From The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church - 2000 

Copyright © 2000 by The United Methodist Publishing House

Used by permission.

About the UMC

OUR HISTORY

On April 23, 1968, The United Methodist Church was created when Bishop Reuben H. Mueller, representing The Evangelical United Brethren Church, and Bishop Lloyd C. Wicke of The Methodist Church joined hands at the constituting General Conference in Dallas, Texas.  With the words, "Lord of the Church, we are united in Thee, in Thy Church and now in The United Methodist Church," the new denomination was given birth by two churches that had distinguished  histories  and influential ministries in  various  parts  of  the  world. 

Theological traditions steeped in the Protestant Reformation and Wesleyanism, similar ecclesiastical structures, and relationships that dated back almost two hundred years facilitated the union.  In the Evangelical United Brethren heritage, for example, Philip William Otterbein, the principle founder of the United Brethren in Christ, assisted in the ordination of Francis Asbury to the superintendency of American Methodist work.  Jacob Albright, through whose religious experience and leadership the Evangelical  Association  was  begun,  was nurtured in a Methodist class  meeting  following  his conversion.

OUR BELIEFS

With Christians of other communions we confess belief in the  triune God-Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This confession embraces the biblical witness to God's activity in creation, encompasses God's gracious self-involvement in the dramas of history,  and  anticipates  the  consummation of God's  reign.

The created order is designed for the well-being of all creatures and as the place of human dwelling in covenant with God. As sinful creatures, however, we have broken that covenant, become estranged from God, wounded ourselves and  one another, and wreaked  havoc throughout  the  natural  order. We  stand  in  need  of  redemption.

OUR MISSION IN THE WORLD

God's self-revelation in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ summons the church to ministry in the world through witness by word and deed in light of the church's mission.  The visible church of Christ as a faithful community of persons affirms the  worth  of  all  humanity and  the  value  of interrelationship  in  all  of  God's  creation.

In the midst of a sinful world, through the grace of God, we are brought to repentance and faith in Jesus  Christ.   We become aware  of  the  presence  and  life-giving  power  of  God's Holy Spirit.

We live in confident expectation of the ultimate fulfillment of God's purpose.  We are called together for worship and fellowship and for the upbuilding of the Christian community.  We advocate and work for the unity of the Christian church. We call  all persons  into  discipleship under   the  Lordship  of  Jesus Christ.

As servants of Christ we are sent into the world to engage in the struggle for justice and reconciliation. We seek to reveal the love of God for men, women, and children of all ethnic, racial,  cultural,  and national  backgrounds and to  demonstrate the healing power  of  the gospel with   those   who  suffer.

OUR SOCIAL CREED

We believe in God, Creator of the world; and in Jesus Christ, the Redeemer of creation.  We believe in the  Holy Spirit, through   whom  we  acknowledge  God's  gifts,  and   we  repent  of our  sin   in misusing  these  gifts  to  idolatrous  ends.

We affirm the natural world as God's handiwork and dedicate ourselves to its preservation, enhancement,  and  faithful  use  by humankind.

We  joyfully  receive for  ourselves  and  others  the  blessings  of  community,  marriage,  and the family.

We commit ourselves to the rights of men, women, children, youth, young adults, the aging, and people with disabilities; to improvement  of  the  quality  of  life;  and  to  the  rights  and dignity  of  racial, ethnic,   and   religious   minorities.

We believe in the right and duty of persons to work for the glory of God and the good of themselves and others and in the protection of their welfare in so doing; in the rights to property as a trust from God, collective bargaining, and responsible consumption;  and  in  the elimination  of  economic  and social  distress.

We dedicate ourselves to peace throughout the world, to the rule of justice and law among nations,  and  to  individual freedom for  all  people  of  the  world.

We believe in the present and final triumph of God's Word in human affairs and gladly accept our commission  to  manifest the life  of  the  gospel  in  the  world.  

Amen.