OUR BELIEFS & VALUES
We are Christians who are glad to be part of the United Methodist Church. As Christians, we hold to the historic doctrines of the Christian faith, as described, for example, in The Apostles’ Creed:
 
     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, dead, and
     buried; the third day he rose from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth
     at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from hence he shall come to judge
     the quick* 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
          (*living; **universal)

     With other Protestant Christians, we believe in the triune God (one God in three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), the divinity of Christ, the inspiration and authority of Scripture, and salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

     As Methodists, we are part of the second largest Protestant denomination in America. Methodists are known for our emphasis on a personal faith, lived out in practical ways in the world. Among the unique beliefs and practices of United Methodism are:

     The centrality of grace in Christian experience. God’s grace has always been a central theme of Methodists. We believe that grace works prior to one’s conversion to Christ, drawing us to Christ but not forcing us to accept Him. When a person says yes to Christ, God’s saving grace gives forgiveness and new life, life abundant and eternal. After this initial conversion experience, God’s grace helps the believer grow and mature in Christ.

     The practice of open Communion. Because God’s grace is available to all, and because the Communion table is the Lord’s table, one does not have to be a member of our church in order to receive this sacrament with us. Our invitation says, “Christ our Lord invites to his table all who love him, who earnestly repent of their sin and seek to live in peace with one another.”

     Wesleyan principles for understanding our faith and relationship with God. John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, gave us four important principles for understanding and living out our faith:
 
     1. Scripture (the Bible),
     2. Tradition (the wisdom gained from church history and doctrine),
     3. Reason (we do not “check our minds at the door” in order to be Christians), and
     4. Experience (God’s work in our lives today and in the lives of other Christians).

All four of these principles are important but, for us, the Bible has primary importance.

If you would like to know more about what it means to know and follow Jesus Christ, please phone us at 850-243-9292 and ask for one of the pastors or email us.