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Authority and Order
Biblical Authority We hold that the Bible itself is the sole and final source of all that we believe. It is the inspired and infallible Word of God that speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of humanity. The Discipline of the United Methodist Church We uphold the Discipline of the United Methodist Church as the covenant document that binds us together with all other congregations within our denomination. It is the secondary authority (after the Bible) for order and correction in the physical, spiritual and congregational life of our church. Moral Principles Gender Equality We believe that men and women are of equal value in the eyes of God. Accordingly, the church should treat women and men equally. We believe that Scripture permits the ordination and licensing of women to ministry in the church on the same basis as for men. Women are able to hold any leadership position within our congregation and within the UMC on the same basis as men. Equality We believe that all persons are of sacred worth. Therefore, we gladly welcome all who seek to grow in their relationship with God to attend worship services and participate in programs. We specifically renounce all racial and ethnic discrimination and commit ourselves to work toward full racial and ethnic equality in the church. Marriage and Sexuality We believe marriage and sexual intimacy are good gifts from God. In keeping with Christian teaching through the ages and throughout the Church universal, we believe that “marriage” is the uniting of one man and one woman in a single, exclusive covenant. We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to only occur between a man and a woman who are married to each other. Tolerance We believe that every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity. Hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual or group are to be repudiated and are not in accord with Scripture nor the beliefs of the United Methodist Church. |
The statements above were unanimously reaffirmed by the Administrative Board of Ithaca United Methodist Church on July 19, 2016.