What We Believe

The First United Methodist Church of Marietta believes in the following tenets:

Grace: God's gift to us of forgiveness, acceptance and love.

Prevenient Grace: God loving us before we are aware of it.

Justifying Grace: God working in our lives to restore us to a right relationship

Sanctifying Grace: the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, helping us to become more Christlike

The Trinity: There is but one living and true God, everlasting, without body or parts, of infinite power, wisdom, and goodness; the maker and preserver of all things, both visible and invisible. And in unity of this Godhead there are three persons, of one substance, power, and eternity … the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.

Baptism is one of two sacraments in the United Methodist Church (the other being Holy Communion). Baptism is the sacrament through which we are initiated into the Christian fellowship. Therefore, before joining a particular denomination one must be a member of the universal church through baptism. Traditionally in the United Methodist Church, parents or sponsors present children for baptism, promising to raise the child in the Christian faith by teaching and example. The members of the congregation promise to nourish the child with prayer and Christian education. Adults who are baptized declare their faith in God revealed in Jesus Christ and promise to be faithful and obedient to God. Baptism in any denomination is acceptable for membership in the United Methodist Church. We believe Baptism is a proclamation of God's claim upon our lives.

Holy Communion: While Baptism marks the beginning of the Christian life, the Eucharist, or Holy Communion sustains the Christian life. We celebrate Holy Communion as the remembrance of all God has done in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The communion table is open to all who profess Jesus Christ as Lord regardless of denomination.

Confirmation - Confirmation is a symbol of our commitment and covenant to love God, to follow Jesus, and to go on to Christian perfection with the help of the Holy Spirit. Through confirmation, youth (usually 6th-8th grades) publicly profess their faith in Jesus Christ and their commitment to His church, joining a specific congregation.

The Holy Bible - We believe the scripture to be the inspired Word of God and share the conviction that Scripture is the primary source and criterion for Christian doctrine. Through Scripture the living Christ meets us in the experience of redeeming grace. We are convinced that Jesus Christ is the living Word of God in our midst whom we trust in life and death.

Mission of Marietta First - To make disciples of Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:19)  who will walk in His light (1 John 1:7)

For more about our beliefs as Methodists, visit the UMC website