Curious. Compassionate. Courageous. Committed. Christ-Like.
Prospect Park United Methodist Church (PPUMC) is a progressive, welcoming faith community committed to social justice. We are a community who welcome seekers of all ages, races, cultures, sexual orientations, gender identifications, and creeds. If there are five words that describe the community, it will be: Curious, Compassionate, Courageous, Committed, and Christ-Like.
Curious: We are a community of faith who is open to explore more about God, wrestle with Scripture and invite the Spirit to challenge us in our walk of Faith. Through scripture, tradition, reason and experience, we know that God is continually walking with us and shaping us with unimaginable love, grace and mercy as shown by Jesus. In the Worship experience, we believe that music inspires us, that sharing binds us together, and that reflection and prayer empower us to act. We use gender neutral language in reference to God and inclusive language for Creation.
Compassionate: We are a community of faith that love people for who they are and believe that everyone is “Fearfully and Wonderfully Made” (Psalm 139:14). We show and embody compassion in everything we do for we understand that everyone is deserving of respect, love and being listened to.
Courageous: We are a community who are committed to having those “courageous conversations” (discussing issues that people want to avoid or feel uncomfortable with) in order to grow and be able to move forward. We understand that it is difficult to do this on daily basis but we try our best and are willing to learn and grow
Committed: We are committed to engage in the work that demands justice in the community and world. From partnering with community organizations and other ministries, we understand that in order to be the Church, the body of Christ, we need to go outside the four walls. We are committed to understanding and using the gifts and talents that the creator endowed us in order to make the world we live in better and equitable for all.
Christ-Like: Centered in the Gospel and operating through the Holy Spirit, we are a people who continue to be transformed by the Good News of Christ and invite others to discipleship. We strive to embody the greatest commandment shared in Matthew 22:36-40:
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”