ThE Vision Statement

of the United Methodist Church

The United Methodist Church forms disciples of Jesus Christ who, empowered by the Holy Spirit, love boldly, serve joyfully, and lead courageously in local communities and worldwide connections.


This vision statement released in 2025 complements the Church's longstanding mission statement, inspired by Matthew 28:1-20: "The mission of The United Methodist Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world." 


The vision encourages United Methodists to embody the following principles:

  • Love Boldly: Passionately love God and, like Jesus, embrace and include people of every age, nation, race, gender and walk of life. (Inspired by Matthew 22:37-39 and John 13:34-35)
  • Serve Joyfully: With a Christ-like heart, journey alongside the most vulnerable, offering care and compassion with joy. (Inspired by Psalm 100:1, Nehemiah 8:10, John 13:14-15 and 1 Peter 4:10)
  • Lead Courageously: Follow Jesus’ example by resisting and dismantling all systems of evil, injustice, and oppression, striving for peace, justice and reconciliation. (Inspired by Joshua 1:9 and Ephesians 6:10)

St. Paul's Mission statement

We are all about feeding people. Through our year-round programming, we feed bodies, minds, and spirits.


The Purpose of St. Paul's United Methodist Church is to invite and welcome all:

  • To worship God;
  • To grow as disciples of Jesus Christ;
  • To love and support one another;
  • To do justice and serve compassionately in the world.


"You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; 

and you will be my witnesses."  ~Acts 1:8A

Welcoming Statement

Please read more about St. Paul's commitment to the inclusion of historically marginalized and LGBTQ+ communities at our Reconciling Congregation page.


We, the community of St. Paul's United Methodist Church, Kensington, welcome you in love. Jesus Christ accepts all, excluding none. 


So we welcome and affirm you who are gay, straight, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or queer. We welcome you without regard to your sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, culture, race, ethnicity, ability, education, or age. We welcome you no matter your immigration, marital, or economic status. 


Wherever you are on your spiritual journey, we welcome and affirm you as one of God’s children into our community of God’s unbounded love. All are celebrated here and all are safe.