Who We Are
Every local Christian Church has its own beliefs and way of worshipping. Who are we? What are we all about? In March, 2003 the Church of the Apostles celebrated its tenth anniversary. This Church started as a home fellowship, then moved its worship to a restaurant for several years, then to a residence at our present location, and in July 2002 completed its new building addition and worship space. So, we are a relatively new Church. We are also, at this time, still a small Church, although we expect that to change in the near future. Being a small Church has its advantages. In a small Church, everyone counts. Everyone is important. Everyone receives personal attention, especially from the Pastor and the Elders of the Church. At the Church of the Apostles there is lots of love and true caring for one another. People are prayed for each day. We bear one another's burdens joyfully. But most of all we are bound together by our common love for, and faith in, the Lord Jesus Christ. The Pastor of this Church is The Rev. Russell Church Burchard. Mr. Burchard is ordained in the Anglican Communion. He is the Pastor and head teaching Elder. The other Elders are Bill Burt, Gary Gambrell, Gil Meredith, Larry Baldwin and Paul Morris.
Many churches have mission statements that reflect who they are and what they want to be. At the Church of the Apostles in Dawsonville we have adopted a passage from the Book of Acts in the Bible - Acts 2:42. Acts chapter two tells of how the Holy Spirit of God was first given to the Church. In that chapter it tells us that they were "steadfastly devoted to the Apostles' teaching, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
We are a non-denominational local Christian Church. Along with the Acts 2:42 passage, you will see printed on our letterhead that we are a non-denominational Church. This means that we are not currently affiliated with any religious organization or denomination beyond ourselves. We are established under the laws of Georgia as a Church. However, we do not really consider ourselves "independent". We see ourselves as a part of the greater Church, the Body of Christ the world over. We see ourselves as under the authority of The Headship of Christ (Ephesians 1:22), and under the authority of Holy Scripture; so our Elders are also under authority, and they take that fact very seriously. Because of who we are, and how we were formed, we are a Church of Christians who have been called together out of many different religious traditions and denominations, including Baptist, Presbyterian, Episcopal, Methodist and Catholic. We consider this one of our strengths, although we do sometimes have lively discussions about the way things ought to be done. Everyone at this Church has come here from somewhere else, and has therefore, made a conscious and reasoned decision to be a part of The Church of the Apostles. We are all here because we want to be here. This is a great strength.
