Our Faith

First United Methodist Church is part of a global denomination. The United Methodist Church has 12.5 million members across the world and is in mission in more than 135 countries. It is the second largest Protestant denomination in the United States, with about 33,000 churches. The basic mission of The United Methodist, and of each of its congregations, is making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. We seek to be a church of “Open Minds, Open Hearts, and Open Doors.” You can learn more about The United Methodist Church at www.umc.org.

United Methodists share with other Christians a faith that it is in Jesus Christ that we know most about who God is and what human life lived in God’s love can be. With other Christians we also look to the Bible as the primary source of our faith. Unlike some others in the Christian family, we believe the Bible needs to be read in light of its historical context, using the best of our reasoning. The Bible is inspired Scripture, and we are invited to be prayerful, inspired readers. Also unlike some others in the Christian family, we are not a creedal church; that is, we do not require members or participants to sign a specific statement of faith. The Bible is the primary source for our faith, but we learn from those who have gone before us in the Christian tradition, and are additionally guided by our experience and are invited to think about our faith.

Two important emphases in the United Methodist stream of the Christian faith are grace and good works. We trust God’s grace: that is, God’s love which is always present in our lives, offering us forgiveness, new beginnings, fresh visions, and the courage to live differently. We believe that knowing the love of God moves us to make the world a better place, so we work to alleviate human suffering and work for peace and justice to address the causes of much of that suffering.

First United Methodist Church is an inclusive, Christ-centered community of faith. Our mission statement is to welcome all people, to be guided by the teaching and unconditional love of Jesus, and to inspire people to live as faithful disciples of Jesus Christ. We are a Reconciling Congregation, and all persons—without regard to race, sexual orientation, economic condition, or prior religious background—are invited to participate in our ministries and programs, and may become members of our congregation. We want to meet people where they are in their spiritual journey. We seek to link Christian spirituality with concern for justice and the well-being of our community and all creation. We hope to help people cultivate a passionate, compassionate, and thoughtful Christian faith.

This United Methodist Church will:

• Welcome you as you are
• Accept you for who you are, seeing you as a beloved person of God
• Offer you a place to belong
• Be prayerful
• Be passionate about Jesus while also being respectful of other religions
• Care for and support one another
• Walk with you through difficult days, and celebrate with you your joys
• Welcome your honest questions and accept diverse points of view