We are a Reconciling Congregation.

The Methodist Church was the first Christian denomination to adopt a Social Creed in 1908 when we were known as The Methodist Episcopal Church. (The word “Episcopal” in our denominational name just means that we had Bishops) Our Social Creed was later adopted by the Federal Council of Churches and many other Protestant denominations. 

The Creed grew out of our outrage over the mistreatment of workers in factories, mines, mills, and tenements. It reflected our leadership in the Social Gospel movement as well as our continued commitment to the theological and social legacy of John and Charles Wesley.

At the United Methodist Church in East Greenwich, we have supplemented the traditional Creed with our affirmation that we are a Reconciling Congregation, affirming full participation of our LGBTQ siblings, and all persons, in every aspect of the church’s life.

Social Creed

We believe in God, Creator of the world; and in Jesus Christ, the Redeemer of creation. We believe in the Holy Spirit, through whom we acknowledge God’s gifts, and we repent of our sin in misusing these gifts to idolatrous ends.

We affirm the natural world as God’s handiwork and dedicate ourselves to its preservation, enhancement, and faithful use by humankind.

We joyfully receive for ourselves and others the blessings of community, sexuality, marriage, and the family.

We commit ourselves to the rights of men, women, children, youth, young adults, the aging, and people with disabilities; to improvement of the quality of life; and to the rights and dignity of all persons.

We believe in the right and duty of persons to work for the glory of God and the good of themselves and others and in the protection of their welfare in so doing; in the rights to property as a trust from God, collective bargaining, and responsible consumption; and in the elimination of economic and social distress.

We dedicate ourselves to peace throughout the world, to the rule of justice and law among nations, and to individual freedom for all people of the world.

We believe in the present and final triumph of God’s Word in human affairs and gladly accept our commission to manifest the life of the gospel in the world. Amen.