Return to About the United Methodist Church
In the words of John Wesley, “A Methodist is…one who loves the Lord his God with all his heart, with all his soul, with all his mind, and with all his strength.” John Wesley was an ordained Anglican priest. At a prayer meeting in London on May 24, 1738, he had a powerful spiritual experience which inspired him to become the first teacher of “Methodism.”
What do United Methodist believe?
The sources of faith for the United Methodists are:
- The Bible
- John Wesley’s Writings
- The Articles of Religion
- The Confession of Faith
- The United Methodist “Book of Discipline”
- Theologians and Educators
We believe that God has mercy and love for all people. We believe in the triune God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We believe in salvation through Jesus Christ and the celebration of the sacraments.
Baptism
For United Methodists, baptism is the sacrament of initiation that joins us with the church and with Christians everywhere. It’s a symbol of new life and a promise of God’s saving love…and a sign of God’s forgiveness for our sins. Both infants and adults can be baptized. A person receives the sacrament only once in his or her life. Water is the special symbol of baptism.
The Lord’s Supper
The Lord’s Supper is a holy meal of bread and wine that symbolizes the body and blood of Christ. By sharing this meal, United Methodists give thanks for Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins and receive grace to empower us to go on in Christian living. The Lord’s Supper recalls the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus and celebrates the unity of all the members of God’s family.
United Methodists share a vision of life for all humanity. We believe in nurturing our community, protecting our natural resources, equitable sharing of wealth, that the role of government is to protect freedom and guarantee rights and that God’s world is one world.
For more information on The United Methodist Church, go to www.umc.org