We hold in common with all Christians a faith in the mystery of salvation in and through Jesus Christ.

We share the Christian belief that God's redemptive love is realized in human life by the activity of the Holy spirit, both in personal experience and in the community of believers.

We understand ourselves to be part of Christ's universal church when by adoration, proclamation, and service we become conformed to Christ.

With other Christians we recognize that the reign of God is both a present and future reality.

We share with many Christian communions a recognition of the authority of Scripture in matters of faith, the confession that our justification as sinners is by grace through faith, and the sober realization that the church is in need of continual reformation and renewal.

With other Christians, we declare the essential oneness of the church in Christ Jesus.

From "Basic Christian Affirmations," The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church - 1996, p. 41-42; © 1996 The United Methodist Publishing House.