Many people want to know what Fountain Street Church is all about. They want to know what we do, what we teach, and most importantly, what we believe. While the church and its worshippers do not follow a creed, we generally share some common ideals:

1. Freedom of religious expression. All individuals should be encouraged to develop their own personal theology, and to present openly their religious opinions without fear of censure or reprisal.
2. Toleration of religious ideas. All religions, in every age and culture, possess not only an intrinsic merit, but also a potential value for ose who have learned the art of listening.
3. Authority of reason and conscience. The ultimate arbiter in religion is not a church, or a document, or an official, but the personal choice and decision of the individual.
4. Never-ending search for Truth. If the mind and heart are truly free and open, the revelations which appear to the human spirit are infinitely numerous, externally fruitful, and wondrously exciting.
5. Unity of experience. There is no fundamental conflict between faith and knowledge, religion and the world, the sacred and the secular, since they all have their source in the same reality.
6. The worth and dignity of each human being. All people on earth have an equal claim to life, liberty, and justice and no idea, ideal, or philosophy is superior to a single human life.
7. Ethical application of religion. Good works are the natural product of a good faith, the evidence of an inner grace that finds completion in social and community involvement.
8. The motive force of love. The governing principle in human relationships is the principle of love, which always seeks the welfare of others and never seeks to hurt or destroy.
9. The necessity of the democratic process. Records are open to scrutiny, elections are open to members, and ideas are open to criticism—so that people might govern themselves.
10. The importance of a religious community. The validation of experience requires the confirmation of peers, who provide a critical platform along with a network of mutual support.

— Dr. David O. Rankin,
Senior Minister, 1982-1998

At Fountain Street Church it is also our tradition to pass these ideas on to our children. It is our mission that each person becomes an independent adult by learning to think for themselves and take responsibility for their lives.

It is our wish that all people gain the ability to view the world with reason and tolerance. We encourage them to be compassionate and we teach them to use their abilities to improve the quality of their life and the lives around them. We view the Bible as a story documenting human liberation and God’s role in that journey. Everything a person learns can be a source for deepening their faith.

Fountain Street Church offers countless opportunities for education, recreation and relationship building for you and your family. We invite you to join us in our mission. Find out what Fountain Street Church is all about. Find out about yourself.