UMC of La Mirada

SCRIPTURE, TRADITION, EXPERIENCE & REASON:

OUR DOCTRINAL HERITAGE

The United Methodist Church of La Mirada is connected to the global United Methodist Church - a 12.6-million-strong global church that opens hearts, opens minds and open doors through active engagement with our world.

John Wesley and the early Methodists placed primary emphasis on Christian living, on putting faith and love into action. This emphasis on what Wesley referred to as "practical divinity" has continued to be a hallmark of United Methodism today.

Learn more about United Methodist beliefs here: http://www.umc.org/

THE SACRAMENTS

Baptism in the United Methodist Church is a community worship experience. You or your child will be claimed by God in front of church members, who commit to being your faith family. We will come around you or your child as you grow in faith.

To find out more about how United Methodists understand baptism, please click here:

Baptism in the UMC

Communion in the UMC is open to all people. When the pastor issues the invitation to come forward for the bread and juice, anyone who is ready to receive the grace of Jesus Christ may receive communion. You do not have to be a member. You do not have to have been baptized. You do not need to have achieved any particular measure of faith. The table is open.

To find out more about how United Methodists understand Holy Communion, please click here:

Communion in the UMC

GRACE: OUR CORE VALUE

John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement, taught grace - the love and mercy given to us by God because God wants us to have it, and not because of anything we have done to earn it. We believe that God's grace is always waiting and available for each one of us.

PERSONAL HOLINESS AND SOCIAL HOLINESS - AKA SOCIAL JUSTICE

"Taking an active stance in society is nothing new for followers of John Wesley. He set the example for us to combine personal and social piety. Ever since predecessor churches to United Methodism flourished in the United States, we have been known as a denomination involved with people's lives, with political and social struggles, having local to international mission implications. Such involvement is an expression of the personal change we experience in our baptism and conversion.

The United Methodist Church believes God's love for the world is an active and engaged love, a love seeking justice and liberty. We cannot just be observers. So we care enough about people's lives to risk interpreting God's love, to take a stand, to call each of us into a response, no matter how controversial or complex. The church helps us think and act out a faith perspective, not just responding to all the other 'mind-makers-up' that exist in our society."

Our global General Conference meets every four years, and it is at this Conference that United Methodists articulate and seek agreement on matters of practical faith. How shall we care for the planet? Is war ever compatible with Christian teaching? What role does faith have in debates about fair and equitable wages? God calls God's people to care for the poor, so how do we faithfully pursue policies and practices that manifest this care? You can read our Social Principles here.

The Current Disagreement around Human Sexuality

You may have heard the news that United Methodists are on the way to becoming Untied around questions of human sexuality: What does God's love for our LGBTQ siblings look like? Shall we have LGBTQ clergy? Shall we welcome same-gender marriages at our altars and same-sex households into our churches?

There is much to say about this, but we will say this:

The UMC of La Mirada is part of the East District of the California-Pacific Conference of the Western Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church. From our local church to the Jurisdictional leadership, we have clarity on our stance of full inclusivity. This means that words that should be spoken only with grace and love must also be spoken with the stridency of resistance:

Homosexuality is NOT incompatible with Christian teaching.

We celebrate with same-gender couples who wish to join their lives in the sanctity of Christian marriage.

We believe that the spiritual gifts of ministry are found not just in one kind of person, but in the endless varieties of people and stories that make up humankind.

We welcome everyone who is on a faith journey and have no need to single anyone out to justify their existence and relationship.

All of that having been said, many of the people in the La Mirada church are older and may stumble on pronouns and the ever-expanding vocabulary of human sexuality. We apologize in advance. Use the teachable moment or don't - as you feel led.

Like other churches in the Western Jurisdiction and the fully inclusive churches across the connection, we don't know what is going to happen next. For now, we are going to worship together, loving God with all our hearts, souls, and strength - and our neighbors as ourselves.

We see you. We accept you. We love you. We invite you to join us.