First United Methodist Church
AI summary — doctrinal positions on this page are inferred by AI from this church's own public statements and may be inaccurate.
Inherited from denomination
What United Methodist Church teaches
Positions bound by the denomination's confessional standards. This is what the tradition teaches; whether this specific congregation publicly holds each is a separate question — see Statements below.
Affirms
- Homosexual practice and biblical sexual ethicsweakSame-sex marriage authorization implies moral affirmation.
- Infant BaptismstandardWestminster XXVIII; Book of Concord SC IV; Council of Trent Session VII; Wesleyan Articles Art. XVII
- Permissibility of divorce and remarriageweakMatthew 19:9 (adultery ground); 1 Corinthians 7:15 (abandonment ground). Practice varies.
- Women in pastoral / ordained officeweakVarious denominational actions (TEC 1976, ELCA 1970s, PC(USA) 1956, AG 1935, CofE 1994 priests / 2014 bishops, etc.)
Denies
- Assumption of MaryweakUniversal Protestant rejection — not attested in Scripture; not received as dogma.
- Immaculate ConceptionstandardUniversal Protestant + Orthodox rejection. Orthodox reject on the grounds that they hold prepurification at the Annunciation, not conception.
- Marriage as one man and one womanweakPC(USA) 2015; ELCA 2009; TEC 2015; UMC 2024. Same-sex marriage authorized in polity.
- Perpetual Virginity of MaryweakNatural reading of Matthew 13:55–56 (brothers of Jesus); typical modern Baptist / evangelical position.
- TransubstantiationstandardOrthodox reject the Aristotelian metaphysics; Lutherans use 'sacramental union'; 39 Articles Art. XXVIII rejects explicitly; Reformed/Baptist reject substance-change.
Wrestles with
- Apostolic SuccessionweakLutheran and Methodist bodies retain 'succession of doctrine' language without the tactile chain.
- Believer's BaptismweakPaedobaptist bodies practice adult baptism on credible profession where infant baptism was omitted, but do not consider it normative.
- Pacifism vs. just-warweakDefault just-war framework — usually unwritten. Inheriting at weak confidence.
- Real PresenceweakCalvin's spiritual presence (genuinely present but not physically) is neither strong affirm nor deny; Anglican/Methodist typically hold a receptionist view.
- TheotokosweakConfessionally valid title (Ephesus is a received council) but not used devotionally; retained in liturgy where liturgy is retained.
In their own words
Statements
statement_of_faith
<!DOCTYPE html> Our Beliefs | About | Deming First United Methodist Church Toggle navigation Menu Home About From the Pastor Events News Ministries Livestreams Journey Contact Give Our Beliefs About Us Our Beliefs I'm New Our Team What We Believe We believe in one God, who created the world and all that is in it. We believe that Jesus was God and human. He lived as a man, was crucified, and was raised from the dead. We believe that the Holy Spirit is God with us. We believe that God created human beings in God’s image. We believe the Bible is God’s WorSource ↗
about_us
<!DOCTYPE html> About | Deming First United Methodist Church Toggle navigation Menu Home About From the Pastor Events News Ministries Livestreams Journey Contact Give About About Us Our Beliefs I'm New Our Team Welcome! Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! First United Methodist Church of Deming is a kind, compassionate and loving group of believers who truly believe that Jesus transforms lives everyday and who are committed to sharing the love of Jesus with the community of Deming and beyond. First United Methodist Church of Deming has several actiSource ↗
beliefs
Our Beliefs | About | Deming First United Methodist Church Toggle navigation Menu Home About From the Pastor Events News Ministries Livestreams Journey Contact Give Our Beliefs --> About Us Our Beliefs I'm New Our Team What We Believe We believe in one God, who created the world and all that is in it. We believe that Jesus was God and human. He lived as a man, was crucified, and was raised from the dead. We believe that the Holy Spirit is God with us. We believe that God created human beings in God’s image. We believe the Bible is God’s Word and is the primary authority for our faiSource ↗
about
About | Deming First United Methodist Church Toggle navigation Menu Home About From the Pastor Events News Ministries Livestreams Journey Contact Give About --> About Us Our Beliefs I'm New Our Team Welcome! Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! First United Methodist Church of Deming is a kind, compassionate and loving group of believers who truly believe that Jesus transforms lives everyday and who are committed to sharing the love of Jesus with the community of Deming and beyond. First United Methodist Church of Deming has several active ministries to enable all peopleSource ↗
Related