A faith rooted in love, lived in real life:
At Forest Grove United Methodist Church, our beliefs shape how we live, how we treat one another, and how we show up in the world.
We don’t expect everyone to believe the same thing or to have everything figured out.
Faith is something we grow into—together.
We believe in God:
We believe in a God who creates, loves, and sustains all people.
God is not distant or detached, but present—moving in our lives, our communities, and our world.
We follow Jesus:
We look to Jesus as our guide for how to live.
His life shows us what love looks like in action—
welcoming the outsider, challenging injustice, and caring for those most often overlooked.
Following Jesus means practicing that kind of love in our own lives.
We trust in grace:
We believe that God’s love is not something we earn.
Grace means:
- You are loved before you prove anything
- You are welcomed before you change anything
- You are never beyond hope
We honor questions:
We believe questions are not a threat to faith—they are often where faith begins.
You are free to wonder, to wrestle, and to seek without fear of judgment.
We don’t require certainty to belong. We make space for honest conversation and ongoing discovery.
We reject Christian nationalism:
We believe the way of Jesus is not aligned with any political ideology or national identity.
Our faith calls us to humility, compassion, and justice—not domination, exclusion, or power over others.
We seek to follow Christ above all else.
We are an inclusive and welcoming community:
We believe every person is created in the image of God and worthy of dignity, belonging, and love.
We welcome and celebrate people of all:
- races and cultures
- gender identities and sexual orientations
- backgrounds and life experiences
You are not a project to be fixed. You are a person to be honored.
We believe the church is a community:
Church is not a building or a set of rules.
It’s a community of people learning how to:
- support one another
- grow in compassion and courage
- live with purpose and hope
You don’t have to have perfect faith to belong here.
We take the Bible seriously:
We read the Bible as a source of wisdom, guidance, and challenge.
We don’t use it to shut down questions.
We engage it thoughtfully—seeking to understand how it speaks to our lives today.
We believe faith should make a difference:
Faith isn’t just something we think about—it’s something we live.
That means:
- caring for our neighbors
- working toward justice and compassion
- showing up in our community in meaningful ways
You are welcome here:
You might be:
- exploring faith for the first time
- returning after time away
- carrying questions or doubts
Wherever you are on your journey, you are welcome here.
Want to learn more?
The United Methodist tradition has a long history rooted in grace, connection, and practical faith.
If you’d like to go deeper or have questions, we’d love to talk with you.