Joplin First 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> Joplin First Church - Beliefs Home Watch Stories Give Events Connect About I'm New Families Groups Serve Beliefs Prayer Admin Traditional Rehearsal Contact What We Believe We believe in one God in three persons. The nature of God is far beyond our ability to comprehend it. We are not likely to ever learn how to fully describe God. However, as Peter’s sermon at Pentecost makes clear, “This Jesus, being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, has shed forth this which you both see and hear” (Acts 2Source ↗
about_us
<!DOCTYPE html> Joplin First Church - About Home Watch Stories Give Events Connect About I'm New Families Groups Serve Beliefs Prayer Admin Traditional Rehearsal Contact About Us The Mission The mission of Joplin First is "To Make NEW Disciples of Jesus Christ for the Transformation of the World. " This mission encompasses both the Greatest Commandment and the Great Commission given to us by Jesus Christ. The Vision The vision of Joplin First is to build authentic relationships with our neighbors as positive role models in transforming the community we are called to serve. Who are our neighSource ↗
beliefs
Joplin First Church - Beliefs Home Watch Stories Give Events Connect About I'm New Families Groups Serve Beliefs Prayer Admin Traditional Rehearsal Contact What We Believe We believe in one God in three persons. The nature of God is far beyond our ability to comprehend it. We are not likely to ever learn how to fully describe God. However, as Peter’s sermon at Pentecost makes clear, “This Jesus, being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, has shed forth this which you both see and hear” (Acts 2:33). We believe inSource ↗
about
Joplin First Church - About Home Watch Stories Give Events Connect About I'm New Families Groups Serve Beliefs Prayer Admin Traditional Rehearsal Contact About Us The Mission The mission of Joplin First is "To Make NEW Disciples of Jesus Christ for the Transformation of the World. " This mission encompasses both the Greatest Commandment and the Great Commission given to us by Jesus Christ. The Vision The vision of Joplin First is to build authentic relationships with our neighbors as positive role models in transforming the community we are called to serve. Who are our neighbors? EVERYONE. WhaSource ↗
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