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We believe the church belongs to God and that the church is, in the words of the Apostle Paul, the body of Christ, called to do God’s will and be the physical presence of Christ in the world.

Batesville UMC is part of the United Methodist denomination, the second largest Protestant denomination in America, and we uphold our heritage by pursuing ministry in keeping with this tradition. We seek to be orthodox in faith, generous in spirit, broadminded, passionately devoted to Jesus Christ, and wholly surrendered to God. We strive for personal holiness by inviting people into a life-transforming relationship with Jesus Christ.  

We also pursue social holiness in the public sphere by addressing key issues of our time so that our world will look more like the Kingdom of God. United Methodists have a passionate faith with strong convictions, but we also recognize that the world is not always black and white. We are willing to ask questions, to wrestle with difficult issues, and to do so with grace and compassion. 

United Methodists are “people of the Book,” whose faith is firmly rooted in and built upon the scriptures. We hold the Bible to be divinely inspired and are committed to live by its words. We also recognize the Bible was written by people who heard God in the light of their own cultural and historical circumstances. As such, we make use of scholarship and study the scriptures carefully. When we encounter theological differences among Christians, we bear in mind John Wesley’s approach, “in essentials, unity; in nonessentials, liberty; in all things, charity.” 

United Methodists share a common heritage with other Christians, holding to the historic essentials of the Christian faith.

We believe the goal of the Christian life is to love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, and to love your neighbor as you love yourself.  From the beginning of the Methodist movement, we were known as “reasonable enthusiasts,” those who are both emotionally and intellectually engaged. We value passionate worship, relevant preaching, small groups to hold Christians accountable to one another, and serving those who are in need. We value the spiritual disciplines and take a “methodical” approach to growing in the faith. United Methodists value the full participation of women and men, people of all backgrounds in every facet of fellowship and leadership within the church and society. 

This is our heritage, and it continues to shape Batesville UMC in every area of our ministry.