Purpose
Loving Beyond Ourselves
Vision
To be known as a nurturing, inclusive, and courageous Christian community.
Mission
Sharing God’s love by building community, serving others, and standing for justice.
United Methodists believe in open hearts, open minds, open doors.
While our mission statement drives our beliefs and actions, it only tells you what we're about on the surface. We have diverse worship styles with Wesleyan theology, a valued Christian education program for children, youth, and adults, a wide array of study and social small groups that are age, gender, and interest based, several opportunities for local, national, and global outreach, and an interest in serving God and making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world; new opportunities are always just around the corner.
As United Methodists, we believe in the power of God's grace given to us without price. We use the Wesleyan Quadrilateral because we believe lenses of tradition, reason, and experience with which to view Scripture serve each person as they explore their personal faith journey. We believe in the teachings of Jesus Christ, our Savior, as a model for how to live our lives. We also believe the presence of the Holy Spirit fills us as we gather in community. We believe the Older and Newer Testaments were divinely-inspired writings. We believe Communion and Baptism are sacraments gifted to God for all. We are a reconciling congregation and welcome all persons of all backgrounds and lifestyles.
The United Methodist Church is an 11-million member global church that celebrates open hearts, open doors, and open minds through active engagement with our world. Theologian John Wesley and early Methodists emphasized Christian living, putting faith and love into action in what Wesley called "practical divinity;" we continue that practice today.
As United Methodists, we have an obligation to bear a faithful Christian witness to Jesus Christ, the living reality at the center of the Church’s life and witness. To fulfill this obligation, we reflect critically on our biblical and theological inheritance, striving to express faithfully the witness we make in our own time. Putting faith and love into action has continued to be a hallmark of The United Methodist Church. We are a denomination involved with people's lives, with political and social struggles, combining personal and social piety. The Christian faith is grounded in the love and grace of God, experienced through Jesus Christ, and empowered by the Holy Spirit.
Our mission is to make disciples of Jesus Christ.
As United Methodists, we believe in the power of God's grace given to us without price. We use the Wesleyan Quadrilateral because we believe lenses of tradition, reason, and experience with which to view Scripture serve each person as they explore their personal faith journey. We believe in the teachings of Jesus Christ, our Savior, as a model for how to live our lives. We also believe the presence of the Holy Spirit fills us as we gather in community. We believe the Older and Newer Testaments were divinely-inspired writings. We believe Communion and Baptism are sacraments gifted to God for all. We are a reconciling congregation and welcome all persons of all backgrounds and lifestyles.
The United Methodist Church is an 11-million member global church that celebrates open hearts, open doors, and open minds through active engagement with our world. Theologian John Wesley and early Methodists emphasized Christian living, putting faith and love into action in what Wesley called "practical divinity;" we continue that practice today.
As United Methodists, we have an obligation to bear a faithful Christian witness to Jesus Christ, the living reality at the center of the Church’s life and witness. To fulfill this obligation, we reflect critically on our biblical and theological inheritance, striving to express faithfully the witness we make in our own time. Putting faith and love into action has continued to be a hallmark of The United Methodist Church. We are a denomination involved with people's lives, with political and social struggles, combining personal and social piety. The Christian faith is grounded in the love and grace of God, experienced through Jesus Christ, and empowered by the Holy Spirit.
Our mission is to make disciples of Jesus Christ.
Our Reconciling Statement:
Excelsior United Methodist Church believes that we are all children of God and individuals of sacred worth. We affirm Jesus' example of love without reservation and covenant to deal compassionately and justly with each other. We welcome and affirm persons of any age, gender, race, ethnic origin, economic reality, family status, sexual orientation, diverse ability or social standing as full participants in the life and work of this reconciling congregation.
Excelsior United Methodist Church is a "Reconciling Congregation."
Excelsior United Methodist Church has been a reconciling congregation since 2007. We are on a journey in becoming more wholly Christian, welcoming all to worship and share life's journeys in our intergenerational congregation. LGBT persons and their families will find a warm welcome in our Sunday School groups, our youth groups and confirmation classes, our women’s and men’s groups, our outreach and mission groups, and our social groups. Inclusivity is a prime, practiced ideal at EUMC.
In October 2009, we hosted the renowned Shower of Stoles, a display of ministerial stoles donated by persons whose sexual orientation or practice interfered with their vocation to the ministry. Members of our congregation have marched in solidarity in the annual Twin Cities Pride Parade for six years. We have sponsored Reconciling Sunday worship services, reminding ourselves of our commitment to reconciling ministry. We have hosted many educational events which raise awareness of our congregation and the surrounding community about issues of LGBT inclusion. In 2014, we are sponsoring anti-bigotry discussions to help us respond appropriately to everyday bigotry, an Ally training to help us be more effective allies to our LGBT neighbors and friends, a speaker on the dynamics of the Reconciling movement in the wider church, and a nationally known transgender speaker.
For more information, contact us to get in touch with our Reconciling Committee.
In October 2009, we hosted the renowned Shower of Stoles, a display of ministerial stoles donated by persons whose sexual orientation or practice interfered with their vocation to the ministry. Members of our congregation have marched in solidarity in the annual Twin Cities Pride Parade for six years. We have sponsored Reconciling Sunday worship services, reminding ourselves of our commitment to reconciling ministry. We have hosted many educational events which raise awareness of our congregation and the surrounding community about issues of LGBT inclusion. In 2014, we are sponsoring anti-bigotry discussions to help us respond appropriately to everyday bigotry, an Ally training to help us be more effective allies to our LGBT neighbors and friends, a speaker on the dynamics of the Reconciling movement in the wider church, and a nationally known transgender speaker.
For more information, contact us to get in touch with our Reconciling Committee.