Want to know more about the United Methodist Church? You came to the right place. Here in this article, we shall take a look at the United Methodist Church through its mission and vision statement, and analyze its values, both from a universal and a modern perspective. Whether you are someone looking for a spiritual path to bolster your faith and join a religious movement, or if you are just interested in an academic way in the ways of the United Methodist Church, this is the right place for you. let us check it out. Let’s know United Methodist Church: Mission And Vision Statement, And Analysis Of Values.
Before we go into the mission and vision of the United Methodist Church, along with the values they espouse, let us take an objective look at the organization. It is a Christian Protestant group that was founded in 1968 with a global vision, built on the concept of practical divinity, which is the idea of Christians practicing their faith in this life through love and kindness for all, in accordance with the teachings of Christ. The organization seeks to create more followers of Jesus Christ with the broader aim of making the world a better place to live in. It openly encourages its member to engage with the contemporary world. They have a set of core values, which include “sanctification, a tribute to God, free will, social justice, and salvation through Jesus Christ”. These core values allow for an individual who is a member of the United Methodist Church to grow independently while maintaining a strong spiritual connection with God at the same time. It accentuates and solidifies their faith, aspiring to provide happiness and contentment in their daily lives. Let us now take a look at the mission and vision statement of the United Methodist Church, after which we shall go into a short analysis of their core values.
Mission Statement Of United Methodist Church
The mission statement of the United Methodist Church is as follows:
“to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.”
This statement embodies the fundamental principles that every member of the United Methodist Church must abide by, which are:
- The love of God and of one’s neighbor. By neighbor, it is meant everyone around one, irrespective of any social identity.
- Transformation of the world for the better, preferably by minimizing scarcity and deprivation.
The Church asserts that these two objectives are very much interlinked and quite inextricable from each other, and they strive to teach this in society through their actions. Their indiscriminate and compassionate outreach towards people in need is one of the many ways in which the Church tries to fulfill its first objective. In order to meet their second objective to transform the world for the better, the United Methodist Church believes in the principle of individual awareness and spiritual growth and recovery through sincerity in faith and prayer. They insist that the individual self is the fundamental and basic unit of kindness, compassion, gratitude, and goodness in all forms, and it must be developed properly so that the next necessary step of sharing that goodness with the rest of the world, again through the agency of the individual, so that it may be transformed for the better.
Vision Statement Of United Methodist Church
Although there is no official statement of vision provided by the United Methodist Church, the following statement can be said to perfectly sum up their vision:
“sharing a legacy of living as disciples of Jesus Christ, sharing God’s love in both what we say and how we serve your neighbors.”
The UMC is ultimately a religious disposition with approximately twelve million members all over the world. It sees its main responsibility as spreading the word of God as decreed in the Christian religion throughout the world, and influence the behavior of individuals to make it fall in line with the preachings of the Gospels through the process of proselytization. They have made considerable progress in this regard, as can be judged from their large and burgeoning number of followers worldwide. Their ideal of a perfect individual is one who is built in the image of Jesus Christ, the ultimate savior. They work to take the Lord’s message to places hitherto untouched by their message through efforts to provide relief to the underprivileged and the deprived.
Values Of United Methodist Church
As mentioned earlier, the United Methodist Church has a set of core values, which every member of its organization must abide by, both as individuals and as a group. These values are:
- Sanctification
- Tribute to God
- Free will
- Social justice
- Salvation through Jesus Christ
Sanctification probably means the acceptance of Jesus Christ as one’s sole savior and guide, and to pledge oneself to his teachings both in theory and in practice. It is the first step in salvation and the adoption of the holy path towards God. This brings us to the next value, which is the tribute to God. The UMC portrays the ideal life as one which is spent in service to God, through kindness and compassion towards one’s neighbors. Like a lot of other Christian groups, the UMC emphasizes the need for the salvation of humanity from sin through repentance and forgiveness, ultimately leading one unto Heaven after death. The UMC also lays a lot of emphasis on free will, showing its belief in individual responsibility and the ability of the individual to influence their environment and be influenced by it in turn. Social Justice, of course, is important for an organization that prioritizes the helping of the needy. Members of the United Methodist Church must pledge to carry on the good work of providing care and essential assistance, in food, medicine, shelter, etc, to whosoever needs it, wherever they go. They view the ideal world as an egalitarian one where everyone has a sufficient voice and the basic necessities to live a dignified life. Last, but not least, the UMC is a Christian organization and lays final emphasis on the salvation of the soul through submission to Jesus Christ as one’s Lord and Savior, so that one may go to Heaven after death. This is the whole message they seek to carry to the masses across the globe.
Conclusion
Since Jesus welcomed everyone under his fold, including children and lepers, the United Methodist Church tries to follow that example by welcoming all to their group. They are open to providing care and spiritual guidance to anyone willing to accept Jesus Christ as their sole savior and dedicate their lives in service to the Lord through consistent prayer and study of the Christian religion, with the ultimate goal of expanding the Christian umbrella all across the world.
Frequently Asked Questions:
- Who can become a member of the United Methodist Church?
The United Methodist Church does not discriminate on social identities such as race or gender. Everyone is welcome to be a member of the UMC as long as they pledge to live by their core values and dedicate some part of their lives to public service.
- How do I become a member of the UMC?
The UMC has sub-divisions and sister organizations in every state, where the rules may vary slightly. We advise you to look up the local chapter of the UMC in your state to know how to become a member.
