What We Believe

In unbounded love, God created… and we enjoyed God’s friendship in paradise…

At the beginning, God gave us freedom to choose to love God or to exclude God from our lives. We chose not to return God’s love. We broke the relationship.

In limitless love, God pursues us, even giving God’s self in the form of the Eternal Son, Jesus Christ, so that our relationship with God, and all creation, might be restored.

All who now trust and follow Jesus Christ are part of the in-breaking reign of God. Jesus said “Behold I am making all things new.” Following Christ’s lead seen in the scriptures, we join him in his mission. We are helping people into the Light who is Jesus, and we are working for the good of all people and the world – all the while looking for Christ’s return, when he in love will rule the universe, and put all thinks to rights. As it was in the beginning, so it shall be in the end.

We are not perfect, but, accepting Christ’s love and forgiveness, we seek to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength and to love all people as we love ourselves. Will you join us on the journey?

We believe,  “In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity.” That is to say, there is a core set of common beliefs where all Christians are in unity (see below). Then, as we move to less essential beliefs,  there are many variations on the Christian theme seen across many different individuals and denominations. We believe in diversity regarding the non-core ideas within our faith tradition. But, most of all we wish live into love for one another as Christ taught and lived.

Our Core Beliefs  – from globalmethodist.org   

That the one God – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit – has created all things; that Jesus Christ, through the power of his cross and Resurrection, is the Lord and Savior of all the world; and the Holy Spirit empowers the people of his church to worship and praise God and to proclaim the Gospel throughout the world in word and deed.

Of Faith in the Holy Trinity

There is but one living and true God, everlasting, without body or parts, of infinite power, wisdom, and good; the maker and preserver of all things, both visible and invisible. And in unity of this Godhead there are three persons, of one substance, power, and eternity—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.

Excerpt from Transitional Book of Doctrines and Discipline of The Global Methodist Church p. 8.

 

God

We believe in the one true, holy and living God, Eternal Spirit, who is 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 men, 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.

Excerpt from Transitional Book of Doctrines and Discipline of The Global Methodist Church p. 13.

 

Jesus Christ

We believe in Jesus Christ, truly God and truly man, in whom the divine and human natures are perfectly and inseparably united. He is the eternal Word made flesh, the only begotten Son of the Father, born of the Virgin Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit. As ministering Servant he lived, suffered and died on the cross. He was buried, rose from the dead and ascended into heaven to be with the Father, from whence he shall return. He is eternal Savior and Mediator, who intercedes for us, and by him all men will be judged.

Excerpt from Transitional Book of Doctrines and Discipline of The Global Methodist Church p. 13.

 

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.

Excerpt from Transitional Book of Doctrines and Discipline of The Global Methodist Church p. 13.

 

Human Beings

  • We believe that all persons irrespective of their station or circumstances in life have been made in the image of God and must be treated with dignity, justice, and respect. We denounce as sin racism, sexism, and other expressions that unjustly discriminate against any person (Genesis 1-2, Deuteronomy 16:19-20, Luke 11:42, 19:9, Colossians 3:11).
  • We believe man is fallen from righteousness and, apart from the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, is destitute of holiness and inclined to evil. Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God. In his own strength, without divine grace, man cannot do good works pleasing and acceptable to God. We believe, however, man influenced and empowered by the Holy Spirit is responsible in freedom to exercise his will for good.

Excerpt from Transitional Book of Doctrines and Discipline of The Global Methodist Church p. 20 and p. 14.

 

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.

Excerpt from Transitional Book of Doctrines and Discipline of The Global Methodist Church p. 13.

 

The Holy Bible

We believe the Holy Bible, Old and New Testaments, reveals the Word of God so far as it is necessary for our salvation. It is to be received through the Holy Spirit 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.

Excerpt from Transitional Book of Doctrines and Discipline of The Global Methodist Church p. 13.

 

Of the Sacraments

Sacraments ordained of Christ are not only badges or tokens of Christian men’s profession, but rather they are certain signs of grace, and God’s good will toward us, by which he doth work invisibly in us, and doth not only quicken, but also strengthen and confirm, our faith in him.

There are two Sacraments ordained of Christ our Lord in the Gospel; that is to say, Baptism and the Supper of the Lord.

 

Baptism

  • Through Holy Baptism we are united in Christ’s death in repentance of our sins; raised to new life in Him through the power of the resurrection; incorporated into the Body of Christ; and empowered through the work of the Holy Spirit to go on to perfection. Holy Baptism is God’s gracious gift to us, flowing from the once for all work of Christ Jesus, and our pledge to follow as His disciples.
  • Holy Baptism may be performed by sprinkling, pouring, or immersion. The outward and visible sign of Holy Baptism is water. Candidates are baptized “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19). The inward and spiritual grace is death to sin and new birth to righteousness by faith through union with Christ in His death and resurrection.
  • Holy Baptism is administered among a gathered congregation. Those present vow on behalf of Christ’s Holy Church to receive the baptized into the Church universal, to grow together in grace, and to remember the profession made and benefits received in Holy Baptism. Candidates for Holy Baptism, and those presenting candidates unable to answer for themselves, shall be instructed in the Christian faith and the meaning of Holy Baptism.
  • Holy Baptism, as initiation into Christ’s Holy Church, occurs once in a person’s life. Holy Communion serves as the regular and continual affirmation of baptismal vows within the
  • church. Through a service of baptismal remembrance and reaffirmation of baptismal vows people can renew the covenant declared at baptism.

Excerpt from Transitional Book of Doctrines and Discipline of The Global Methodist Church p. 26.

 

Communion

  • In Holy Communion also known as the Lord’s Supper or the Eucharist (from the Greek word for “thanksgiving”), we are invited into fellowship (koinonia) with Christ Jesus who is spiritually present in the whole of the Sacrament; we participate in the communion of saints with the Church universal; and we are given a foretaste of God’s eternal banquet, the marriage supper of the Lamb. The Sacrament may be offered to all who repent of sin and desire to draw near to God and lead a life of obedience to Christ.
  • Holy Communion is normally celebrated in the midst of the congregation, physically gathered to remember and respond to God’s mighty acts of salvation revealed in Holy Scripture. Local congregations are urged to ensure regular opportunities for the congregation to commune.
  • The elements of Holy Communion may be taken to those whose condition prevents them from being physically present. When Holy Communion cannot be offered, the Love Feast provides an opportunity for significant fellowship in a wide array of settings. We encourage the use of non- alcoholic wine or juice for Holy Communion. Non-alcoholic juice must be offered as an option where wine is used.

Excerpt from Transitional Book of Doctrines and Discipline of The Global Methodist Church p. 29.