What We Believe

United Methodists Are...

...involved, committed, diverse, open. A people who try to be accepting, caring, hospitable and inclusive. Family & community oriented. A people who are concerned about those beyond their communities - around the world. A people who love music, church suppers and a sense of community. A people who like to tell the story of God's redeeming grace.

United Methodists Are...

  • A covenant people

    When you join a United Methodist congregation, you become a member of the United Methodist connection. Members promise God and the congregation to uphold the church with their prayers, presence, gifts and service.

  • A diverse community

    All persons are welcome in The United Methodist Church. We are committed to inclusiveness. Celebrating a diversity of people, ideas and cultures, we are enriched by our history.

  • Biblical in faith

    United Methodists trust free inquiry in matters of Christian doctrine. Our faith is guided by Scripture, tradition, experience and reason. Of paramount importance is Scripture. For United Methodists, the Bible is the record of God's people living out God's promise.

  • Mission-oriented, socially conscious

    We are aware of world events and strive to help those in need. Through the World Methodist Council, Methodists from 68 member churches cooperate in support of ecumenical, educational, evangelical and other ministries.

  • Connectional

    United Methodists took form as an organized church in the United States during the revolutionary period of our history. Its structures parallel those of the U.S. government. Church leadership is shared by executive, legislative and judicial branches.

    The highest legislative body - the only organization that can speak for the church - is the General Conference. An assembly of up to 1,000 delegates, it is composed of equal numbers of laity and clergy and meets once every four years.

    Annual conferences respond to needs in their regions by developing programs and ministries that carry out the work of Christ and support the policies set by General Conference.

For more information about the United Methodist Church, contact Rev. Greg Schmalfeldt.

The Core Values of Trinity on the Hill United Methodist Church are:

  • PRAYER — everything in the Christian life begins and ends with prayer. Prayer is our ongoing conversation with God. In prayer, we open ourselves to God's goodness, grace, mercy, judgment and love. In prayer, God speaks to our hearts and minds. Jesus often withdrew by himself to a quiet place to pray and stay connected to the Father. You and I, as followers of Jesus, must be people of prayer.
  • PEOPLE MATTER — People matter to God. Therefore, people matter to us. "God so loved the world, that he gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16) In everything that we do at Trinity, it must be clear that people matter to God and to us. Lost people matter, sick people matter, young children matter, older adults matter, visitors matter, members matter. At Trinity, people matter.
  • CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT THAT PROMOTES GROWTH — Growth into spiritual maturity is normal for every believer. God expects us to grow in our faith, in our study, in our prayer lives, in our service to others, in our walk with Him. At Trinity, it is important for us to create an environment that fosters, promotes and enables the spiritual growth of our people.
  • AUTHENTICITY — We believe it is mandatory that we be open, honest and transparent with one another and with God. We cannot fool God and we will not try to fool one another. We will admit our mistakes, confess our sins and shortcomings, and be "real" in the way we approach life.
  • FORGIVENESS — Perhaps no virtue or value is more characteristic of the disciples of Jesus than forgiveness. Jesus taught that we must be willing to forgive "seventy times seven." He taught that his followers were to be marked by a willingness to "bless enemies" rather than cursing them. Jesus made the point that we can (and must) forgive others because God, in Christ, has first forgiven us. Forgiveness is at the heart of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
  • LEARNING FROM OUR MISTAKES AND THE MISTAKES OF OTHERS — Our God is a God of second chances (see Luke 15). We have much to learn from our mistakes so that we grow and avoid the pitfalls of the past. In a similar manner, we can learn vicariously from the mistakes of others. That allows us the freedom to say "no" to things which have proven to be ineffective while we say "yes" to new opportunities for mission and ministry.
  • EMPOWERING MINISTRY — We believe in the historic "priesthood of all believers." Each believer is a minister with unique gifts, graces, talents, abilities, and affinities. We believe in doing everything possible to equip and empower individuals for the specific ministries to which God may be calling them.
  • LASTING LIFE CHANGE HAPPENS BEST IN SMALL GROUPS — Jesus modeled small group ministry in his selection of the Twelve. He further mentored Peter, James and John. As their lives were transformed by the Presence of the Master, they were released to "go into all the world." Meaningful relationships and lasting life change happens best in small groups.