Our Beliefs

Our Beliefs are Rooted in Scripture. Shaped by the historic Church. Practiced the Wesleyan way.

Since its inception, God’s Spirit has enlivened the Methodist movement. In the 1720s, John and Charles Wesley and a small band at Oxford met to deepen their Christian faith through daily, practical disciplines and mutual accountability. Nicknamed “Methodists” for their methodical approach, they embraced the name—and a movement was born.

In that spirit, the Global Methodist Church’s Book of Doctrines and Discipline serves as a guide for warm-hearted, practical discipleship. Building on confessions rooted in Scripture and shaped by the great teaching of the Church universal, it provides the essential structure for the Global Methodist Church (adopted at our convening General Conference in Costa Rica, September 2024). Our prayer is that, by God’s grace, we will continue to make disciples of Jesus Christ who worship passionately, love extravagantly, and witness boldly.

The Catechism of the Global Methodist Church

  • What is a catechism? A catechism is a teaching tool that summarizes essential Christian doctrine. It helps people learn, remember, profess, and rejoice in the faith of the Church.
  • Why do we use it? Catechesis is part of forming disciples, from baptism through confirmation, in adult conversion, and for new members joining the denomination. Pastors are encouraged to lead congregations through the catechetical process.
  • How is it organized? The Catechism has two parts:
    • Ecumenical Affirmations (organized by the Nicene Creed)
    • Wesleyan Characteristics (our Methodist distinctives and the Wesleyan way of salvation)

What are the sources?

  1. Holy Scripture – the primary rule and authority for faith and life.
  2. The Nicene Creed – with the Apostles’ Creed and the Definition of Chalcedon, permanent doctrinal standards of the universal Church.
  3. Articles of Religion & Confession of Faith – doctrinal boundaries and Wesleyan emphases of our Church.
  4. The Wesleyan Way of Salvation prevenient, convincing, justifying, sanctifying, and glorifying grace.

The Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God,
the Father almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried;
he descended into hell;
on the third day he rose again from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty;
from there he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting.

Amen.

-As seen in The Great Redeemer’s Praise

Ecumenical Affirmations (Nicene Creed)

God

  • One God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen.
  • God is the one true, holy, and living God the Eternal Spirit, Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, distinct yet inseparable, eternally one in essence and power.
  • God is Creator, Sovereign, and Preserver of all things and rules with gracious regard for the salvation of all.

Jesus Christ

  • One Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God: God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God; of one Being with the Father; through Him all things were made
  • For us and our salvation, He came down from heaven, was incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became truly human.
  • For our sake He was crucified, died, and on the third day He rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; He ascended and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
  • He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and His kingdom will have no end.
  • We are justified by grace through faith, not by our works, reconciled to God through Christ’s atoning death.

The Holy Spirit

  • We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.
  • The Spirit convicts of sin, leads us to repentance, grafts us into the Church, comforts, sustains, empowers, and guides into all truth.

Holy Scripture

The Holy Bible, Old and New Testaments, reveals the Word of God sufficient for salvation and is the true rule and guide for faith and practice, to be received through the Holy Spirit.

The Church

  • We believe in one, holy, catholic*, and apostolic Church, the community of all true believers under Christ’s Lordship, where the Word is preached and the sacraments duly administered.
  • Under the Spirit’s discipline, the Church exists for worship, the edification of believers, and the redemption of the world.

*universal

 

Baptism & the Lord’s Supper

  • We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins, signifying entrance into the household of faith, repentance, cleansing, new birth, and discipleship.
  • The Lord’s Supper is a means of grace: remembrance of Christ’s redeeming work and a token of our union with Him and one another.

Our Hope

We look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come, the righteous to eternal life and the wicked to eternal condemnation.

Wesleyan Characteristics of Our Beliefs

Means of Grace & the Sacraments

  • Scripture is the final rule of faith; reason, tradition, and experience serve but never overrule Scripture.
  • Christ ordained two sacraments: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper—means of grace by which God strengthens faith.
  • Children may be baptized as heirs of God’s Kingdom and should be nurtured toward a personal profession of faith.
  • We also practice other means of grace: prayer and searching the Scriptures.

The Human Condition & Grace

  • Humanity is fallen and inclined to evil; on our own we cannot do works pleasing to God.
  • Salvation is entirely by grace:
    • Prevenient (preventing) grace awakens the sinner and restores genuine freedom to respond to God.
    • Convincing grace leads to repentance.
    • Justifying grace reconciles us to God through Christ.
    • Sanctifying grace cleanses and empowers holy living.
    • Glorifying grace is our final restoration in Christ.

New Birth & Perseverance

  • In regeneration, we are renewed in righteousness and given new life in Christ.
  • Believers must continue in grace; those who fall may, by grace, be restored.

Faith & Works

  • Good works necessarily follow true faith; they do not merit salvation but are its fruit.

Holiness & Entire Sanctification

  • God calls us to holiness of heart and life, works of piety and works of mercy.
  • Entire sanctification (perfect love) is possible in this life, received gradually or instantaneously, and should be earnestly sought by every Christian.
  • Though sanctified, we still wrestle with human infirmities and must watch and pray, persevering by the Spirit’s power.

What This Means for Us

At NGAGMC, these beliefs shape how we worship, disciple, and serve. We pursue methodical, accountable, and joyful practices that grow people into the likeness of Christ—so that together we may worship passionately, love extravagantly, and witness boldly across North Georgia and to the ends of the earth.

Learn more about the Global Methodist Church: globalmethodist.org

 

 

 

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4474 Towne Lake Parkway
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