The People of Our Church Share this Vision

MISSION STATEMENT                                      

Amity United Methodist Church in Chapel Hill, NC welcomes all. Regardless of age, race, gender, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, faith tradition, or mental or physical disability, you are actively invited to visit, participate in, and join our Christian community.

CORE VALUES/ MINISTRY TEAMS

Worship:  Coming together to worship God is essential to who we are as Christian disciples.  Worship “is an encounter with the living God through the risen Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit.” (UM BOW, p. 13)   In the gathering of diverse people the church comes together to make up the body of Christ in the world.  In the Spirit we are all unified in the family of God.   All are invited to fully participate in every aspect of worship at Amity.  May we all be Alive in Christ!

Discipleship:   Alive in Christ, we share God’s love in the world through our thoughts, words and actions, inviting others to journey with us towards becoming more like Christ.  Our Christian faith and stories inform and form our identity as Disciples: forgiving the unforgiveable, offering grace to those who need another chance, living in love, serving in humility, and always inviting in others. 

Inclusiveness:  Jesus entered into relationship with those the world said were worthless: tax collectors, prostitutes, lepers.  He called as his Disciples not the rich, wealthy and educated, but the working class, uneducated, tax collectors, and nobodies.  Jesus healed those who were hurting, forgave those who needed forgiveness, and offered new life to all people.  He embraced the eunuch, the adulterer, widows, children, harlots, centurions, women, and anyone who wanted a glimpse of the Kingdom.  With Jesus as our example, Amity UMC does not “tolerate” our differences, we embrace them, recognizing the sacredness of all people.  Amity is blessed with members of different cultures, sexual orientations, and backgrounds.   Our congregation consists of people from many walks of life, various emotional and physical disabilities, educational backgrounds, and political views.  Amity is committed to Embracing Diversity.

Community:  Jesus gathered the disciples together because Jesus knew what we so often forget – we need each other.  Even Jesus needed the companionship, prayers, encouragement, support, and help of others.  Amity is an intimate community of faith that offers prayer, nurture and support one on one, in small groups, and in Worship as we lift up our joys and concerns.  Living as community is an important way that we live out God’s love.  Amity’s mission is to Build Community:  In the name of Christ we celebrate, grieve, support, encourage, teach, learn, laugh, cry, live and die.  Together. 

Responsiveness in Service:  “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:40)   Amity UMC is committed to understanding and responding to the needs of the community locally and globally, serving in the name of Jesus Christ.  As we come together to Worship the Light of the World, Jesus Christ, we go into the world to share the Light of Christ in all the ways we can and in all the places we can.    We are a church Serving the World.

 Alive in Christ!

Embracing Diversity

Building Community

Serving the World

The Mission of the United Methodist Church

The United Methodist faith is deeply rooted in the Scripture and in the basic beliefs of all Christians. Out of that theology and the faith have grown some specific actions that mark United Methodists as Christians engaged in ministry to the world. The early members of the groups that eventually became The United Methodist Church

• took strong stands on issues such as slavery, smuggling, and humane treatment of prisoners;
• established institutions for higher learning;
• started hospitals and shelters for children and the elderly;
• founded Goodwill Industries in 1902;
• became actively involved in efforts for world peace;
• adopted a Social Creed and Social Principles to guide them as they relate to God’s world and God’s people;
• participated with other religious groups in ecumenical efforts to be in mission.