What We Believe

Below is a brief answer to a rather involved question. For a more thorough exploration of United Methodist beliefs we recommend:

• The United Methodist Church website
• The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church - 2004

John Wesley (1703-1791), the first teacher of "Methodism", described a methodist as

"...one who loves the Lord his God with all his heart, with all his soul, with all his mind, and with all his strength."

United Methodist's believe in one true God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

SCRIPTURE, TRADITION, EXPERIENCE and REASON are the theological guidelines for what United Methodists believe.

• We believe that SCRIPTURE is "the primary source and criterion for Christian doctrine."*
  
• We believe that TRADITION in the history of Christian communities informs us, challenges us, and ties us together.
  
• We believe that our EXPERIENCE interacts with Scripture and "authenticates in our own lives the truths revealed in Scripture and illumined in tradition, enabling us to claim the Christian witness as our own."*
  
• We also believe that "any disciplined theological work calls for the careful use of REASON"*

Reconciliation Through Christ - "The offering Christ freely made on the cross is the perfect and sufficient sacrifice for the sins of the whole world, redeeming man from all sin, so that no other satisfaction is required."*

The Sacraments - Baptism and The Lord's Supper are the two Sacraments ordained by Christ. We believe that these Sacraments "are symbols and pledges of the Christian's profession and of God's love toward us."*

*From The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church - 2000. Copyright 2000 by The United Methodist Publishing House. Used by permission.