What We’re All About
We are here to support and care for our neighbors. Regardless of who you are, where you’ve been, what your family looks like — you belong at Bensalem United Methodist Church.
Our congregation seeks to be a people of hope, compassion, and joy. For over two hundred years, we’ve gathered in Bensalem for worship, community, and fellowship. We seek to be in ministry with all God’s people, regardless of gender, race, age, class, ethnicity, culture, country of origin, ability and disability, and sexual orientation.
Through prayer, worship, scripture study, fellowship opportunities, and open conversations, we work together as a community of faith to encourage and challenge one another to deeper spiritual growth.
What We Believe:
We believe a lot of different things! We celebrate each other’s unique perspectives and spiritual journeys.
Here are some things we generally all agree on:
We believe in God: Our loving Creator, who claims each of us as a beloved child.
We believe in Jesus Christ: Everything we do begins with Christ. We remember how he ministered to the poor, fed the hungry, healed the sick, befriended sinners, welcomed the shunned, and sacrificed himself to save us. He rose from the dead and gives us hope.
We believe in the Holy Spirit: The 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.
We believe in abundant grace: Our God is a God of mercy, forgiveness, healing, hope, and second chances. God’s love reaches out to us even when we’re not aware of it and even when we think we don’t deserve it. We strive to share that grace with each other.
We believe in the inherent dignity of all people: All of us, created in God’s image, are one body – our church, our community, our world. As Jesus teaches us, we love, we share fellowship, and we value and defend the dignity of all God’s children.
We believe that differences and questions are holy: We embrace a vision of church where everyone does not have to agree and where everyone is welcome. We’re a church built on loving relationships rather than uniformity in thought and action.
We believe that a loving community can change lives: We celebrate the ways that healthy church communities have uplifted our own lives and the lives of our friends, family, and those we cherish. We strive to be a place of warmth, healing, and hope for all.
We believe that faith and action go hand in hand: We remember the second of Christ’s greatest commandments is to love each other. We make personal commitments to working with people in our neighborhood and around the world.
Our Mission, Vision, and Core Values:
Bensalem UMC is a welcoming community centered in Christ.
Our mission is to make new disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. As people of faith, we are committed to building loving connections with Christ, each other, and our broader community.
We seek to live out our core values of compassion, community support, fellowship, worship, and generosity.
Who Are United Methodists?
The United Methodist Church is a worldwide Christian denomination that seeks to form disciples of Jesus Christ who, empowered by the Holy Spirit, love boldly, serve joyfully, and lead courageously in their local communities and worldwide connections.
Love Boldly: We passionately love God and, like Jesus, embrace and include people of every age, nation, race, gender, and walk of life. (Matthew 22:37-39 | John 13:34-35)
Serve Joyfully: With the heart of Christ, we journey alongside the most vulnerable among us, offering care and compassion with joy. (Psalm 100:1 | Nehemiah 8:10 | John 13:14-15 | 1 Peter 4:10)
Lead Courageously: Following Jesus’ example, we resist and dismantle all systems of evil, injustice, and oppression, striving for peace, justice, and reconciliation. (Joshua 1:9 | Ephesians 6:10)
United Methodists believe in actualizing their faith in community — actions speak louder than words. The United Methodist Church opens hearts, opens minds, and opens doors through active engagement with our world. We put our faith and love into action, believing that God loves all people and that we are called to express that love to all we meet. The United Methodist tradition emphasizes God’s grace in serving others.
