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United Methodists trust free inquiry in matters of ChristianUnited Methodists Are...
When you join a United Methodist congregation, you become a member of the total United Methodist connection. Members promise God and the congregation to uphold the church with their prayers, their presence, their gifts and their service.
A covenant people United Methodism was formed when the Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church merged in 1968. United Methodists trace their spiritual heritage back to 18th-century leaders including John and Charles Wesley, Jacob Albright, Philip Otterbein, Martin Boehm and Francis Asbury.
A diverse community
Biblical in faith
doctrine. Our faith is guided by Scripture, tradition, experience
and reason. Of paramount importance is Scripture. For United
Methodists, the Bible is the record of God's people living out
God's promise.Mission oriented and socially conscious, this is important to our faith. We are aware of world events and strive to help those in need. United Methodists are one in faith and tradition with Methodist Christians around the world.
Mission oriented, socially conscious Through the World Methodist Council, Methodists from 68 member churches cooperate in support of ecumenical, educational, evangelical and other ministries.
For generations, United Methodists have cooperated with other churches to spread the gospel, care for those in need, alleviate injustice and foster peace. In national and interfaith groups, United Methodists reach beyond our own churches and our own communities to express concern and to share God's love with people of many faiths.
Ecumenical For more than 200 years, The United Methodist Church and its predecessor bodies have expressed concern for the worker, the sick, the poor, the orphaned, the aging, the impaired, the oppressed and the imprisoned.
Involved Our church participates in the struggles of women, people with physical and mental impairments, and racial - and ethnic- minority persons, helping them attain equality in the church, the economy and society.
United Methodists positively influence society through responsible social action.
United Methodism took form as an organized church in this country during the revolutionary period of our history. Its structures parallel those of the United States government. Church leadership is shared by executive, legislative and judicial branches. Representative bodies carry out church functions at local, regional and church wide levels.
Connectional The highest legislative body--the only organization that can speak for the church --is the General Conference. An assembly of up to 1,000 delegates, it is composed of equal numbers of laity and clergy and meets once every four years. Delegates are chosen by regional units (annual conferences) throughout the United States and in 15 other nations. Non-voting representatives come from affiliated churches in 25 other countries.
Annual conferences respond to needs in their regions by developing programs and ministries that carry out the work of Christ and support the policies set by General Conference.
The United Methodist Church continues its strong evangelical heritage. Within each congregation is a vital center of biblical study and evangelism-- a blending of personal piety and discipleship.
Evangelical
The heart of United Methodism continues to be winning people to Christ. "Whatever you ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive."~ Matthew 21:22, NRSVWhat's so great about being a
United Methodist?The top 10 reasons why it's great to be a United Methodist written by The Rev. Dr. James W. Moore, pastor of St. Luke's United Methodist Church in Houston, TX... with apologies to David Letterman.
Number 10...........We are a church that encourages a strong pulpit. The people come expecting to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ proclaimed powerfully.
Number 9.............We are a church that encourages a strong, warmhearted personal relationship with Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Jesus Christ is at the heart of everything we do.
Number 8............We are a world-wide church. You can find a United Methodist church, mission, school, hospital or clinic in many villages, hamlets, towns or cities around the world.
Number 7............We are an open, inclusive church. Our members come from every culture and every socio-economic group and all are embraced. We have more Asian-American and Native-American members than any other denomination. We are second in Hispanic-American members. We have more African-American members than several other denominations combined. In addition, we have been at the forefront in encouraging woen to give strong leadership in the church and therefore we have more women clergy than any other denomination.
Number 6...........We are a giving church. Every person who joins the United Methodist Church promises to serve God and support the church with our prayers, our presence, our gifts and our service, and that pledge of loyalty enables us to give generously to benevolence and mission efforts.
Number 5..........We are a church with a family spirit. That family spirit enables us to be there for each other in our joys and sorrows from the cradle to the grave.
Number 4...........We are a church that owns and operates many colleges, hospitals, children's homes and homes for the elderly: plus we operate the oldest church-owned publishing house in the world.
Number 3...........We are a church that reaches out with deep compassion to help hurting people. Our UM Committee on Relief is quickly on the scene all over the world wherever there is a natural disaster or any kind of pain or heartache to provide aid and love and care. We feed more than a million children every day.
Number 2..........We are a church with a great social creed that has been an inspiration to all in Christendom.
Number 1..........We continue Christ's ministry of preaching, teaching, healing and caring.
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