What do United Methodists believe?

The United Methodist Church shares a great deal with other Christian denominations. We believe God's grace is open to all, and therefore practice "open Communion"--meaning that anyone may participate in receiving Communion. We believe salvation is an open gift from God, accepted by individuals according to their own free will. The United Methodist denomination is a "big tent" theologically, providing space for theological discourse and, at times, disagreement.

Like many other Christian groups, we affirm the beliefs expressed in the Apostles Creed. These include:

  • The belief in one God, who is the Creator and sustainer of the universe.
  • The belief in the Trinity, that there is one God in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
  • The belief in the divinity of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who is fully human and fully divine.