What We Believe

God — God, who is one, is revealed in three distinct persons.

Jesus — We believe in the mystery of salvation through Jesus Christ. God became human in Jesus whose life, death, and resurrection demonstrate God’s redeeming love.

The Holy Spirit — The Holy Spirit is God’s present activity in our midst when we sense God’s leading, God’s challenge, or God’s support or comfort, it’s the Holy Spirit at work.

The Bible — We believe that the Bible is the primary authority for our faith and practice.

God’s Reign — The kingdom or reign of God is both a present reality and future hope and is experienced by living the stories and teachings of Jesus.

The Church — The church is the body of Christ, an extension of Christ’s life and ministry in the world today.

Grace — We understand grace as a gift from God – the undeserved, unmerited, and loving action of God in human existence. God’s grace is at work throughout our spiritual journeys – it prepares us, redeems us, and continually shapes us into the people we are created to be.

Sacraments — We recognize two sacraments, baptism and communion. Baptism marks the beginning of our lifelong journey as disciples of Jesus Christ. Communion nourishes and sustains us on the journey.

Inclusiveness — All are welcome to participate in the life and work of the church. No distinction is made because of racial or ethnic background, national origin, language, gender, age, handicapping, condition, or social status.

Does the UMC teach and affirm the full divinity of Jesus?

Yes. “We believe in Jesus Christ, truly God and truly man, in whom the divine and human natures are perfectly and inseparably united. He is the eternal Word made flesh, the one begotten Son of the Father, born of the Virgin Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Book of Discipline ¶104, Confession of Faith Article II)

Does the UMC teach and affirm the bodily resurrection of Jesus?

Yes. “As ministering Servant, he lived, suffered, and died on the cross. He was buried, rose from the dead, and ascended into heaven to be with the Father, from whence he shall return. He is eternal Savior and Mediator, who intercedes for us, and by Him all men will be judged.”  (Book of Discipline ¶104, Confession of Faith Article II)

Does the denomination teach and affirm the historic Christian creeds?

Yes. “Faced with diverse interpretations of the apostolic message, leaders of the early church sought to specify the core of Christian belief in order to ensure the soundness of Christian teaching. The determination of the canon of Christian Scripture and the adoption of ecumenical creeds such as the formulations of Nicaea and Chalcedon were of central importance to this consensual process. Such creeds helped preserve the integrity of the church’s witness, set boundaries for acceptable Christian doctrine, and proclaimed the basic elements of the enduring Christian message. These statements of faith, along with the Apostles’ Creed, contain the most prominent features of our ecumenical heritage.” (Book of Discipline ¶102)

AR UMC
Following Jesus

We knew that “Following Jesus” had to be the first actionable item. Without Jesus and the cross, nothing else is possible.

The following scripture passages clearly illustrate this truth and represent that the Holy Bible will continue to be our primary connection to God. 

Matthew 4:18-20 – As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishers. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of people.” Immediately, they left their nets and followed him.

Luke 9:23-24 – Then he said to them all, “If any wish to come after me, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it.

John 8:12 – Again, Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”

Loving People

The following scriptures are shared to remind us of God’s love for us and the love we should seek to show others.

Psalm 36:7-9 – How precious is your steadfast love, O God! All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.

Luke 10:26-28 – He said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?” He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.”

John 13:34-35 – I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 – Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable; it keeps no record of wrongs; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Sharing Grace

The scripture that accentuates “Sharing Grace” are as follows: 

Isaiah 58:6-8 – Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them and not to hide yourself from your own kin? Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly; your vindicator shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.

2 Cor. 9:8 – And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work.

Romans 1:11-12 – For I long to see you so that I may share with you some spiritual gift so that you may be strengthened—or rather so that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.

Philemon 4-7 – I thank my God always when I mention you in my prayers, because I hear of your love for all the saints and your faith toward the Lord Jesus. I pray that the partnership of your faith may become effective as you comprehend all the good that we share in Christ. I have indeed received much joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you.