What We Believe
There is a cute song which the kids sing during our Sunday Morning Worship Service sometimes
"I am the church!" They point at themselves with both thumbs.
"You are the church!" They point at us adults with their index fingers. Then they circle their arms wide and sing loudly, "WE are the church to-gether!"
They make the point that our church is made up of people, not drywall and plywood and stucco. Church carries a lot more importance and has more soul than a building; it is a "community of faith," meaning that church can be out in the streets, or wherever "two or more are gathered," as Jesus told us. While the unique function of the church is worship, it is also wherever its members gather to celebrate God in their lives. When we pray together, make plans together, do volunteer work together, have worship services together, that’s church.
Traditionally, we have emphasized the following. | ||
| God will comfort, guide, and forgive every person, no matter who they are or what they've done. | |
Serving others and Christian faith go hand in hand. |
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We find peace with God and spiritual fulfillment both in solitary moments of reflection and in a community of faith. |
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Our Church is made up of people who share faith in Jesus Christ.; |
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We seek to make our private and our public actions congruent with our faith. |
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We are a global movement of churches that’s making a difference in the world. |
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In practice, we are similar to other Protestant denominations, affirming our beliefs through the sacred symbols of baptism and communion.
It all started with founder John Wesley, who felt his own heart strangely warmed nearly three centuries ago. After this experience, he was compelled to reach out to England’s poorest citizens, which he did with the help of his brother, Charles. Their work launched a movement that spread to the American colonies and took hold with a fervor that still exists almost 300 years later.
During that time, our hearts have led us to build almost as many schools as churches, as we were among the first to create institutions of learning for settlers, women, and newly freed slaves. There are now 120 United Methodist institutions, including schools outside the U.S., most notably Africa University in Zimbabwe.
Today, United Methodists comprise the second largest Protestant denomination in the United States. Our churches are connected by a system to guide our work and govern our policies. We continue to take the lead in social, spiritual, political and moral concerns. In the tradition of John and Charles Wesley, our members study scripture, encourage thoughtful debate, and confront the tough issues of the day. We still lead with our hearts, keep our minds open, and welcome everyone through our doors.