We are Christians who are glad to be part of the United Methodist Church. As Christians, we hold to the historic doctrines of the Christian faith. With other Protestant Christians, we believe in the triune God (one God in three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), the divinity of Christ, the inspiration and authority of Scripture, and salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

As Methodists, we are part of the second largest Protestant denomination in America. Methodists are known for our emphasis on a personal faith, lived out in practical ways in the world. Among the unique beliefs and practices of United Methodism are:

• The centrality of grace in Christian experience.

• The practice of open Communion.

Wesleyan principles for understanding our faith and relationship with God. John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, gave us four important principles for understanding and living out our faith:

• Scripture – The Bible.

• Tradition – The wisdom gained from church history and doctrine.

• Reason – We do not “check our minds at the door” in order to be Christians.

• Experience – God’s work in our lives today and in the lives of other Christians.

All four of these principles are important but, for us, the Bible has primary importance.