Who We Are
The people of Susanna Wesley are a multi-generational body of Christ. We connect with God and our neighbors through spiritual practices to worship, study, serve, give, and share. We invest in the next generation of children, care for older adults, and invite people of all ages to join the community in their neighborhood. All people are welcome, with no exceptions. You can be who you are; you can be any way you are, and you are loved.
Beliefs
We share a common heritage with all Christians.
- God – God, who is one, is revealed in three distinct persons.
- Jesus – We believe in the mystery of salvation through Jesus Christ. God became human in Jesus of Nazareth, and his life, death, and resurrection demonstrate God’s redeeming love.
- The Holy Spirit – The Holy Spirit is God’s present activity in our midst. When we sense God’s leading, God’s challenge, or God’s support or comfort, it’s the Holy Spirit at work.
- Human Beings – Genesis 1:27 asserts that we’ve been made in the Creator’s image. Like God, we can love and care, communicate, and create.
- The Church – The church is the body of Christ, an extension of Christ’s life and ministry in the world today.
- The Bible – We believe that the Bible is the primary authority for our faith and practice.
- God’s Reign – The kingdom or reign of God is both a present reality and future hope.
Wesleyan Heritage
We trace our heritage back to a pair of brothers who started the Methodist movement in 1700s England. John and Charles Wesley helped lead a campaign to “spread Scriptural holiness over the land.”
Grace – We recognize God’s grace at work throughout our spiritual journeys to prepare, redeem, and continually shape us into the people we were created to be. Grace prepares us to hear the good news of Jesus Christ and respond in faith. By grace, we are forgiven and move from unbelief to belief. After we decide to follow Jesus, grace powers our spiritual growth toward the perfect love of God and neighbor.
Social Principles
We affirm our unity in Jesus Christ while acknowledging differences in applying our faith in different cultural contexts as we live out the gospel.
- The Natural World – All creation is the Lord’s, and we are responsible for how we use and abuse it.
- The Nurturing Community – We believe we have a responsibility to innovate, sponsor, and evaluate new forms of community that will encourage the development of the fullest potential in individuals.
- The Social Community – We affirm all persons as equally valuable in God’s sight. We reject discrimination and assert the rights of minority groups to equal opportunities.
- The Economic Community – We claim all economic systems to be under the judgment of God no less than other facets of the created order.
- The Political Community – We hold governments responsible for protecting people’s fundamental freedoms. We believe that neither church nor state should attempt to dominate the other.
- The World Community – God’s world is one world. We pledge ourselves to seek the meaning of the gospel in all issues that divide people and threaten the growth of the world community.