We believe in a loving God whose blessed
creation is both good in itself and the precondition of grace
and covenant.
We believe that the nature and purpose
of God are most fully disclosed in Jesus Christ, who comes among
us as One filled with grace -- teaching, challenging systemic
injustice, expressing love, embracing those who have been rejected.
We believe in the abiding presence of
the Holy Spirit, present always as an expression of Divine love,
drawing us into the heart of God and into new visions of human
possibility.
We believe that humankind, though fallible
and inclined toward sin, both personal and systemic, is created
in the image of God. We recognize that humankind stands always
in need of Divine grace, and we humbly confess that the ways
of God greatly transcend the grasp of human understanding.
We believe that God draws us into deeper
theological understanding through the gifts of scripture, tradition,
experience, and reason.
We believe that the church is the Body
of Christ, alive and at work in the world. It is God's intended
human community of love and grace - a sign of God's reign.
We believe, at this critical juncture
in our common history as United Methodists, that God has called
us to speak a clear word concerning human sexuality. We believe
that human sexuality is a good gift from God; however, when
misused, it holds the power to do harm. We understand this gift
is most fully realized in a context of covenant. Responsible
use of sexuality is not dependent on the gender of a partner;
rather, it is based upon the faithful, mature, loving, and mutually
respectful expression of that gift. When we so live out our
sexuality, we are drawn into ever deepening relationships with
others and with God.
