E-mail to a FriendPhilosophy of Worship
Beliefs
At Calvary, our focus is on the Word of God.
Our mission at Calvary Church is to be and make authentic followers of Jesus Christ through a balanced ministry of worshiping God, preaching and teaching the Word, edifying one another, caring for the needs of others, and evangelizing the world.
Our theme Scripture verse is: "For the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ" (Revelation 1:9 KJV)
For more information about our foundational beliefs, we invite you to read the following statements.
For information about our governance, please see below.
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Calvary is committed to having inspiring worship as we celebrate who God is and what He has done. We do this by expressing our love and devotion to God in spirit and truth through our praise and through the proclamation of the Word of God. We must focus on God in our worship rather than the satisfaction of our own personal needs. Biblical worship is dynamic — not passive. Therefore, meaningful and understandable congregational participation in worship is essential.
Believing that worship is our highest priority, and that Calvary Church is a local expression of the family of God — we strongly encourage people of all ages (children, teens, singles, families, adults, and seniors) and of all backgrounds to worship together as the people of God — so that God-centrality in the life of our church is demonstrated.
Also believing that the people of God should be united, we will seek to have corporate worship with a blend of musical styles and a blend of traditional and contemporary music. We believe that for the Christian, all of life is to be lived as an act of worship to God — and corporate worship should be a great encouragement to a life of worship and holy living. In all cases, the worship and music must glorify God and exalt Jesus Christ, and never be mere entertainment or emotionalism. We are prayerfully committed to striving for authentic biblical worship so that our corporate worship is not supplanted by the entertainment culture where the emphasis is one of performance and taste, rather than God-centeredness.
Psalm 115:1, 145–150; Isaiah 6:1–9; John 4:23-24; 1 Corinthians 1:10–17; 1 Corinthians 14:14, 24–25; Romans 12:1–2; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Colossians 3:15–17; Hebrews 13:15
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Philosophy of Ministry
Calvary Church is an evangelical church committed to the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. It was founded in 1939 upon the belief in and commitment to the preeminence of Jesus Christ as the Son of God and only Savior from sin and spiritual death, and on the belief in the inerrancy of the Bible in its original text. Therefore, the foundation of our beliefs is our position that the Bible is our authority and ultimate source of truth. Additionally, we are guided by the Articles of Faith contained in our church’s constitution.
The Purpose of Calvary Church is to glorify God in the salvation of souls; the edification of Christians through the teaching of God’s Word; the world-wide proclamation of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ; the promotion of godly worship; the defense of “The Faith Once Delivered;” and cooperation with Christian activity functioning in harmony with God’s Holy Word, the Bible, until He comes.
The Mission of Calvary Church is to develop authentic followers of Jesus Christ through a balanced ministry of worshiping God, preaching and teaching the Word, edifying the saints, caring for the needs of others, and evangelizing the world.
Calvary will continue to emphasize strong biblically-based preaching and teaching that is well grounded in the truths of the Bible and in agreement with the Articles of Faith in each of its corporate worship services, Adult Life Groups, classes, and small group meetings. We believe that the Bible is inspired by God and is the divinely authoritative Word of God. Scripture alone is the inerrant rule of the life of Calvary Church and is our only authority. The Bible is both timeless and timely, relevant to the needs of all people at all times, and to the specific problems of contemporary living. We believe, therefore, that the Bible must be taught and preached in the church.
