Our Statement of Faith
In essential beliefs: We have UNITY.
"There is one Body and one Spirit...there is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of us all..." Ephesians 4:4-6
In non-essential beliefs: We have LIBERTY.
"Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters... Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls... So then each of us will give an account of himself to God... So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God." Romans 14:1, 4, 12, 22
In all our beliefs: We show CHARITY.
"...If I hold in my mind not only all human knowledge but also the very secrets of God, and if I have the faith that can move mountains--but have no love, I amount to nothing at all."
1 Corinthians 13:2
"There is one Body and one Spirit...there is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of us all..." Ephesians 4:4-6
In non-essential beliefs: We have LIBERTY.
"Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters... Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls... So then each of us will give an account of himself to God... So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God." Romans 14:1, 4, 12, 22
In all our beliefs: We show CHARITY.
"...If I hold in my mind not only all human knowledge but also the very secrets of God, and if I have the faith that can move mountains--but have no love, I amount to nothing at all."
1 Corinthians 13:2
THE ESSENTIALS WE BELIEVE
THE APOSTLE'S CREED
I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, is seated at the right hand of the Father, and will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy universal church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen
ABOUT GOD
God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. God has eternally existed in three personalities: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Love constitutes the essential being of God.
(Genesis 1:1, 26, 27, 3:22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; I Peter 1:2; II Corinthians 13:14)
ABOUT JESUS CHRIST
Jesus Christ is the Son of God. The Bible describes his life as one of compassion and sacrifice for others. His tragic death on a cross is often interpreted as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate his power over sin and death. He ascended into heaven and will come again to judge the living and the dead, and to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
(Matthew 1:22,23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5; 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:14,15; I Corinthians 15:3,4;
Romans 1:3,4; Acts 1:9-11; I Timothy 6:14,15; Titus 2:13)
ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son. The Holy Spirit is present in the world to lead people to the truth of God which is revealed in Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation providing power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right.
(II Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13; 14:16,17; Acts 1:8; I Corinthians 2:12, 3:16;
Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 5:18)
I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, is seated at the right hand of the Father, and will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy universal church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen
ABOUT GOD
God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. God has eternally existed in three personalities: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Love constitutes the essential being of God.
(Genesis 1:1, 26, 27, 3:22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; I Peter 1:2; II Corinthians 13:14)
ABOUT JESUS CHRIST
Jesus Christ is the Son of God. The Bible describes his life as one of compassion and sacrifice for others. His tragic death on a cross is often interpreted as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate his power over sin and death. He ascended into heaven and will come again to judge the living and the dead, and to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
(Matthew 1:22,23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5; 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:14,15; I Corinthians 15:3,4;
Romans 1:3,4; Acts 1:9-11; I Timothy 6:14,15; Titus 2:13)
ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son. The Holy Spirit is present in the world to lead people to the truth of God which is revealed in Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation providing power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right.
(II Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13; 14:16,17; Acts 1:8; I Corinthians 2:12, 3:16;
Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 5:18)
OTHER IMPORTANT BELIEFS
ABOUT THE BIBLE
The Bible is God's Word to us. It was written by human authors under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the source of truth for Christian beliefs and living.
(II Timothy 3:16; II Peter 1:20,21; II Timothy 1:13; Psalm 119:105; 160, 12:6; Proverbs 30:5)
ABOUT HUMAN BEINGS
People are made in the spiritual image of God, to be like him in character. Unfortunately, that image has been marred in all of us by an attitude of disobedience we call sin. This attitude separates us from God. We will reach our full potential as human beings only when we allow that image to shine through in our lives. The more we share love, care and compassion with others, the more we become more like the God in whose image we are made. The process of spiritual discovery is life-long.
(Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6a; Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:1,2)
ABOUT SALVATION
Unfortunately, it is impossible for any of us to reach our full potential on our own. In and of ourselves, we lack the power to become better people. God, however, reaches out to us. Salvation is God's free gift to us, but we must accept it. We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works. By trusting in Jesus Christ as God's offer of forgiveness, and following him as our example can anyone be saved from their sin. When we turn from our self-ruled life and turn to Jesus in faith we are saved.
(Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 14:6, 1:12; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26; Romans 5:1)
SOCIAL CONSCIOUSNESS
While we do not teach a works-based salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9), we do believe that faith should express itself in good works. (James 2:14-26) United Methodists have always felt that concern for the poor, needy, and hurting of society is part and parcel of being a Christian.
The Social Creed of The United Methodist Church
We believe in God, Creator of the world; and in Jesus Christ the Redeemer of Creation. We believe in the Holy Spirit, through Him we acknowledge God's gifts,
and we repent of our sin in misusing these gifts to idolatrous ends.
We affirm the natural world as God's handiwork and dedicate ourselves to its preservation, enhancement, and faithful use by humankind.
We joyfully receive, for ourselves and others, the blessings of community, sexuality, marriage, and the family.
We commit ourselves to the rights of men, women, children, youth, young adults, the aging, and those with handicapping conditions; to improvement of the quality of life;
and to the rights and dignity of racial, ethnic, and religious minorities.
We believe in the right and duty of persons to work for the good of themselves and others, and in the protection of their welfare in so doing; in the rights to property as a trust from God, collective bargaining, and responsible consumption; and in the elimination of economic and social distress.
We dedicate ourselves to peace throughout the world, to freedom for all peoples, and to the rule of justice and law among nations.
We believe in the present and final triumph of God's Word in human affairs, and gladly accept our commission to manifest the life of the gospel in the world. Amen.
The Bible is God's Word to us. It was written by human authors under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the source of truth for Christian beliefs and living.
(II Timothy 3:16; II Peter 1:20,21; II Timothy 1:13; Psalm 119:105; 160, 12:6; Proverbs 30:5)
ABOUT HUMAN BEINGS
People are made in the spiritual image of God, to be like him in character. Unfortunately, that image has been marred in all of us by an attitude of disobedience we call sin. This attitude separates us from God. We will reach our full potential as human beings only when we allow that image to shine through in our lives. The more we share love, care and compassion with others, the more we become more like the God in whose image we are made. The process of spiritual discovery is life-long.
(Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6a; Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:1,2)
ABOUT SALVATION
Unfortunately, it is impossible for any of us to reach our full potential on our own. In and of ourselves, we lack the power to become better people. God, however, reaches out to us. Salvation is God's free gift to us, but we must accept it. We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works. By trusting in Jesus Christ as God's offer of forgiveness, and following him as our example can anyone be saved from their sin. When we turn from our self-ruled life and turn to Jesus in faith we are saved.
(Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 14:6, 1:12; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26; Romans 5:1)
SOCIAL CONSCIOUSNESS
While we do not teach a works-based salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9), we do believe that faith should express itself in good works. (James 2:14-26) United Methodists have always felt that concern for the poor, needy, and hurting of society is part and parcel of being a Christian.
The Social Creed of The United Methodist Church
We believe in God, Creator of the world; and in Jesus Christ the Redeemer of Creation. We believe in the Holy Spirit, through Him we acknowledge God's gifts,
and we repent of our sin in misusing these gifts to idolatrous ends.
We affirm the natural world as God's handiwork and dedicate ourselves to its preservation, enhancement, and faithful use by humankind.
We joyfully receive, for ourselves and others, the blessings of community, sexuality, marriage, and the family.
We commit ourselves to the rights of men, women, children, youth, young adults, the aging, and those with handicapping conditions; to improvement of the quality of life;
and to the rights and dignity of racial, ethnic, and religious minorities.
We believe in the right and duty of persons to work for the good of themselves and others, and in the protection of their welfare in so doing; in the rights to property as a trust from God, collective bargaining, and responsible consumption; and in the elimination of economic and social distress.
We dedicate ourselves to peace throughout the world, to freedom for all peoples, and to the rule of justice and law among nations.
We believe in the present and final triumph of God's Word in human affairs, and gladly accept our commission to manifest the life of the gospel in the world. Amen.