About Us

The United Methodist Church shares a great deal with other Christian denominations. We believe God's grace is open to all, and therefore practice "open Communion"--meaning that anyone may participate in receiving Communion. We believe salvation is an open gift from God, accepted by individuals according to their own free will. The United Methodist denomination is a "big tent" theologically, providing space for theological discourse and, at times, disagreement.

Like many other Christian groups, we affirm the beliefs expressed in the Apostles Creed. These include:

• The belief in one God, who is the Creator and sustainer of the universe.

• The belief in the Trinity, that there is one God in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

• The belief in the divinity of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who is fully human and fully divine.

The United Methodist Church is a global denomination that opens hearts, minds, and doors through active engagement with our world. The mission of The United Methodist Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

A United Methodist joins in that mission by putting faith and love into action. We believe that God loves all people and that we share in expressing that love. So, the United Methodist tradition emphasizes God's grace in serving others. We believe that Jesus Christ is the fullest expression of God's love--showing us the fullness of God's care through Jesus' teachings, death, and resurrection.

John Wesley started the Methodist movement in 18th-century England. His teachings on practical divinity (living out our faith) and appeals to reason and experience form important aspects of United Methodist practice today.