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Joining the Methodist Church- When you join a United Methodist congregation, you become a member of the United Methodist connection--a covenant community dedicated to making disciples for Jesus Christ. Members make a solemn promise to God and the congregation to uphold the church with their prayers and their presence, their gifts and their service.
A Diverse Community- All persons are welcome in The United Methodist Church-- with open hearts, open minds and open doors. Celebrating a diversity of people, ideas and cultures, we are enriched by our history. The United Methodist Church was formed with the merger of the Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church in 1968. United Methodists trace their spiritual heritage back to 18th-century evangelical leaders John and Charles Wesley, Jacob Albright and Philip William Otterbein.
Biblical in Faith- United Methodists trust free inquiry into 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 promises.
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Evangelical, Connectional- Today in the 21st Century, The United Methodist Church continues--and expands--its robust evangelical heritage. Each congregation is a vigorous center of Biblical study and evangelical outreach. And each congregation is linked in a covenant community of faith across the connected congregations.
Sharing God's Gifts and Love- United Methodists have believed, from the beginning, that each of us is called to participate in the outreaching ministry of Jesus Christ. John Wesley and our evangelical forebears saw our work in the simplest, plainest terms: Do all the good you can, in all the places you can, to all the people you can. We support worldwide ecumenical and educational ministries. For generations the United Methodists have cooperated with other churches to spread the gospel, care for those in need, alleviate injustice and foster peace around the world. We reach beyond our own churches and communities to share God's love with people of many faiths.
Socially Concerned, Personally Involved- For more than 200 years, The United Methodist Church and its predecessors have worked to help the poor, the sick, the orphaned, the aging, the oppressed, and the imprisoned. Our church participates in the struggles of women, people with physical and mental challenges, and racial and ethnic minority persons, helping them to attain equality in the church and in society through responsible social action.
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