The Apostles' Creed (ca. ad 215)

We believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth. 

We believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead.  On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come again to judge the living and the dead. 

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. AMEN.

We affirm historic Christian orthodoxy and one of the earliest and most universally accepted of Christian creeds. But more than that we hold what we believe is a generous orthodoxy. We are a community in theological dialogue with the past and the present, seeking to understand and respond faithfully to the gospel in our time.

The Apostles' Creed gives a summary of the doctrinal commitments of this community.  However, we do not think the best way to know what we believe is to read it off a page.  We believe the best way to determine what someone, or some group of people, believe is to watch them -- or better yet, join them and discover it from the inside.  When we are handed a sheet of paper or click on a link with a list of statements, we believe that something vital is short-circuited.  More than that, we become a brand:  “Oh, you're *that*kind of Christian/church.”  We are a brand culture.  We don't want to be a brand church.  We are a community of people seeking to follow Jesus in faith and freedom.

 

At St. Matthew's we are Christians who are excited to be part of the United Methodist Church. 

What is a United Methodist?

United Methodists are the second largest Protestant denomination in America. We are the home to both President Bush as well as President Clinton’s family when he was in the White House. 

United Methodists hold to the historic doctrines of the Christian faith. We are evangelical, but moderates rather than fundamentalists. We value the intellect and modern science, while at the same time looking to the Bible as the authoritative guide for faith and practice. Methodists have a passionate faith with strong convictions, but we also recognize that the world is not always black and white. We are willing to ask questions, to wrestle with difficult issues, and to do so with grace and compassion. 

Methodists have been known for our emphasis on a personal faith, lived out in concrete ways in the world. We have historically valued well-informed and passionate preaching, worship that was lively, and small groups where people could grow in faith.

Methodists have open hearts, and open minds--and welcome anyone interested in learning more about the Christian faith.

If you would like to know more about what it means to follow Christ, please contact us.