Our Beliefs

First Church stands within in the traditional faith of classic, orthodox Christianity. We are a United Methodist congregation and take much inspiration and emphases from our founding father, John Wesley (1703-1791), Oxford don and Anglican priest.

As classical, orthodox Christians we embrace:

  • The authority of the Scriptures as the inspired Word of God, the only sufficient rule for faith and practice.
  • The “gone-wrongness” of the human race. With great potential for good, our goodness is invariable tainted with self-serving. We need a Savior.
  • Jesus Christ of Nazareth as that Savior. Jesus was an historical, first century person who came to earth as God’s human incarnation. We believe that Jesus is both fully human and fully divine, the only way to God but offered to every human being on the face of the earth.
  • Christ’s substitutionary death on the Cross and his triumphant resurrection from the dead. It is through this mighty act of salvation that we are offered the gift of forgiveness and eternal life.
  • The indwelling presence of Christ’s Spirit. Through the Holy Spirit we can have the assurance of our salvation, spiritual gifts for ministry and love, and personal transformation over our hurts, habits and hang-ups.
  • The Church is the Body of Christ on earth, his waiting Bride. As a fellowship of “sinners under construction” we look forward to his glorious return.

As United Methodists we celebrate these special emphases of John Wesley:
  • Commitment to evangelism, making disciples for Jesus Christ around the world.
  • The commitment to Social Holiness, making a difference in society through justice and compassion ministries.
  • The importance of an intellectual love of God. Said Wesley: “Let’s unite the two so long divided: knowledge and vital piety.”
  • The value of communion and fellowship with other believers for encouragement and accountability.

In both our orthodox faith and our special emphases of Wesleyan Methodism, the importance of people to God and to each other is obvious. This, we have tried to capture in our PURPOSE STATEMENT: real people.real lives.real love.