According to our foundational statement of beliefs in The Book of Discipline, we share the following basic affirmations in common with all Christian communities:
Trinity
~We describe God in three persons. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are commonly used to refer to the threefold nature of God. Sometimes we use other terms, such as Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer. God
~We believe in one God, who cr
eated the world and all that is in it.
~We believe that God is sovereign; that is, God is the ruler of the universe.
~We believe that God is loving. We can experience the love and grace of God. He lived as a man and died when he was crucified.
~We believe that Jesus is divine. He is the Son of God.
~We believe that God raised Jesus from the dead and that the risen Christ lives today. (Christ and Messiah mean the same thing - the anointed of God.)
~We believe that Jesus is our Savior. In Christ we receive abundant life and forgiveness of sins.
~We believe that Jesus is our Lord and that we are called to pattern our lives after his. The Holy Spirit
~We believe that the Holy Spirit is God with us.
~We believe that the Holy Spirit comforts us when we are in need and convicts us when we stray from God.
~We believe that the Holy Spirit awakens us to the will of God and empowers us to live obediently. The Church
~We believe that the church is the body of Christ, an extension of his life and ministry in the world today.
~We believe that the church is a community made up of all past, present, and future disciples of Christ.
~We believe that the church is called to worship God and to support those who participate in its life as they grow in faith.