Our Beliefs

LIKE OTHER CHRISTIAN CHURCHES...

  1. We believe in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit: one God who creates, rules, and loves the universe.  One God who was incarnate in Jesus Christ, both human and divine, and through whom God reconciles us and gives us abundant live and forgiveness of sins as a free gift. One God who is present with us in the Holy Spirit as one who convicts, guides, comforts, and empowers us in our walk with Christ. 
  2. We believe that humanity is made in God's image and can choose to accept or reject God's love. 
  3. We believe that the church is the Body of Christ called to be an extension of His work; a sign and instrument of Christ's victory over sin and death. 
  4. We believe that the Bible is the Word of God; the primary authority of our faith and practice. 
  5. We believe that wherever God's will is done the Kingdom of God is present, thus we look toward the coming of the Kingdom in all its fullness. 
  6. We recognize two sacraments with many other Protestants: Baptism and the Lord's Supper. Baptism is for persons of any age. It points to the love of God for all and is the primary source of our identity as beloved children of God. The Lord's Supper is a holy meal of bread and wine that is given the same power as the body and blood of Jesus Christ. We practice 'open communion', welcoming all who love Jesus Christ, repent of their sin, and seek to live in peace with one another.


BELIEFS SPECIFIC TO THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 

  1. We believe that grace is central for understanding God. Grace is defined as "God's free and undeserved mercy" as well as God's presence and power to create, forgive, reconcile, and transform persons and the entire creation. It is free because it is God's gift to us and it is mercy because no matter what occurs God loves us. This grace is threefold. (1) Prevenient or 'preventing' grace: Grace that goes before and prevents anyone from drifting too far from God. (2) Justifying, 'saving' or 'pardoning' grace: Grace that forgives and sets us right with God. This motivates conversion, or turning more toward God, which can happen instantaneously and repeatedly. (3) Sanctifying, or perfecting grace: Grace that empowers growing or maturing to become more like Jesus Christ.
  2. We believe that faith, or trust in God, and good works belong together so we offer our lives back to God through the restoration of God's image in us and service on behalf of God's mission - to work with the human family to make the earth look more like heaven every day.
  3. We believe that one cannot be a solitary Christian for we grow in faith through our participation in a local church that reaches out to the community.

If interested more about the United Methodist Church as a whole please visit http://www.umc.org/  for further info or feel free to contact us