Who Are We
&
What Do We Believe? 

United Methodists are people whose actions bring new meaning to their faith.

We claim and cherish our true place in the one, universal body of Christ.

Our origins lie in the work of John and Charles Wesley in 18^th Century England, which quickly spread to every corner of the world.

The purpose of their work and ministry was to renew the Church and spread scriptural holiness--which they believed to be a oneness of personal and social righteousness--throughout the whole earth, to the glory of God.

We know that often we fail to live up to this high calling, and so we confess that our imperfect witness has often distorted the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Nevertheless, trusting in the grace of God, we acknowledge our failings, seek God's forgiveness, and continue to engage ourselves in God's service.

WHAT WE BELIEVE

Methodists affirm the Holy Scriptures of the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) and New Testament as the inspired Word of God and a primary source of faith and practice and the center of our theological reflection.

Methodists believe that scriptural reflection is influenced by the processes of reason, tradition and experience.  While scripture is the primary source of God's revelation, we also believe that the nature and will of God is continually being revealed to us in new ways in the natural world around us, through scientific discoveries, and in the unfolding of history.

Methodists believe in the centrality of God's grace (the term we use to describe God's constant and un-discourageable good will for us).

We believe that God's grace takes four essential forms in our lives:

--- creating grace (the good will God had in creation and in giving us life within creation)

--- prevenient grace (the good will God shows to us even while we remain unaware and unacknowledging of it, and which in time leads us to an awareness of God).

--- justifying grace (the good will of God in seeking us out in our sin and reconciling us to God)

--- sanctifying grace (God's good will in continuing to improve our lives and make us better people.  In John Wesley's words, God's presence with us as we move onward and upward toward perfection.)

Methodists believe in the Lordship of Jesus Christ and the sufficiency of his atoning work for all humankind.  We believe that Jesus lived out the life of God in human form on this earth.

Methodists believe that we are the friends of all and the enemies of none.

OUR WORSHIP

We worship and give allegiance to one God who is manifested to us in three forms: a Father who is the creating force in the world, the Son who has provided us with the means of redemption, and the Holy Spirit, which is God's continuing presence in the world and in us, sustaining and empowering us to live lives that have spiritual integrity.

In worship, we respond in gratitude and praise for God's mighty acts in creation, in history, in our human communities, and in our personal lives.

In worship, we confess our sin against God and one another and receive God's gracious forgiveness.

In prayer, we wait in God's presence, offer the searching and longings of our own hearts, both for ourselves and others, and open ourselves to God's Spirit to comfort, lead and guide us.

In the celebration of the sacraments of Baptism and the Lords Supper, we participate in the symbols that remind us of God's presence, redemption and reconciliation.

In reading, proclaiming and receiving the Gospel, we open ourselves to God's continuing revelation and grow in our spiritual maturity and understanding.

From worship we go into the world to love and serve others and to be instruments of justice and peace in the establishment of God's reign on earth.

OUR SERVICE

As followers of Jesus of Nazareth, who came to serve rather than be served, we seek to serve all people, regardless of their economic or social status, race, gender, age, physical and mental ability, sexual orientation, religion or cultural origin.

We anchor our service in love for our neighbors, including those we perceive as our enemies.

United Methodists view the church as a vital center of Biblical study and evangelism blending profound personal piety and acute social awareness.  Therefore, we are both mission-oriented and socially conscious.

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 to attain equality and working for complete economic justice.

WE ARE CONNECTIONAL

United Methodism took form as an organized church in this country during the revolutionary period of 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, and the only organization that can speak for the church as a whole, 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 called annual conferences throughout the United States and in 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 General Conference.  Park United Methodist Church is part of the Gateway North District of the Greater New Jersey Annual Conference.

OUR COMMON LIFE

We share a commitment to Jesus Christ that manifests itself in our common heart and life, binding us together in a community of fellowship, service and mutual support.

Having experienced the Gospel of Jesus Christ as a liberating power from all oppression, we stand in solidarity with all people who seek freedom, peace and justice.

Knowing that the love we share in Christ is stronger than our conflicts, broader than our individual opinions, and deeper than the wounds we inflict on one another, we commit ourselves to participation in our congregation, denomination and the whole Christian family for the purpose of nurture, outreach and witness.