Inclusive Connected Progressive

Who We Are

Our Vision of Faith

We are all God’s people! We are called by Christ to ministries of love, justice and reconciliation with our church, community and world.

We embrace this call by being:

Inclusive

We are an inclusive, safe and welcoming church where every person can experience the gift of God's love.

Connected

We are in ministry with the people in our neighborhood and community, sharing the gift of God's love.

Progressive

We are engaged in the exploration of beliefs, scripture, spirituality, social justice and how we are called to live our faith.

God’s presence, the example of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit guide us in answering this call.

What we believe (so far)…

  • Jesus meant everything he said

  • the Bible

  • the Bible is in places hard to understand and even harder to apply

  • that believing is sometimes difficult

  • the more we learn of and experience God, the more questions we have

  • miracles happen, sometimes quickly, but mostly they are so slow in coming

  • we need each other to know God fully and live the life God dreams for us

  • it is our responsibility to advocate for and tangibly love the poor, marginalized, and oppressed

  • in equality and dignity for all regardless of sex, race, socioeconomic status, or a myriad of other things that typically cause us to power up on others

  • we are heartbroken by how the word "Christian" is perceived in the world today and we are sorry for our part in that

  • that mostly people need to be loved, not just told they are

  • church is messy

Inclusion

We believe God’s love and grace extends to all.  We welcome everyone into our church family and affirm this commitment as a member of the Reconciling Ministries Network of the greater United Methodist Church.

“Living into our shared baptismal covenant, Reconciling Ministries Network equips and mobilizes United Methodists to resist evil, injustice, and oppression as we seek justice for people of all sexual orientations and gender identities.”

What is a United Methodist?

The United Methodist Church is the second largest Protestant denomination in the United States and includes approximately 12.5 million members worldwide.

The Church had its beginnings in the 1500s in England. In the 1700s, John Wesley, a minister in the Church of England preached a “method” for the practice of Christian faith, which included devotion to prayer, study of the Bible, and helping others. He and the first “Methodists” supported prison reform and the abolition of slavery. His central message was, “Do all the good you can. By all the means you can. In all the ways you can. In all the places you can. At all the times you can. To all the people you can. As long as ever you can.”

In 1735, John Wesley traveled with his brother, Charles, also an Anglican minister, to America where he trained preachers, called Circuit Riders, to travel by horseback to the most remote areas of the country to deliver the Good News of the Gospel in open areas and tents.

Building on this heritage, Methodists continue to work for social justice, religious and political freedom, service to others in the name and spirit of Jesus Christ, and acceptance of all people regardless of age, race, color, creed, and sexual identity.

In the tradition of John and Charles Wesley, our members study Scripture, encourage thoughtful debate, and confront the tough issues of our day. We still lead with our hearts, keep our minds open, and welcome everyone through our doors.

Learn more about the United Methodist Church.
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We are part of the Oregon-Idaho United Methodist Conference. Learn about our connection to other churches.