Pathfinder
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 Global 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
- Infant BaptismSTRONGWestminster XXVIII; Book of Concord SC IV; Council of Trent Session VII; Wesleyan Articles Art. XVII
- Marriage as one man and one womanSTRONGGenesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4–6; historic universal Christian teaching.
- Permissibility of divorce and remarriagestandardMatthew 19:9 (adultery ground); 1 Corinthians 7:15 (abandonment ground). Practice varies.
Denies
- Assumption of MarystandardUniversal Protestant rejection — not attested in Scripture; not received as dogma.
- Homosexual practice and biblical sexual ethicsSTRONGRomans 1:26–27; 1 Corinthians 6:9–10; historic universal Christian teaching.
- Immaculate ConceptionSTRONGUniversal Protestant + Orthodox rejection. Orthodox reject on the grounds that they hold prepurification at the Annunciation, not conception.
- Perpetual Virginity of MarystandardNatural reading of Matthew 13:55–56 (brothers of Jesus); typical modern Baptist / evangelical position.
- TransubstantiationSTRONGOrthodox reject the Aristotelian metaphysics; Lutherans use 'sacramental union'; 39 Articles Art. XXVIII rejects explicitly; Reformed/Baptist reject substance-change.
Wrestles with
- Apostolic SuccessionstandardLutheran and Methodist bodies retain 'succession of doctrine' language without the tactile chain.
- Believer's BaptismstandardPaedobaptist 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 PresencestandardCalvin'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.
- Women in pastoral / ordained officeweakACNA no unified position (some dioceses ordain women, others not). GMC restricts by role. COGIC restricts bishop role but ordains women to other ministries.
In their own words
Statements
statement_of_faith
<!doctype html> Our Beliefs — Pathfinder Church Home Calendar Who We Are Our Staff Our Beliefs History in Pictures Resources FAQ Job Openings Events Our Stories Eagle Scout project Dave Elrod What We Do Children's Ministry Healing Ministry Scouting Ministry Student Ministry Bible Studies Worship In Person Online Podcasts Connect Get in Touch Email List Volunteer Life Groups Missions RightNow Media Pathfinder Kids Pathfinder Kids About Some of our FUN Team Programs Helping Hands Give Home Calendar Who We Are Our Staff Our Beliefs History in PicSource ↗
about_us
<!doctype html> About — Pathfinder Church Home Calendar Who We Are Our Staff Our Beliefs History in Pictures Resources FAQ Job Openings Events Our Stories Eagle Scout project Dave Elrod What We Do Children's Ministry Healing Ministry Scouting Ministry Student Ministry Bible Studies Worship In Person Online Podcasts Connect Get in Touch Email List Volunteer Life Groups Missions RightNow Media Pathfinder Kids Pathfinder Kids About Some of our FUN Team Programs Helping Hands Give Home Calendar Who We Are Our Staff Our Beliefs History in PicturesSource ↗
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