The United Methodist Church is not a creedal church. We do not ask that church members assent to a particular set of doctrines. But, along with other Christians, we do hold to a fundamental body of doctrine, "essential truths," as our founder John Wesley called them. With other Christians we confess a belief in the triune God, affirming God's activity in creation and gracious presence in the dramas of history. We have a faith in the mystery of salvation in and through Jesus Christ and proclaim the power of the Holy Spirit to transform personal lives and, thus, the communities in which we live.

John Wesley believed that the core of the faith was revealed in Scripture, illumined by tradition, vivified in personal experience, and confirmed by reason. Each United Methodist is obligated to reflect critically on all issues of faith, using these four guidelines. This individual responsibility means that we are a church of great diversity and variations. We are intentionally inclusive of variety in terms of theology, heritage, and life-style.

Following in the Christian teachings of John Wesley, today's Methodists are actively involved in the world, knowing that a faith must be lived to be real. We gather for worship and study to be nourished and to go out into the world to be of service, as we work for peace and justice and mercy.