Sermons must be expositions of the Bible and its teachings, not expressions of the preacher’s or teacher’s opinions or the ideas of the age. Similarly in all facets of our ministry (including classes and programs for children, teens, and singles) and for all small groups, the Bible’s eternal truths must be taught and applied. We are committed to preaching “Jesus Christ and Him crucified” to the lost and equipping believers through the preaching and teaching of God’s Word to know the Triune God and to follow Christ in every sphere of life. God’s Word, rather than spiritual experience, is the test of truth. Psalm 19:7–14; John 17:17; Acts 2:42; 1 Corinthians 1:18–2:16; Ephesians 4:11–16; 2 Timothy 2:14–19; 2 Timothy 3:14–4:5; Colossians 3:16; Hebrews 4:12
Calvary is committed to having inspiring worship as we celebrate who God is and what He has done. We do this by expressing our love and devotion to God in spirit and truth through our praise and through the proclamation of the Word of God. We must focus on God in our worship rather than the satisfaction of our own personal needs. Biblical worship is dynamic — not passive. Therefore, meaningful and understandable congregational participation in worship is essential. Believing that worship is our highest priority, and that Calvary Church is a local expression of the family of God — we strongly encourage people of all ages (children, teens, singles, families, adults, and seniors) and of all backgrounds to worship together as the people of God — so that God-centrality in the life of our church is demonstrated.
Also believing that the people of God should be united, we will seek to have corporate worship with a blend of musical styles and a blend of traditional and contemporary music. We believe that for the Christian, all of life is to be lived as an act of worship to God — and corporate worship should be a great encouragement to a life of worship and holy living. In all cases, the worship and music must glorify God and exalt Jesus Christ, and never be mere entertainment or emotionalism. We are prayerfully committed to striving for authentic biblical worship, so that our corporate worship is not supplanted by the entertainment culture where the emphasis is one of performance and taste, rather than God-centeredness. Psalm 115:1; Psalm 145–150; Isaiah 6:1–9; John 4:23–24; 1 Corinthians 1:10–17; 1 Corinthians 14:14, 24–25; Romans 12:1–2; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Colossians 3:15–17; Hebrews 13:15
Calvary will seek to build communities of faith within its membership through enabling relational ministry in small group settings for the purposes of Bible study, discipleship, support, encouragement, exhortation, accountability, and fellowship.
Calvary will continue to give its people and financial resources to evangelizing the lost within our community, region, and around the world. We will seek to accomplish this through prayer, training, and intentional development of programs, services, and events. We will also support such work by other Christ-centered churches and ministries throughout the world. We believe that God desires us to reach as many people as possible with the Gospel of the grace of God. Therefore, we seek to take seriously the great commission to evangelize and disciple the lost world at home as well as overseas.
We believe that an important part of evangelism is discipleship of believers, their baptism, their responsible membership in a local body of believers, and their being equipped for worship and service. We will pursue various methods and outreach to the “unchurched,” which will facilitate this biblical commitment to evangelism and discipleship without compromising in any way our commitment to biblical truth and our integrity. We will seek to be and make disciples who not only proclaim the Lord Jesus Christ but also who display Him. It is the Lord who saves and causes growth. Our salvation is of God, has been accomplished by God, and is for God’s glory. We affirm that we must glorify Him always, and so self-improvement, self-esteem or self-fulfillment must never be allowed to become alternatives to the Gospel of God’s grace.
What we seek to do in Charlotte and surrounding areas, we also seek to do throughout this continent as well as overseas. Calvary Church is committed to being a church with a “global vision” seeking to identify, send, pray for, help, encourage, train, support, and generally minister to those who are called by God for either short-term or long-term missions. We also seek to educate everyone (including children and teens) at Calvary Church in this vital ministry of missions. Psalm 127:1; Matthew 28:18–20; John 1:12–13; 3:8; Acts 1:8; 2:47; 1 Corinthians 3:1–2; 3:6–7; 1 Timothy 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9
We believe that God desires His people to pray, and that He hears and answers prayer. Therefore, we ought to pray with and for one another, sharing our burdens, sorrows, and joys. Furthermore, we believe that the ministries and activities of Calvary Church will be characterized by our reliance on prayer in their conception, planning, and execution. Matthew 6:8–15; Matthew 7:7–11; Luke 18:1; John 15:5; Acts 2:42; Ephesians 6:18–20; James 5:13–18
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The Ultimate Question
Who do you believe Jesus Christ is?Who do you believe Jesus Christ is? Your response to this question determines not only your life now but your eternal destiny. Consider what the Bible says about Jesus.
