WHAT WE BELIEVE
We are a community where all people are welcome. We are committed to discerning God’s will in our lives as revealed in Scripture.
Methodists share a common heritage with all Christians. As human beings, we are all created in the image of God, and all are sacred to God (Genesis 1:27,31). Our core beliefs are articulated in “The Apostles Creed” which states,
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and 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; on the third day, He rose from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from there He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
We share the following basic affirmations, common in Christian communities, as recorded in Church history. We specifically affirm the following doctrinal truths:
- Authority of Scripture – We believe the Bible is the Word of God and the primary source and authority for all that we believe and do. (Matthew 5:18; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21)
- God – We believe there is but one living and true God, who is the maker and preserver of all things, and who exists eternally in three Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. (Genesis 1:26; Matthew 28:19; John 14:9; 2 Corinthians 13:14)
- Jesus Christ – We believe in Jesus Christ, truly God and truly man, in whom the divine and human natures are perfectly and inseparably united. (Matthew 1:18-23; Luke 1:26- 38; John 1:1,14)
- Holy Spirit – We believe in the Holy Spirit who proceeds from, and is one in being with, the Father and the Son. He comforts, and sustains, and empowers the faithful and guides them into all truth. (Acts 2:1-5; Romans 8:2-6)
- Resurrection of Christ – We believe Jesus rose from the dead in a bodily resurrection defeating sin and death. (Romans 6:4-9;1 Corinthians 15:3-6)
- Substitutionary Atonement – We believe Jesus Christ died on the cross as our substitute– taking upon Himself the penalty for our sins. (Romans 5:8; 1 Peter 3:18; Galatians 3:13; 2 Corinthians 5:21)
- Salvation by Grace through Faith – We believe grace is the undeserved, unmerited, and loving action of God that is at work in the lives of believers and non-believers alike. It is this grace that is continuously moving us towards repentance and an understanding of our need for a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. When a person places their faith in Jesus Christ it is God’s grace which allows for the forgiveness of sins, salvation from eternal separation from God, and empowerment by the Holy Spirit to move towards a life free from sin. (Matthew 4:17; John 1:12, 3:16, 5:24; Acts 2:38, 3:19; Romans 3:23-24; Ephesians 2:8-9; Revelation 21:27)
- Sacraments – We recognize the two sacraments in which Christ himself participated: Baptism and Holy Communion. (Matthew 3:1-17; Luke 22:19)
- Baptism – We believe Baptism signifies entrance into the household of faith and is a symbol of repentance and inner cleansing from sin, a representation of the new birth in Christ Jesus and a mark of Christian discipleship. Persons of any age can be baptized, and a person only receives the sacrament of baptism once in their life because it is God’s gracious gift. (Luke 18:15-17)
- Holy Communion – We believe Holy Communion recalls the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus and celebrates the unity of all the members of God’s family. Holy Communion is a holy meal of bread and cup that symbolizes the body and blood of Christ. We practice “open Communion,” welcoming all who love Christ, repent of their sin, and seek to live in peace with one another. (1 Corinthians 11:24-26)
- Marriage – We believe marriage is the holy, solemn, lifelong union of a man and a woman as husband and wife before God. We affirm the sanctity of the marriage covenant that is expressed in love, mutual support, personal commitment, and shared fidelity between a man and a woman. (Genesis 2:18-25; Malachi 2:14; Matthew 19:4-6)
- Second Coming – We believe Jesus Christ, our Savior and Mediator, will come again to judge both the living and the dead. (Matthew 24-25; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Thessalonians 4:13- 18; Revelation 19-21)
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