The word “creed” means belief. As a Christian church, we share beliefs as a group of people following Jesus Christ. The words of the Apostle’s Creed and the Nicene Creed have been the agreed upon statements of faith since the 4th century. These creeds give a basic outline of our beliefs about the Holy Trinity.
Creeds and Statement of Faith
United Methodist Church
As a United Methodist Church we have some unique understandings that form our perspective on faith and life. The Methodist movement began as a renewal movement in the Church of England by John Wesley and his brother Charles who were part of a small group of committed Christians who meticulously worked to connect their faith to their everyday life. They grounded their life in prayer,biblical study, accountability, and communion (the Lord’s Supper). They sought to live out their faith by serving the poor, visiting prisons, and tending to those in need. Out of their witness, several aspects of being “Methodist” arose.
Grace Equal to Every Need
We understand grace to be the unmerited love of God that is active throughout our lives.Before we even know God or understand God, God is calling to us and inviting us to be aware of God’s love and care. We call this prevenient grace (the grace that comes before we even know about it!). As we recognize our need for God and turn to God with our hearts and our lives we are forgiven of our sin and experience justifying grace. As we grow in the knowledge and love of God and as God transforms our lives to be more like Jesus, we grow in holiness. We know this as sanctifying grace.
A Life Lived for God
We believe our faith should show itself in how we treat those around us. As a United Methodist Church this involves our own personal words, actions, and attitudes. It also means we work to meet the needs of others and make ourselves social aware of how we work with God for the greater good. We commit to working for justice and peace on the earth through our relationships and the mission work we support around the world. United Methodists have a strong global presence through organizations like the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR).We hope you will join us in living out your discipleship with our church.