What is a United Methodist? 

The United Methodist Church is a global denomination that opens hearts, opens minds and opens doors through active engagement with our world. The mission of The United Methodist Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

A United Methodist is someone who joins in that mission by putting faith and love into action. We believe that God loves all people, and that we share in expressing that love. So the United Methodist tradition emphasizes God's grace and in serving others. We believe that Jesus Christ is the fullest expression of God's love--showing us the fullness of God's care through Jesus' teachings, death and resurrection.

We believe faith goes beyond the normal boundaries and dualisms we build into modern life. Faith is about the heart and the mind. Faith is about spiritual practice and social justice. Faith calls us to sing out in worship, to feed the hungry, to vote, to love others, and to give thanks to God and study scriptures. Most of all, faith calls us to respond to the grace of Jesus Christ and to be more like Jesus every day. 

John Wesley started the Methodist movement in 18th century England. His teachings on practical divinity (living out our faith) and appeals to reason and experience form important aspects of United Methodist practice today.

-Source: The United Methodist Church, umc.org.