BUILDING THE CHURCH OF THE HOME AND THE CHURCH OF THE POOR

We are Couples for Christ. We are committed to live in God’s righteousness and holiness, evangelizing people through a life of love and service; we shall work for the renewal of families that will serve God and build generations of Christian leaders; and, we shall pursue Total Christian Liberation through social justice, respect for life, and work with the poor.

1. EVANGELIZATION AND FORMATION
To strategically locate in the world to evangelize peoples and inculcate a way of life based on Gospel values.

2. FAMILY RENEWAL
To strengthen and defend the family as a basic unit of society and of the Church in accordance with God’s plan.

3. TOTAL CHRISTIAN LIBERATION (Justice, Life, and the Poor)
To help the least of our brethren based on Matthew 25:40, "Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me."

4. EFFECTIVE / EFFICIENT GOVERNANCE
To provide effective and efficient support services to fulfill the vision and mission of CFC.

The following embodies the beliefs and ideals of the Couples for Christ (CFC) as a movement, from which flow its Christian attitudes, values and behavior, as well as its programs, teachings and approaches to Christian renewal within the context of family relationships.

WE BELIEVE in marriage as an indissoluble institution as taught by our Lord Jesus Christ (Mt 19:6). That God created marriage primarily for love between man and woman, and for the procreation and proper rearing of children.

WE BELIEVE that God created man and wife with equal personal worth and dignity. That God ordained order in the family by giving the man the role as head of the family and the woman as helpmate and support, which best expresses their complementarity.

WE BELIEVE in the inalienable and irreplaceable right and responsibility of parents to educate their children. That children need to be educated in essential human and Christian values for them to become responsible and mature members of society.

WE BELIEVE that the family in practicing the gospel message shares in the life and mission of the Church -- through prayers, evangelization and service to men. We uphold and defend the rights of the family as proclaimed in the chapter on family rights (Familiaris Consortio).

WE BELIEVE that Christian family renewal can best be achieved by inviting Jesus to be the Lord of our homes and by allowing the power of the Holy Spirit to lead our family lives and through the full use of all charismatic gifts at our disposal.

| Revised 20.12.2002 |