At a conference I attended the speaker said that most Methodists don't know what their church believes. He said that people are really interested in theology, but never get a chance to discuss it. It was suggested that the lay leader of each church should write a monthly article for their church's newsletter in order to explain what Methodists believe.

I took that suggestion to heart. Over a year and a half (!) I discussed each of the sixteen articles in the Confession of Faith found in The Book of Discipline. In a very real sense the Confession of Faith is what the United Methodist Church believes. This is not everything Methodists believe, but it is the core beliefs. I solicit any feedback on my articles, which are necessarily short for our newsletter.

Article I - God

Article II - Jesus Christ

Article III - The Holy Spirit

Article IV - The Bible

Article V - The Church

Article VI - The Sacraments

Article VII - Sin and Free Will

Article VIII - Reconciliation Through Christ

Article IX - Justification and Regeneration

Article X - Good Works

Article XI - Sanctifi c ation and Christian Perfection

Article XII - The Judgment and the Future State

Article XIII - Public Worship

Article XIV - The Lord's Day

Article XV - The Christian and Property

Article XVI - Civil Government