Understanding United Methodist 101 ? We are part of a rich and interesting faith tradition.
Why does the church exist? According to Matthew?s Gospel, the risen Christ made it clear: ?Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you? (Matthew 28:19-20). Based on this ?Great Commission,? our United Methodist Church has stated its purpose: ?The mission of the Church is to make
disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Local churches provide the most significant arena through which disciple-making occurs? (From The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church?2008, p. 87. Copyright © 2008 by The United Methodist Publishing House. Used by permission).
Thus the mission of Shiloh United Methodist Church is to share God?s grace, grow together in Christ, and radiate God?s love in the world. Thus Shiloh Church has a four-fold task?.We could abbreviate our mission as one of Welcoming-Worshiping-Nurturing-Support.
- Welcoming
- We have a direct responsibility for people of the ?world? around our
church, the community in which we and others work, shop, study, play, and live.
In this world are people with many hurts, doubts, and questions. Our mission is
to reach out to them, listen to them, accept them, share the gospel in word and
deed, invite them into the family of faith, and joyfully receive all who will
respond. - Worshiping
- The second task in making disciples is to offer people opportunities for
growing closer to God. Through our congregation?s various ministries we
encourage one another to give ourselves to Christ, to ground our lives in the
living God. - Nurturing
- Our congregation?s mission is to nurture people of all ages in the Christian
faith and to help them practice the disciplines of Christian love and
understanding. - We Support
people in their ministry. As members of Shiloh UMC, we need to embrace
and support those in our community who have a passion for ministry, as they serve
those in need and to make our community more loving and caring. We believe that
the Holy Spirit empowers and guides us in these ministries and that wherever
there?s need and suffering, we meet Christ, already at work.
Excerpt from The United Methodist Member?s Handbook by
George Koehler (Discipleship Resources, Rev. 2006), p. 10-11.
