The United Methodist Church is:
- Global: The people called Methodists speak many languages, live in many different countries, with different cultures, traditions, histories and even various understandings of Christian faith and practice.
- Connectional: Every United Methodist congregation is interconnected with every other congregation.
- Democratic: Technically, it is a representative democracy, as “conferences” are held, each local church being represented by their pastoral leadership and as many lay persons as there are pastors.
- Inclusive: All persons are welcome to attend United Methodist Churches and to receive Holy Communion when it is offered.
- Grounded in Scripture: United Methodists trust individuals to be directed and informed by God. That formation is encouraged by scripture, tradition, experience and reason.
- Wesleyan: Founder John Wesley placed emphasis on both mind and heart. It was important to know God and know about God; and no less important to be awed of the mystery of God. Always there was an emphasis on putting one’s faith to work in the world.
- Concerned About Social Justice: From our first days, we follow Jesus Christ’s concern for the poor, the orphan, the aging, the sick, the oppressed and the imprisoned. Putting it another way, our lives are the answer to the question, “For the sake of Jesus Christ, what are we here for?!”
- Mission-oriented: The world is literally the mission field of the United Methodist Church as we practice sending full-time and part-time/temporary missionaries to all parts of the world to make disciples of Jesus Christ.
- Ecumenical: United Methodists value dialogue and missional cooperation with other Christians as a valid and important witness to the unity of the body of Christ.