BELIEVE | Apostles Creed

This conversation took place after worship on Sunday:

Visitor: You're catholic?
Me: What?
Visitor: Y'all said, "I believe in the catholic church." 
Me: Huh?
Visitor: It's right here. In ink. In your program.
Me: [Looking at her program] Oh, snap. No, we're not catholic. That "catholic" isn't referring to the Catholic church as we think of it today, but the universal Christian church. 
Visitor: [Looking at me like I'm crazy]
Me: Yeah, Catholics don't let women preach
Visitor: [Nods, still confused, turns and walks away]

In an attempt to better explain myself, here are more words.

Each Sunday we say:
"I believe in one holy, catholic and apostolic church."

It is part of the Apostles Creed, a theological statement which dates back to the first century church. In the beginning of the church days, when many people were illiterate, oral repetition of the Apostles’ Creed, along with the Lord’s Prayer and the Ten Commandments, helped pass along the Christian faith. 

Today, we continue to say it out loud to affirm what we believe. 

This particular line was included to remind us that even though we may be the church of downtown Columbia... and one of many of those at that... we belong to the universal church of believers. We are united with all followers of Jesus Christ. 

Rhetoric is crazy. Words change over time, but for now, just know that we're not catholic.