BELIEFS
OUR MISSION
Our Mission is to make disciples of Jesus Christ who worship passionately, love extravagantly, and witness boldly.
WHAT WE BELIEVE
Beliefs are important. They are the foundation on which we stand and live and gather together.
As Methodists, the following foundational documents express our understanding of Scripture and faith - all of these may be found in more detail in the Transitional Book of Doctrines and Discipline of the Global Methodist Church:
- The Articles of Religion of the Methodist Church - When Methodism emerged as a church, John Wesley abbreviated the Church of England's 39 Articles of Religion to 24. A further Article was adopted by the Methodist Episcopal Church when it was formed in 1784.
- The Confessions of Faith of the Evangelical United Brethren Church - The EUB's 16 Articles became a part of the Methodist movement when they were adopted in the 1968 merger that created the United Methodist Church.
- The General Rules of the Methodist Societies - summarized as: 1) Do no harm; 2) Do good; 3) Attend upon the ordinances of God.
- The Standard Sermons of John Wesley - Wesley's compilation of forty-four sermons were intended to provide a “model deed” for what was preached from a Methodist pulpit in the ongoing life of the church. These particular sermons were regarded by Wesley as being of distinct value, and intended to serve as “standards” for teaching Christian doctrine in the church.
- John Wesley's Explanatory Notes on the New Testament - Access this commentary here.
As a good summary, we believe what has been handed down to us from the beginning of the church. We affirm with Christians around the world the Nicene Creed, the Apostles' Creed, and the Definition of Chalcedon:
THE NICENE CREED (A.D. )
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through Him all things were made. For us and for our salvation He came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became truly human.
For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
He suffered death and was buried. On the third day He rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and His kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic* and apostolic church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
* universal
THE APOSTLES’ CREED
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator 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 catholic* church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting. Amen.
*universal
The Definition of Chalcedon (A.D. 451)
Following the holy fathers, we teach with one voice that the Son of God and our Lord Jesus Christ is to be confessed as one and the same Person, That He is perfect in Godhead and perfect in manhood, truly God and truly man, of a reasonable soul and body consisting of one substance with the Father as regards His Godhead, and at the same time of one substance with us as regards His manhood, like us in all respects, apart from sin.
Begotten of His Father before the ages as regards His Godhead, But in these last days born for us and for our salvation of the Virgin Mary, the God- bearer.
This one and the same Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, must be confessed to be in two natures, without confusion, without changes, without division, not as parted or separated into two persons, but one and the same Son and only-begotten God the Word, our Lord Jesus Christ.
Even as the prophets from earliest times spoke of Him, And our Lord Jesus Christ Himself taught us,
And the creed of the fathers has handed down to us.