St.
Peter’s
United Methodist Church, in all that it does, is committed
to impacting its community and the world for the Lord Jesus
Christ. In order that St. Peter’s may be as effective
as possible in fulfilling its mission, the members have
set forth these core values which are the model of how
we are to conduct ourselves in our daily ministry.
We are Centered on Christ and Grounded in God’s
Word and in Prayer
Christ is the beginning and the end of all things and so
He must be of our ministry. Every St. Peter’s program,
worship opportunity and ministry shall be centered on Christ.
Every aspect of ministry programming and church administration
must have at its foundation God’s guidance through
regular prayer and reading of His word.
We are Intentionally Outward-focused
The center of Christ’s ministry was to reach the
lost for His kingdom. Christ said “It is not
the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick” (Mark 2:17).
Those who are lost or otherwise in need are a primary focus
of our ministry. Accordingly, our hearts are to be focused
on serving others in our community and around the world
with utmost compassion. Christ himself “did not consider
equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself
nothing, taking the very nature of a servant…and
became obedient to death” (Ph 2:6-8). Christ was
exalted by His father for his servant leadership and so
we are called to do the same.
We are Committed to Growing Disciples
Central to growing one’s faith and to reaching others
to begin a faith journey are programs focused on discipleship.
That is, to develop ministries which encourage all members
to follow Christ, support St. Peter’s ministries
with spiritual, physical and financial gifts and to endeavor
each day to grow their faith through leading and participating
in learning and ministry opportunities. These ministries
are to be directed and led by the members, using church
staff resources to support their efforts. Members shall
serve in capacities consistent with their spiritual gifts,
not with indifference to such gifts to merely fill a need
of the church. We are invitational in our approach to seeking
participation in ministry, not merely informing members
of ministry opportunities.
Everyone Matters
Every human being is a creation of God and is deserving
of the best we have to offer. God has in mind how each
person with whom we come in contact is to be used for
His purpose. No person is either beneath or above service
to God and He calls us to be in ministry together. Accordingly,
we subscribe to the following:
-
We are Relationship Driven: Our walk is dependent on
relationships in the same way Christ came here to be in
relationship with the very worst of us. Through regular
fellowship in small groups we discover how to encourage
one another in our faith and how to better experience a
personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
- We are Committed to Teamwork: Only through consistent
teamwork toward a common vision will we actually
realize that which Christ has in mind for our church.
There is no room for selfishness or self-centeredness,
but rather we are to focus with unity on the one
Christ whom we serve. This requires respect for each
person’s
background and how his or her gifts may be used by
God in our efforts.
Visitors are Celebrated
We must intentionally open our hearts to new people seeking
a place to worship and discover and/or grow in their
faith. This includes opening our hearts to everyone who
passes through our doors and personally inviting them
to be part of what St. Peter’s is doing in the
world. We are often remembered for how we make a visitor
feel even over the impact of the program itself.
We Exemplify Godly Behavior in All We Do
Every word and deed cannot be without consideration for
how we impact each other and the plans which God has
in mind for us. To act in a manner which is other than
Christ-like is to detract from achieving that which He
has planned. Two fundamental elements of this model of
Godly behavior are:
-
Do Everything with Excellence: God has in mind for us
ministry opportunities beyond that which any of us could
ever imagine. Every step taken in the development and
execution of ministry is to be done with a positive attitude,
through hard work and with an unwavering commitment to
excellence. We are also committed to equip our leaders
through proper training and development. Giving the absolute
best of ourselves in everything we do is in reverence
to our God.
- Do Everything with Integrity: Our every action must
be above reproach and without selfish motive. Every choice
we make, whether personal or relating to ministry, enhances
or diminishes our integrity. Through commitment to make
only Godly choices, we better lead the world to God.
We are All Called to Grow the Church
By God’s design, His Church is to continue to grow.
It is one of the signs of a healthy church and that Christ’s
Vision is being realized. Every member is to be intentional
in inviting those without a church home to experience worship
and ministry at St. Peter’s.
We are to Share the Redemptive Message
Christ’s message of Love, Grace and Forgiveness is
at the center of our message to all who seek to discover
and grow their faith. Our every action, word and deed should
be in the spirit of Christ’s redemptive message.
|
