Calvary Chapel has been described best as representing the middle ground between fundamentalism and Pentecostalism in modern Protestant theology.

Fundamentalism as it is defined holds to the literal interpretation of the Scriptures, believing that they (the bible) are divinely inspired, inerrant and sufficient for living a life of faith and practice. Pentecostalism on the other hand tends to emphasize the fullness of the Holy Spirit and the exercise of spiritual and scriptural gifts taught in the Word of God of which had fallen dormant in most main line churches. Pentecostalism brings to the church the importance of the exercise of the gifts of the Holy Spirit and the power of God available for the believer today through the baptism and subsequent fillings of the Holy Spirit.

Over the years, however, fundamentalism, while it clings to the integrity of God’s Word, tends to become rigid, legalistic, and unaccepting of spiritual gifts; while Pentecostalism focus tends to be enthusiastic and emotional at the expense of the teaching of God’s Word.

Calvary Chapel is the balance between the two. At Calvary Chapel we believe in the gifts of the Holy Spirit as mentioned in the Bible and we encourage their exercise but always as the Word instructs them to be exercised, “decently and in order”, and with the primary emphasis on the Word of God, which we look to as our primary rule of faith and practice.

As Pastor Chuck Smith has taught us from the beginning, “striking a balance is the key” and because of this balance, Calvary Chapel services are designed to be centered around the verse-by-verse teaching of God’s Word.

Calvary Chapel also differs from many mainline churches in its style of church government. Our church government is simple; we believe that the pastor is responsible for the church, responsible to hear from God, and responsible to feed and love His people faithfully. Elders are appointed in the church to assist the pastor in caring for the spiritual needs of the congregation; as are deacons, who help the pastor care for the ongoing and ever changing material needs of the church.

In addition, in meeting the state requirements as a non-profit organization in the state of California, our church has a Board of Directors that is made up of our church elders as we believe every decision made in the church is a spiritual matter, including all financial decisions. The elders meet regularly to pray and to advise our pastor with respect to the business operations and decisions of the church, such as property management and development.

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