Description

United Methodist preaching and teaching isgrounded in Scripture, informed by Christian tradition, enlivenedin personal experience, and tested by reason.

Scripture - The holy Bible is our primary source for Christiandoctrine. Biblical authors testify to God's self-disclosure in thelife, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ as well as in God'swork of creation, in the pilgrimage of , and in the Holy Spirit'songoing activity in human history.

Tradition - Our attempt to understand God does not start anewwith each generation or each person. Our faith also does not leapfrom New Testament times to the present as though nothing could belearned from all Christian thinkers and preachers in between. Welearn from traditions found in many cultures, but Scripture remainsthe norm by which all traditions are judged.

Experience - In our theological task, we examine experience,both personal and church-wide, to confirm the realities of God'sgrace attested in Scripture. Experience is the personalappropriation of God's forgiving and empowering grace. Experienceauthenticates in our own lives the truths revealed in Scripture andpreserved in tradition.

Reason - Although we recognize that God's revelation and ourexperiences of God's grace continually surpass the scope of reason,we also believe that disciplined theological work calls for thecareful use of reason. By reason we read and interpret Scripture.By reason we determine whether our Christian witness is clear. Byreason we ask questions of faith and seek to understand God'saction and will.