We believe in one sole God, creator of all things, existing for all eternity as three persons of the same essence: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. We believe that Jesus came to earth to make the father known to mankind, to take mankind’s offences and sin, and willingly suffer and die in the place of humanity on the cross. He was resurrected bodily on the third day.
He is now the sole mediator between God and humanity, and offers forgiveness and eternal life freely, through faith in Him.
Salvation: we believe that God freely offers salvation to those who place their faith in the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus, as payment for their sins against him. Their relationship with God is completely renewed.
The Christian life: We believe Christians will live with a desire to follow and serve God; in their attitudes, their decisions and their actions. Guided by the Bible and the Holy Spirit, all believers will continue to grow in their faith, their relationship with God, and become increasingly “Christ-like”. Like Him, they will love others and by serving they’ll discover freedom, peace and purpose in their lives.
We believe the church is the image of the body of Christ with Him as the head. All those who place their faith in salvation through Christ are part of the church. The purpose of the church is to glorify God by loving Him and making Him known to the whole world.
The Bible: We believe the whole Bible (The canonical Old and New Testaments). It is the word of God, written by many authors inspired by the Holy Spirit. It is the highest authority of truth, faith and life.
Humanity: We believe that all people were created in the image of God, to live in harmony with him, but the relationship has been broken by rebellion and disobedience. Consequently, no-one can restore their relationship with God by their own efforts.
We believe that Baptism is a public act, a declaration of a changed heart, prompting repentance and acceptance of forgiveness of sins – offered by God to all. It is an act of obedience to God, celebrated in community. It must, therefore, be voluntary.
NB: We do not baptise children, but we encourage families to pray for their children as part of a special celebration service.
L’Église Protestante Evangélique de Nantes Boissière is a member of the church union “Perspectives”, a group of approximately 80 churches throughout France. Perspectives is a member of the National Council of French Evangelicals (CNEF), and was formed by the fusion of Vision-France and France Mission in 2018.
The earliest origins of Perspectives Churches go back to the beginning of the 19th century. Our spiritual roots are located in the Reformation (16th century) and sprouted our of the pietist revival of the Lutheran Church at the beginning of the 19th century. The first communities (Colmar, Mulhouse and Munster) were founded through the efforts of Pastor Ami Bost in 1820. These communities were developed in primarily in Alsace, and more recently in the Jura and Vendée. Another recent branch of our communities is the fruit of a project initiated in Brittany (Dinard) in 1949 by the pastors Claude and Arlette Broux. These communities were first developed in Dinard, Guingamp, Montluçon and Lourdes, before spreading throughout France. The 80 churches and church plants of Perspectives work to see “disciple making disciples; church planting churches”.
The National Council of French Evangelicals (CNEF) includes 70% of the evangelicals in France. The organisation represents their interests in the public sphere, and gives them a platform for collaboration and mutual support. The CNEF finds its roots in the Protestant Reformers and the revival movements which followed.
Its members share the same fundamental convictions, which are stated in the declaration of faith of the Evangelical Alliance.
There is a spectrum of beliefs on secondary issues, which do not divide the union. The CNEF also recognises the affirmations of the Lausanne Declaration, the Manilla Manifest, and the engagement of the Cap.
Finally, it is registered with the European and worldwide networks of the evangelical movement (European Evangelical Alliance and World Evangelical Alliance).
Protestantisme Evangelicalism in numbers
In metropolitain France
In the DOM-TOM
