What We Believe

Basics of our Faith

The United Methodist Church shares a great deal with other denominations. Explore what we believe about God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the Bible, and more.

We also have a unique heritage and areas of emphasis. Learn what we mean when we talk about grace, how we serve people around the world, and ways we grow as disciples of Jesus Christ. 

Our Christian Beliefs

United Methodists share a common heritage with all Christians. According to our foundational statement of beliefs found in The Book of Discipline, we share the following basic affirmations in common with all Christian communities.

Explore what we say about God, human being, the church, the Bible and more.

Our Social Principles

Taking an active stance in society is nothing new for followers of John Wesley. He set the example for us to combine personal and social piety. Ever since predecessor churches to United Methodism flourished in the United States, we have been known as a denomination involved with people's lives, with political and social struggles, having local to international mission implications. Such involvement is an expression of the personal change we experience in our baptism and conversion. 

The United Methodist Church believes God's love for the world is an active and engaged love, a love seeking justice and liberty. We cannot just be observers. So we care enough about people's lives to risk interpreting God's love, to take a stand, to call each of us into a response, no matter how controversial or complex. The church helps us think and act out a faith perspective, not just responding to all the other 'mind-makers-up' that exist in our society."

Excerpt from The Book of Resolutions of The United Methodist Church 2016. Copyright © 2016 by The United Methodist Publishing House. Used by permission.

Preface: Social Principles
The Social Principles are a prayerful and thoughtful effort of the General Conference to speak to the issues in the contemporary world from a sound biblical and theological foundation. 

Preamble
We affirm our unity in Jesus Christ while acknowledging differences in applying our faith in different cultural contexts as we live out the gospel. 

The Natural World
All creation is the Lord’s, and we are responsible for the ways in which we use and abuse it.

The Nurturing Community
We believe we have a responsibility to innovate, sponsor, and evaluate new forms of community that will encourage development of the fullest potential in individuals. 

The Social Community
We affirm all persons as equally valuable in the sight of God's sight. We reject discrimination and assert the rights of minority groups to equal opportunities.

The Economic Community
We claim all economic systems to be under the judgment of God no less than other facets of the created order. 

The Political Community
We hold governments responsible for the protection of people’s basic freedoms. We believe that neither church nor state should attempt to dominate the other. 

The World Community
God’s world is one world. We pledge ourselves to seek the meaning of the gospel in all issues that divide people and threaten the growth of world community. 

Our Social Creed
Our Social Creed is a statement of faith reflecting our Social Principles. 

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