What Methodists Believe

We are the people of the First United Methodist Church of Napa, CA. What does that mean? First, and foremost, it means that out of the fruition of our connection to the larger denomination called United Methodist, we proclaim that we are a people of "Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors." It means, as well, that all of us represented by this website are at different places in our journey, and yet each of us unconditionally welcomes all people into our midst wherever they, themselves, might be on their own faith journey. While we are a congregation that is well-grounded in scripture and firmly connected to our tradition, we also balance both with an appreciation of sound reason informed by individual personal experience. We promise everyone who comes among us opportunities to grow in the Spirit and to become active followers of Jesus for the transformation of the world.

As a Reconciling Congregation and one affiliated with The Center for Progressive Christianity, we have come to speak of ourselves as a "Progressive Christian" community. That means that as we do seek to live out our faith in God - as we've discovered that God revealed in one Jesus of Nazareth - we've also come to recognize the faithfulness of other people who have other names for the commonwealth of God, and acknowledge that their ways are as true for them, as our ways have become true for us.

And so we invite all people to participate in the community and worship life that you see represented here - without insisting that anyone must become like us in order to be acceptable. We have come to claim that the way we behave toward one another and toward other people is the fullest expression of our faith. We have come to find more grace in the search for understanding, then, than in dogmatic certainty - more value in questioning than in absolutes. We have formed ourselves into a church that is dedicated to equipping one another for the work we feel called to do: striving for peace and justice, protecting and restoring the integrity of all God's creation, bringing hope to those Jesus called the least of his sisters and brothers.

It is that simple. And yet it is also that much of a challenge. Even so, it has become, thank God, a great joy!