Core Convictions

We’re interdenominational in makeup, with lots of people from lots of church or non-church backgrounds. We’re orthodox in faith but a little unorthodox in practice. Our calling is to bless the Lord, bless the city, and bless the nations.

1

The church ought to be the most creative place on the planet.

We want to be more known for what we’re for than what we’re against. The church is called to criticize by creating. We believe that the people of God should tell better stories, produce better movies, write better books, compose better music, start better businesses, draft better legislation. How? With the help of the Holy Spirit.

2

The church ought to be the most diverse place on the planet.

There never has been and never will be anyone like you. That isn’t a testament to you, it’s a testament to the God who created you. No one can worship God like you or for you, but we are better together! God has called us to become a beloved community–one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of all.

3

The church belongs in the middle of the marketplace.

A church that stays within its four walls isn’t a church at all. We aren’t just trying to build a church, we’re trying to bless our city to the third and fourth generation. God has planted us at a crossroads of politics, commerce, and influence—just like Paul at the Areopagus in Athens. God has positioned us and called us to shine his light and to be his representatives at the heart of the nation’s capital.

4

God will bless our church in proportion to how we give to missions and care for the poor in our city.

A church is not measured by its seating capacity, but rather by its sending capacity. Missions is our heartbeat at NCC—we have taken more than 300 mission trips and given more than $25 million to missions. The mission field is wherever we live, wherever we work, wherever we go. We are on mission every day, in every way!