United Methodists

We share a common heritage with all Christians, as affirmed in our statement of faith:

  •  We believe in the one true, holy and living God, creator of all things, who is revealed in three ways:  Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
  • We believe Jesus Christ is the only Son of God and was born of the Virgin Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit – truly God and truly human.  Jesus lived, suffered and died, so all believers may be reconciled with God through him.
  • We believe in the Holy Spirit, who comforts, sustains and empowers believers and guides them into truth.
  • We believe that the Holy Bible, made up of what Christians call the Old and New Testaments, reveals the Word of God so far as it is necessary for our salvation.
  • We believe the Christian Church is the body of Christ, an extension of Christ’s life and ministry in the world.  The Church exists for worship, discipleship and the redemption of the world.
  • We believe we are sinners and, apart from Christ, are prone to evil.  The only way to salvation is to confess sin and trust in Christ as Savior and Lord.
  • We believe one day Jesus will return to earth in triumph.  He will receive all believers into his eternal Kingdom and will judge the unrighteous.

 We don’t believe we have it all figured out.  For moral, social and theological issues, United Methodists rely first on God’s Word found in the Holy Bible, and then on Christian tradition, cumulative experience and careful use of reason.

More about what we believe

Sacraments

We believe the Sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion are outward and visible signs of God’s love for us. The Sacraments are means of grace that God uses to work in our hearts.

Wesleyan Heritage

Grace is central to a United Methodist understanding of Christian faith and life. Grace can be defined as the love and mercy given to us by God because God wants us to have it, not because of anything we have done to earn it.

At the same time, the founder of the Methodist movement, John Wesley, and others insisted that faith and good works belong together. What we believe must be confirmed by what we do. As we grow in faith through our participation in the church, we are also nourished and equipped for service in the world.