What are United
Methodists?
| ... a happening people!
Involved, committed, diverse, open. A people who try to be accepting, caring, hospitable,
and inclusive. Family- and community- oriented. A people who are concerned about those
beyond their communities, around the world. Active in mission, responsive. A people who
love music, church suppers and fellowship. Initiators, with a history of creating
ministries related to education, employment, health and other issues. A people who like to
tell the story of God's redeeming grace. |
United Methodists
are . . .
A covenant people
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, presence, gifts and service.
A diverse community
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
the 18th-century leaders including John and Charles Wesley, Jacob Albright, Philip
Otterbein, Martin Boehm and Francis Asbury.
All persons are welcome in the United Methodist
Church. We are firmly committed to inclusiveness. We celebrate a diversity of people,
ideas and cultures and are enriched by our broad history.
Biblical in faith
United Methodists trust free inquiry in matters of Christian 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, socially
conscious
United Methodists are 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.
Through the World Methodist Council, Methodists from 68 member churches cooperate in
support of ecumenical, educational, evangelical and other ministries.
Ecumenical
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.
Involved
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.
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.
Connectional
United Methodists took form as an organized church in this country during the
revolutionary period in 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.
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 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 the General Conference.
Evangelical
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.
This statement is taken from the pamphlet
"United Methodists are . . ."
United Methodists Communications, P.O. Box 320, Nashville, TN 37202-0320
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