First United Methodist Church Core Beliefs

Our Vision

We are committed to our mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

The Holy Bible

We believe the Holy Bible, Old and New Testaments, which reveals the Work,s of God so far as it is necessary for our salvation.  It is to be received through the Holy Spirt as the true rule and guide for faith and practice.  Whatever is not revealed in or established by the Holy Scriptures is not to be made an article of faith nor is it to be taught as essential to salvation.

God

We believe in the one true, holy and living God, Eternal Spirit, who is the Creator, Sovereign and Preserver of all things visible and invisible.  He is infinite in power, wisdom, justice, goodness and love, and rules with gracious regard for the well-being and salvation of us, to the glory of his name.  We believe the one God reveals himself as the Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, distinct but inseparable, eternally one in essence and power.  

Jesus Christ

We believe in Jesus Christ, truly God and truly man, in whom the divine and human natures are perfectly and inseparably united.  

The Holy Spirit

We believe in the Holy Spirit who proceeds from and is one in being with the Father and the Son.  He convinces the world of sin, of righteousness and of judgment.  He leads men through faithful response to the gospel into the fellowship of the Church.  He comforts, sustains and empowers the faithful and guides them into all truth.

The Church

We believe the Christian Church is the community of all true believers under the Lordship of Christ.  We believe it is one, holy, apostolic and catholic.  It is the redemptive fellowship in which the Word of God is preached by men divinely called, and the sacraments are duly administered according to Christ's own appointment.  Under the discipline of the Holy Spirit the Church exists for the maintenance of worship, the edification of believers, and the redemption of the world.

* taken from The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church 2016