The General Rule of Discipleship
“To witness to Jesus Christ in the world, and to follow his teachings through acts of compassion, justice, worship, and devotion under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.”
Our Values
What drives everything we do and how we serve others every day
Grace is Primary
The Bible teaches us that everything we have from God is given because of God’s great love for us. “You are saved by God’s grace because of your faith,” Ephesians 2 reads. “This salvation is God’s gift. It’s not something you possessed. It’s not something you did that you can be proud of” (Ephesians2:8-9)
Baptism is Blessing
Because we believe in the supremacy of God’s grace, baptism shows forth God’s blessing. Infant baptism shows God’s loving claim on our lives; believer baptism and confirmation show forth the necessity of our human response. One baptism is sufficient. (Mark 10:13-16; Ephesians 4:4-6)
God is Triune
We join with Christians throughout history in affirming that the one God has been revealed as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This three-in-one and one-in-three God is our Creator, Savior, and Redeemer. (Mathew 28:18-20)
Holiness is Personal & Social
For Wesley, social holiness meant that Christian faith is deeply personal but it is not private. Christians are responsible for building one another up in love (see John 13:34-35) and for loving their neighbors as themselves (see Luke 10:25-37).
Communion is Open
The Lord’s Supper reminds us that Jesus Christ is the host and that we participate at Christ’s invitation – therefore, everyone is welcome at the celebration of the Lord’s Supper. The bread and cup are not restricted by baptism or church membership – this meal is for all people at all times. (Luke 13:29-30)
Churches are Connected
We are linked with other United Methodists at local, regional, national, and international levels. United Methodist congregations are not isolated church units. We will always accomplish more together than we ever could apart! (1 Corinthians 12:12-28)
Important Links
Springfield UMC is part of a larger United Methodist family, connected through the Northern Virginia District, the Virginia Conference, and the worldwide United Methodist Church. Through this connection, we join with other churches in shared ministry, mission, service, and worship.
RESOURCE LINKS
Learn More About UMC
- The Northern Virginia District of The United Methodist Church
- Virginia Conference of The United Methodist Church
- General Conference of The United Methodist Church
To learn more about who United Methodists are, click here.
To learn more about what United Methodists believe, click here.
To learn more about how United Methodists serve, click here.
