What We Believe
The United Methodist Church shares a great deal with other Christian denominations. We believe God's grace is open to all, and therefore practice "open communion" -- meaning that anyone may participate in receiving Communion. We believe salvation is an open gift from God, accepted by individual according to their own free will. We affirm the beliefs expressed in the Apostles Creed - these include: The belief in one God, who is the Creator and sustainer of the universe; The belief in the Trinity, that there is one God in three person; The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit; The belief in the divinity of Jesus Christ, the Son of God who is fully human and fully Divine.
God
God, who is one is revealed in three distinct persons. "God in three persons, blessed Trinity" is one way of speaking about the several ways we experience God.
We also try to find adjectives that describe the divine nature. We affirm God is "everlasting" and "infinite" in "power, wisdom, justice, goodness, and love." Because we cannot speak literally of God we us metaphors: God is a Shepherd, a Bridegroom, a Judge. God is Love or Light or Truth.
We cannot describe God with Certainty. But we can put into words what God does and how we experience God's actions in our lives. God works in at least these seven ways:
- God creates
- God sustains
- God loves
- God suffers
- God judges
- God Redeems
- God Reigns
When all is done, if we have difficulty in imaging who God is or in relating to God, there's a simple solution: Remember Jesus - for in the New Testament picture of Jesus, we see God.
The above information is summarized from the United Methodist Church website. For further information click here.
Jesus
We believe in the mystery of salvation through Jesus Christ. God became human in Jesus whose life, death and resurrection demonstrate God's redeeming love.
In trying to find words to express their faith in Jesus, the New Testament writers gave him various names. Jesus was Master, Rabbi, Teacher. He was the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He was the Doorway to the sheepfold, the Light of the world, the Prince of Peace, and more.
Five of the most central biblical names for Jesus:
- Son of God - We believe in Jesus as God's special child.
- Son of Man - Paradoxically we also believe that Jesus was fully human.
- Christ - We say "Jesus Christ" easily, almost as if "Christ" is Jesus' surname. Yet this is another way of expressing who we believe Jesus to be.
- Lord - We also proclaim Jesus as our Lord, the one to whom we give our devoted allegiance.
- Savior - Perhaps best of all, we believe Jesus as Savior, as the one through whom God has freed us of our sin and has given us the gift of whole life, eternal life, and salvation.
The above information is summarized from the United Methodist Church website. For further information click here.
The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is God's present activity in our midst. When we sense God's leading, God's challenge, or God's support or comfort, it's the Holy Spirit at work.
In Hebrew, the words for Spirit, wind and breath are nearly the same. The same is true in Greek. In trying to describe God's activity among them the ancients were saying that it was like God's breath, like a scared wind. It could not be seen or held: "The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from our where it goes" (John 3:8). But the effect of God's Spirit, like the wind, could be felt and known.
Where do we find evidence of the Spirit at work?
- In the Bible - The Spirit is mentioned often throughout the bible. In Genesis a "wind from God swept over the face of the waters," as if taking part in the Creation (1:2). Later in the Old Testament (Hebrew Bible), we often read of the "Spirit of the Lord." In the New Testament Matthew's account of Jesus' baptism, Jesus "saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him." (3:16); is just one of the many references to the Holy Spirit.
- In guidance, comfort and Strength - Today we continue to experience God's breath, God's Spirit.
- In the gifts we receive - How does the Holy Spirit affect our lives? By changing us! by renewing us and by strengthening us for the work of ministry.
The above information is summarized from the United Methodist Church website. For further Information click here.
Human Beings
Genesis 1:27 asserts that we've been made in the image of the Creator. Like God we have the capacity to love and care, to communicate and to create. We believe that humans can choose to accept or reject a relationship with God. We believe that all humans need to be in relationship with God in order to be fully human.
The Church
The church is the body of Christ, and extension of Christ's life and ministry in the world today. We believe the mission of the church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
The Bible
We believe that the Bible is the primary authority for our faith and practice. We say the Bible is vital to our faith and life, but what exactly is the bible? Here are 4 ways to view it: A library, Sacred Scripture, God speaking to us about salvation, and A guide to faith and life.