About

2625 North Center Road, Saginaw, Michigan 48603 // (989) 799-2930 // [email protected]

Who are Free Methodists?

The Free Methodist Church was birthed in 1860 when Benjamin Titus Roberts, a pastor in the Methodist Episcopal Church, could no longer serve in harmony with their practices. B.T. Roberts observed that no church could support slaveholding, rent seats in the church, withhold women from full service in the church, and quench the movement of the Holy Spirit in public worship. Therefore he promoted freedom for all people from slavery, free seats in every house of worship, freedom for women to serve in all roles in the church including pastoral ministry, and freedom for the Holy Spirit to move in public worship.

Core Beliefs of the Free Methodist Fellowship

God:

We believe in One Living God in three persons; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit

The Scriptures:

We believe in the authority of God's Word over our lives

Humankind:

We believe humankind are created in the image of God as free moral persons

Salvation:

We believe that new life in Christ, free from the guilt and penalty of sin, is given to all who believe

The Church:

We believe in the Church. The people of God, who exist to fulfill the purposes of God in Christ

Last Things:

We believe in the Kingdom of God established now in the hearts of believers, the return of Christ, at a time chosen by the Father, and our hope in the resurrection and eternal glory

Free Methodists are first and foremost a Kingdom people. We are a body of believers from all walks of life and experiences God has inspired to serve in this time.

Following the specific teachings and influence of John Wesley and B.T. Robert, we discern where God is moving today and are shaped by values that are both historical and aspirational.

Our Guiding Principles

Life-Giving Holiness: Holiness is a gift that liberates us for a life that is truly life, by delivering us from the destructive power of sin and empowering us to freedom from guilt and shame.

Love-Driven Justice: Love is the way we demonstrate God's heart for justice by valuing the image of God in all men, women, and children acting with compassion and hospitality towards the oppressed and in need.

Christ-Compelled Multiplication: We aim to see God's kingdom expand exponentially as we reconcile people with God and neighbor by equipping them as disciples in the Scriptures.

Cross-Cultural Collaboration: We aspire to move beyond colonialism and ethnocentrism in favor of collaborative partnering with global communities of various races, languages, and ethnicities.

God-Given Revelation: We hold unwaveringly to our conviction that the Bible is the inspired Word of God and our authority in all matters of faith and practice.

Eucharist:

In the Free Methodist Church, anyone who hears and responds to the Lord's invitation to dine at his table is most welcome. At Saginaw First, we celebrate communion every first Sunday of the month.

For more about the Free Methodist Church U.S.A, click here fmcusa.org/