Our Beliefs
God
God, who is one, is revealed in three distinct persons. Genesis 1:27 asserts that we've been made in the image of the Creator. Like God we have the capacity to love and care, to communicate, and to create. The kingdom or reign of God is both a present reality and future hope.
Jesus
We believe in the mystery of salvation through Jesus Christ. God became human in Jesus of Nazareth; and his life, death and resurrection demonstrates God's redeeming love.
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.
Bible
We believe that the Bible is God’s Word and is the primary authority for our faith and practice. We use tradition, experience and reason to interpret and expand our understanding of God’s plan for us as expressed through the Bible.
Church
The church is the body of Christ, an extension of Christ’s life and ministry in the world today. One cannot be a solitary Christian. As we grow in faith through our participation in the church community, we are also nourished and equipped for mission and service to the world.
Grace
Grace is central to our understanding of Christian faith and life. Grace can be defined as the love and mercy given to us by God because God wants us to have it, not because of anything we have done to earn it. We read in the Letter to the Ephesians: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God — not the result of works, so that no one may boast,”
Ephesians 2:8-9.
Methodists
United Methodists insist that faith and good works belong together. What we believe must be confirmed by what we do. Personal salvation is expressed in ministry and mission in the world. We believe that Christian doctrine and Christian ethics are inseparable, that faith should inspire service. The integration of personal spiritual disciplines and social holiness has been a hallmark of our tradition. We affirm the biblical precept that "faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead,” James 2:17.
Bridges
Bridges connect our beautiful city to the world. We also know that bridges help us get over barriers, raise us over turbulence, and connect us to others. We renamed ourselves Bridges in 2018 to emphasis our purpose to build bridges connecting God and community. We invite you to take the next step in your spiritual journey and move forward in your life.