifts to God’s people, inspires prophetic utterance, accomplishes healings and miracles, and brings about our transformation into the image of Christ, “from one degree of glory to another” (2 Corinthians 3:18; 1 Corinthians 12-14; Joel 2 & Acts 2; Galatians 5).

Staff

Taylor Bodoh – The Rev. Taylor Bodoh is the Vicar of Incarnation Tallahassee, a missional and multi-ethnic church plant in downtown Tallahassee. In December 2004 he married his beautiful and sarcastic ministry partner Karissa, and they have since brought two lively daughters into the world named Avila and Norah. Together they have a special passion for raising up and sending out leaders in the body of Christ, and for calling artists and skeptics to give Jesus a fresh hearing. Taylor also worked as a campus minister for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship for 11 years; most recently as a coach and trainer of new staff. Besides spending time in solitude with the Living God, Taylor loves to read, play basketball, and host interesting people for tea. Learning how to follow Jesus alongside of such an intimate community of friends has been the privilege of his life.

Jon Hall – The Rev. Jon Hall has been married for 10 years to his college sweetheart Sarah. Jon and Sarah met in Cambridge in England, and then moved to Jacksonville FL, where Jon worked as a civil engineer and Sarah taught Hebrew and Old Testament to seminary students. Jon and Sarah have two children; Benjamin is 8 and Miriam is 6. Jon loves reading, hiking, choral singing, playing piano, and writing music.

Missional Communities
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