First United Methodist Church, Carroll Iowa

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Our Beliefs

Our Methodist Heritage

United Methodists profess the historic Christian faith in God, incarnate in Jesus Christ for our salvation and ever at work in human history in the Holy Spirit. Living in a covenant of grace under the Lordship of Jesus Christ, we participate in the first fruits of God's coming reign and pray in hope for its full realization on earth as in heaven.

Their preaching and teaching were grounded in Scripture, informed by Christian tradition, enlivened in experience, and tested by reason.

The pioneers in the traditions that flowed together into The United Methodist Church understood themselves as standing in the central stream of Christian spirituality and doctrine, loyal heirs of the authentic Christian tradition. In John Wesley's words, theirs was "the old religion, the religion of the Bible, the religion . . .of the whole church in the purest ages." Their gospel was grounded in the biblical message of God's self-giving love revealed in Jesus Christ...

Wesley's portrayal of the spiritual pilgrimage in terms of "the scripture way of salvation" provided their model for experiential Christianity. They assumed and insisted upon the integrity of basic Christian truth and emphasized its practical application in the lives of believers...

United Methodists are fixed upon certain religious affirmations, grounded in the gospel and confirmed in their experience, they also recognize the right of Christians to disagree on matters such as forms of worship, structures of church government, modes of Baptism, or theological explorations. They believe such differences do not break the bond of fellowship that ties Christians together in Jesus Christ. Wesley's familiar dictum was, "As to all opinions which do not strike at the root of Christianity, we think and let think."

They were also prepared, as a matter of course, to reaffirm the ancient creeds and confessions as valid summaries of Christian truth. But they were careful not to set them apart as absolute standards for doctrinal truth and error...

Doctrinal Standards and General Rules

Communion

We at the United Methodist Church practice an open communion. One need not be a member of this church of of any church in order to partake in this service. Christ laid down his life for all who wish to take him into their hearts. Communion in our faith consists of grape juice to drink (or dip in) and then bread to eat or dip if served by intinction (act of dipping bread into chalice). Gluten-free wafers are available.

Membership at First United Methodist

If a member of another United Methodist Church then your membership can be transferred. Or if a member of another faith background you can transfer by Profession of Faith. Professing members are baptized persons who have come into membership in The United Methodist Church by Profession of Faith. Professing membership is an expression of our baptismal covenant in which we profess our faith in God and declare our desire to live our lives as disciples of Jesus Christ in the United Methodist faith.

Baptism

Baptized members are all persons who have received Christian baptism in a United Methodist church or have transferred their baptized information from another church. Not yet baptized? Baptism can take place during time of faith confession or on its own. Call to arrange with the pastor.

Profession of Faith

Those beyond confirmation age can join the United Methodist church by Profession of Faith. It is a time to verbally share with the church and yourself that you believe in God and repent of your sins. You can be of non-faith or other faith belief to share in the membership of the United Methodist Church. Please call the office to schedule a time to talk with the pastor.

Confirmation

Confirmation refers to the decision a person makes to respond to God's grace with intentional commitment, publicly reaffirming his or her baptismal vows before the congregation. Most confirmands are youth between the ages of eleven and fourteen, who have been nurtured in the church since their baptism as an infant or young child. Confirmation is preparation aims at leading youth and others to embrace their vocation-the calling of God to live and witness to the reign of God announced in Jesus Christ.

Here at Carroll First United Methodist Church, During confirmation class, confirmand youth (7th-8th grade) go through 6-8 week course with the Pastor to learn about the meaning of Christian faith; the history and teachings and The United Methodist Church; and an explanation of the baptismal (already taken or to be taken) and membership vows they will be professing. With the ceremonial member rites shared around the time of Easter Sunday.

Confirmad Requirements: Attend weekly worship and take sermon notes; review homework from weekly confirmation class; work one-on-one with an adult mentor, generally a Carroll FUMC member.

**Our Church History**

Methodist were the first church to organize in the Carroll Iowa. A retired Methodist Circuit rider, Rev. Joseph Manning, came to the new town of Carroll in 1868. First meeting room was the sample room of Boots Hotel, located where the Carroll City Hall now stands. By 1872, the congregation of 12 members had grown to 72 and a church building was erected at 6^th and Court Street. By 1901 membership grew to 300. A new church building was created on the corner of 7^th and Main St. to accommodate the growing congregation. This was a beautiful, gothic, ornate building with classic stained glass, fine woodwork, and an ornate interior. Better roads and automobiles brought the uniting of the rural Beulah Church with the Methodist Church on May 5, 1918. The facility was declared unfit in 1950 so in 1951 twelve families bough the property where the church resides today. Completed in 1957 the $255,000 was raised through fund drives and hard work. The congregation had the foresight to preserve and restore the stained glass windows from the former facility. Parker's "At the Door of the Fold" still welcomes everyone to the sanctuary. Rose windows on the west side of the building's upper level were also relocated from the old church. The walnut baptismal stand was made from the pulpit of the very first church building. Ground was broken in 1999 for a handicap accessible addition on the east side. The new addition includes an elevator, the main offices, nursery, classroom, and handicap restrooms. The address of the church was changed from 1620 N. Adams to 1621 N. Main St. The stained glass window "Christ and the Children" (see above) was purchased and installed the summer of 2004, paid for by church memorial fund donations.

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