Who We Are
Adopted by the Aldersgate Leadership Council | June 15, 2022
- The centuries-old, orthodox teachings of the Church are sufficient for any time.
- The whole of the Bible, Old and New Testament, is the word of God, and the primary way we understand the trinitarian God’s character and action in the world.
- The Holy Spirit is the divine presence in our lives, removing our blinders and perfecting us in love.
- God’s gift of reason allows us to use the teachings of the Church, the Holy Scripture, and the experience of the Holy Spirit to discern God’s will for God’s people.
How We Understand Our Salvation as a Congregation…
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Every person is created in the image of God and is worthy of love, care, and discipleship in Jesus.
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All persons need the saving grace of Jesus Christ, offered through his life, death, and resurrection.
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By the power of the Holy Spirit, we gain freedom from the effects and power of sin.
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As the People of God, we bear his image of holy love before the world and live in ways that point to the Kingdom of God.
Our Identity as a Congregation…
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We stand firm in the Wesleyan tradition of living out our faith and witness.
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We uphold the authority of Scripture, the missional nature of the Church, and the prevenient nature of the grace of God in the lives of all people.
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As a nurturing community of faith, we affirm all persons as children of God and welcome all persons into our local congregation.
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We strongly affirm our denomination’s The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church - 2016, including the Traditional Plan as adopted by the Called General Conference of 2019.
Seeking to listen and provide insight into the congregation’s identity, the Aldersgate Leadership Council crafted a document of identity in 2022. That document was then referred to the congregation for input. Each statement received over 80 percent agreement.
On
June 15, the final form of "Who We Are" was adopted by the ALC.