JESUS IS GOD
While Jesus was on earth there was confusion about who He was. Some people thought He was a wise man or a great teacher. Others thought He was crazy. But Jesus claimed to be God in human flesh."I and the Father are one" (John 10:30).
JESUS IS HOLY
Jesus is perfectly holy and sinless (Hebrews 4:15). On the other hand, every one of us is guilty of wrongdoing at one level or another in our thoughts and deeds. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).God’s holiness and justice demand that sin can’t be ignored. "And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment" (Hebrews 9:27).
JESUS IS THE SAVIOR
God’s justice demands death for sin, but His love has provided a Savior who paid the penalty for our sin: Christ’s death on the cross satisfied the demands for God’s justice, therefore enabling God to forgive and rescue those who place their faith in Him."For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).
WHY DOES IT MATTER?
Without Jesus, we are all lost. Without Jesus, we’re without purpose, without hope, without joy, and without peace. Without Jesus, we’re simply surviving in a dark and chaotic world without a firm foundation or a place of safety.Jesus says, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" (John 8:12).
WHAT IS YOUR PERSONAL RESPONSE?
Who do you believe Jesus Christ is? That is the ultimate question! His endless love compelled Him to die for your sins. His resurrection conquered death! Jesus is the only One who can save you and transform your life. Turn from your sins and place your faith and trust in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior."Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved" (Romans 10:9–10).
HAVE QUESTIONS? WANT TO LEARN MORE?
Call us at 704.543.1200 and ask to speak to a pastor. Or fill out this contact form and let us know that you'd like us to reach out to you. At Calvary, there’s nothing we’d rather do than tell you more about Jesus.+ 
Governance & Elections
At Calvary Church, our governing body is the Session, comprised of our elders and the Senior Pastor (a non-voting moderator). Elders are active, non-employee members of Calvary Church and are elected by the congregation to serve four-year terms.
The Session’s duties include leading the congregation in pursuing Calvary’s mission, providing spiritual and financial oversight to the body and ministries, and managing all church property. The work of the Session is accomplished mainly through its regular monthly meetings and its committees, which are chaired by elders. In addition, the Session utilizes its Finance Committee to oversee the church’s financial affairs. An independent auditor conducts an annual audit of the church’s financial statements.
Calvary holds a publicly announced annual congregational meeting to review our financials as a church family and any recent developments or upcoming plans. Also, any amendments to our church constitution are subject to approval by our members and would be voted on at that time.
Newcomers are encouraged to attend our regularly occurring Calvary Membership Course. Pastor Munro leads the classes, providing a personal introduction to Calvary, our beliefs, and our organization. All participants receive a copy of our Core Documents (which include our Mission, Purpose, Articles of Faith, and Constitution) as part of the class materials.
Annual Congregational Meeting
- The 2026 Annual Congregational Meeting was held on Sunday, August 9, at 11:15 AM after the worship service in the Sanctuary.
Annual Leadership Election
- The next annual leadership election will be held on Sunday, January 17, 2027, at 11:15 AM after the worship service in the Sanctuary.
Following the pattern in Acts 6:1–7, the Calvary congregation identifies potential candidates for the office of elder and deacon through a nomination process. The serving elders then review the candidates according to biblical qualifications and present qualifying candidates to the congregation for election. Scripture is clear that the Holy Spirit guides us in choosing elders and deacons for service (Acts 20:28).
Elders serve for 4-year terms, and deacons serve 3-year terms.
The congregation is provided with a nomination form on our website and via the Looking Up email newsletter. Paper copies are also available. Similarly, candidate profiles are made available to the congregation in preparation for the election.
Calvary Church members ages 18 and older who are present on campus for the election are eligible to vote. Absentee ballots are not accepted.
Thank you for your prayerful consideration and participation in the leadership election process!
Contact: Debbie O’Neal, 704.887.3679, doneal@calvarychurch.com