Shared Convictions and Philosophy

The Shared Convictions express Anabaptist beliefs that moved our founders to form a credit union with a radical vision for expanding mutual aid. Living out this vision today motivates us to connect values and faith with finances inspiring peaceful, just, and prosperous communities.

Shared Convictions

By the grace of God, we seek to live and proclaim the good news of reconciliation in Jesus Christ. As part of the one body of Christ at all times and places, we hold the following to be central to our belief and practice:

1. God is known to us as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the Creator who seeks to restore fallen humanity by calling a people to be faithful in fellowship, worship, service and witness.
2. Jesus is the Son of God. Through His life and teachings, His cross and resurrection, He showed us how to be faithful disciples, redeemed the world, and offers eternal life.
3. As a church, we are a community of those whom God’s Spirit calls to turn from sin, acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord, receive baptism upon confession of faith, and follow Christ in life.
4. As a faith community, we accept the Bible as our authority for faith and life, interpreting it together under Holy Spirit guidance, in the light of Jesus Christ to discern God’s will for our obedience.
5. The Spirit of Jesus empowers us to trust God in all areas of life so we become peacemakers who renounce violence, love our enemies, seek justice, and share our possessions with those in need.
6. We gather regularly to worship, to celebrate the Lord’s Supper, and to hear the Word of God in a spirit of mutual accountability.
7. As a world-wide community of faith and life we transcend boundaries of nationality, race, class, gender and language. We seek to live in the world without conforming to the powers of evil, witnessing to God’s grace by serving others, caring for creation, and inviting all people to know Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord.

In these convictions we draw inspiration from Anabaptist forebears of the 16th century, who modelled radical discipleship to Jesus Christ. We seek to walk in his name by the power of the Holy Spirit, as we confidently await Christ’s return and the final fulfillment of God’s kingdom.

Adopted by Mennonite World Conference
General Council, March 15, 2006

Philosophy*

Kindred Credit Union (Kindred) draws on its Anabaptist heritage to uniquely shape its vision and direction. The Anabaptist vision is centred on the belief that God works in our lives through the power of the Holy Spirit. This vision focuses on three fundamental beliefs:

• that discipleship is a way of life patterned after the life and teachings of Jesus;
• that the church is a community of faith practising mutual support; and
• that God calls each of us to a life of love in just and non-violent relationships.

We have joined together and become members of Kindred to help us apply the biblical concepts of stewardship, economic justice and service in our day-to-day economic lives and financial transactions.

Kindred is a contemporary vehicle for continuing and building our commitment to responsible stewardship of all resources and to being responsive to needs within our communities.

*This is a modified version of the original Philosophy Statement, adopted March, 2001, that reflects our credit union's name change in 2016 and the expansion of our bond of association in 2010.