Biblical Authority
We believe what Methodists have always believed: the Bible is the only and final authority for faith and practice, containing everything we need to know for our salvation.
Our Beliefs
What We Believe
We want you to share in our exciting fellowship - a church that is open, friendly, and most of all centered on Jesus Christ.
We believe in One God, expressed in three persons. We believe that the same God who created the world (Genesis 1) is the same God who came to earth in the person of Jesus ("I and the Father are one." John 10:30) and is the same God who descended on believers of Jesus to empower them to be the church. (Acts 2)
John Wesley teaches us concerning the nature and work of God:
- There is but one living and true God, everlasting, without body or parts, of infinite power, wisdom, and good; the maker and preserver of all things, both visible and invisible. And in unity of this Godhead there are three persons, of one substance, power, and eternity - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. ...
- The Son, who is the Word of the Father, the very and eternal God, of one substance with the Father, took man's nature in the womb of the blessed Virgin; so that two whole and perfect natures, that is to say, the Godhead and Manhood, were joined together in one person, never to be divided; whereof is one Christ, very God and very Man, who truly suffered, was crucified, dead, and buried, to reconcile us to His Father, and to be a sacrifice, not only for original guilt, but also for actual sins of men. ...
- The Holy Ghost, proceeding from the Father and the Son, is of one substance, majesty, and glory with the Father and the Son, very and eternal God.
Because we believe we are all sinners, we believe we all need a Savior. We believe that Savior is Jesus Christ. We believe he lived on earth fully human and fully divine. We believe he gave his life on the cross so that our sins could be forgiven. And we believe he rose again so we could have new life in Him.
We believe that while this gift of salvation is offered freely, we must accept it on faith. In faith, we surrender our lives to Jesus not only as Savior, but also as Lord. ("For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8-9) While works can never earn our salvation, we do believe that good work is the natural fruit of our salvation.
John Wesley teaches us concerning biblical salvation:
- The condition of man after the fall of Adam is such that he cannot turn and prepare himself, by his own natural strength and works, to faith, and calling upon God; wherefore we have no power to do good works, pleasant and acceptable to God, without the grace of God by Christ preventing us, that we may have a good will, and working with us, when we have that good will. ...
- We are accounted righteous before God only for the merit of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, by faith, and not for our own works or deservings. Wherefore, that we are justified by faith, only, is a most wholesome doctrine, and very full of comfort. ...
- Although good works, which are the fruits of faith, and follow after justification, cannot put away our sins, and endure the severity of God's judgment; yet are they pleasing and acceptable to God in Christ, and spring out of a true and lively faith, insomuch that by them a lively faith may be as evidently known as a tree is discerned by its fruit.
Grace can be understood as the love and mercy of God offered to us freely. We can never earn it. God freely offers it. It works in our lives in many, many ways. We want people not only to experience the saving grace God offers us in Christ Jesus, but we further expect people to grow in that grace daily. Wesleyan Christians refer to this as "practical divinity." Letting Christ live in you as you live in Christ.
We believe this grace is at work in our lives at the very beginning of life. ("Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." Jeremiah 1:5) We believe God takes the initiative to reach out to us long before we are aware of it and we call this "Prevenient Grace". We believe it is the grace of God and only the grace of God that offers us forgiveness of our sins. ("But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us." Romans 5:8). When we accept this grace and our sins are forgiven, we enter into new life in Christ. We call this experience, "Justifying Grace".
We believe that from the moment we accept God's offer of grace, we should seek to grow in that grace day by day for the rest of our lives. We believe, through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can be changed outwardly and inwardly to reflect the Christ who saves us. ("May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." I Thessalonians 5:23) We call this "Sanctifying Grace."
We believe this is lived out in fellowship with our sisters and brothers, being part of a small group, and being in ministry to those in need around us. John Wesley also called this, "holiness of heart and life." ("But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do." 1 Peter 1:15)
Holy Baptism is the sacrament that initiates us into the family of God. Holy Communion is the sacrament that sustains and nourishes us in our journey of salvation. In each sacrament, God uses tangible, material things as vehicles or instruments of grace. John Wesley defines a sacrament, in accord with his Anglican tradition, as "an outward sign of inward grace, and a means whereby we receive the same."
Holy Communion
We believe the very real presence of Christ is in the elements. It is why we pray, "Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here, and on these gifts of bread and wine. Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ, that we may be for the world the body of Christ, redeemed by his blood." The Holy Spirit has not only transformative power of the elements but over us. It is a time we remember the sacrifice of Jesus on our behalf, confess our sins "before God and one another," and praise the Lord for His grace. It is also a time we look forward to going forth as the Body of Christ into the world. We believe in an open communion table. All are welcome.
Holy Baptism
We believe baptism is a celebration of God's grace at work in our lives. Since we believe God is at work before we are ever aware of it, even in the lives of infants, we joyfully baptize infants. There is no age we do not celebrate God's grace. We also believe that baptism incorporates us into the family of God. Because in baptism we are celebrating the work of God, we do not believe in rebaptism. We can often remember and reaffirm our baptism, but we only need to be baptized once. We offer baptism through the sprinkling of water, the pouring of water, or complete submersion in water.
We believe in holiness, both personal and social. As part of God's sanctifying grace at work in us, we should always be growing more and more in the image and likeness of Christ. And while our relationship with Him is deeply personal, it also must express itself in acts of love and service in the larger social world.
We believe this is lived out in fellowship with our sisters and brothers, being part of a small group, and being in ministry to those in need around us. John Wesley also called this, "holiness of heart and life." ("But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do." 1 Peter 1:15)
John Wesley teaches us concerning the biblical holiness:
- Sanctification is that renewal of our fallen nature by the Holy Ghost, received through faith in Jesus Christ, whose blood of atonement cleanseth all from sin; whereby we are not only delivered from the guilt of sin, but are washed from its pollution, saved from its power, and enabled, through grace, to love God with all our hearts and to walk in His holy commandments blameless. ...
- It is therefore expected of all who continue therein [in Methodist societies] that they should continue to evidence their desire of salvation,
- First: By doing no harm, by avoiding evil of every kind, especially that which is most generally practiced. ...
- Secondly: By doing good; by being in every kind merciful after their power; as they have opportunity, doing good of every possible sort, and, as far as possible, to all men. ...
- Thirdly: By attending upon all the ordinances of God.
We believe that there are certain practices that help us live out our lives as followers of Jesus.
Our faith is expressed through our two sacraments—Baptism and Holy Communion—as well as practices such as daily prayer, daily study of Scripture, regular attendance in public worship, participation in smaller fellowship groups, and acts of service to our community.
John Wesley teaches us to daily attend "to all the ordinances of God," including the public worship of God, the ministry of the Word—either read or expounded—the Supper of the Lord, family and private prayer, searching the Scriptures, and fasting or abstinence.
Below you can find our bylaws for a more in-depth look at the procedural processes here at Due West Methodist Church.
Sources of Our Faith
Explore the sources of our faith, rooted in Scripture, tradition, reason, and experience, which guide our beliefs, practices, and spiritual growth.
Historic Christian Creeds
Our foundational beliefs—shared with all Christians in all places at all times—are found in both the Nicene and Apostle's Creed, guiding our faith, hope, and practice.
Wesleyan Heritage
We celebrate our Wesleyan heritage as expressed in the writings and hymns of John and Charles Wesley, inspiring our worship, shaping our discipleship, and guiding our daily lives.