What We Believe

Denominational Affiliation:
The United Methodist Church connects more than 11 million members on four continents and engages in ministry all around the world. Together, we share a legacy of living as disciples of Jesus Christ, sharing God's love both in what we say and how we serve our neighbors. Created in 1968 when the Evangelical United Brethren Church and the Methodist Episcopal Church merged, The United Methodist Church is deeply rooted in the Methodist movement started by John and Charles Wesley in the 1730s. Milford First is a member of the West Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church, one of 54 regional bodies within the United States.

Mission Statement of The United Methodist Church
(The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church, 2016, ¶ 121)

The mission of the Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world by proclaiming the good news of God's grace and by exemplifying Jesus' command to love God and neighbor, thus seeking the fulfillment of God's reign and realm in the world. The fulfillment of God's reign and realm in the world is the vision Scripture holds before us. The United Methodist Church affirms that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Savior of the world, and the Lord of all. As we make disciples, we respect persons of all religious faiths and we defend religious freedom for all persons. Jesus' words in Matthew provide the Church with our mission: "Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything that I've commanded you" (28:19-20), and "You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your being, and with all your mind. . . . You must love your neighbor as you love yourself" (22:37, 39).

This mission is our grace-filled response to the Reign of God in the world announced by Jesus. God's grace is active everywhere, at all times, carrying out this purpose as revealed in the Bible. It is expressed in God's covenant with Abraham and Sarah, in the Exodus of Israel from Egypt, and in the ministry of the prophets. It is fully embodied in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is experienced in the ongoing creation of a new people by the Holy Spirit.

John Wesley, Phillip Otterbein, Jacob Albright, and our other spiritual forebears understood this mission in this way. Whenever United Methodism has had a clear sense of mission, God has used our Church to save persons, heal relationships, transform social structures, and spread scriptural holiness, thereby changing the world. In order to be truly alive, we embrace Jesus' mandate to love God and to love our neighbor and to make disciples of all peoples.

Our Guiding Scripture:

The Greatest Commandment (Matthew 22:34-39)
“When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them, an expert in the law, asked him a question to test him. “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” He said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

Who Is Milford First?

We are a congregation committed to living out the Great Commandment by Doing No Harm, Doing Good, and Staying in Love with God and God’s Creation. We are a people living into the future of God’s Intention, serving the Human Family whoever they are, wherever we find them, and however we can serve them, and all for the sake of Christ and the Kingdom.

Our Community Promise

Striving to Love God, Our Neighbors and All of God’s Creation.

Our Tenets & Commitments

  • Faith & Discipleship

    The foundation for all we do is our faith in God and the ministry of Jesus. We love because he first loved us.

  • Service & Outreach

    Service to others is critical to our journey as Christians. Our reach extends beyond the walls of the church to those who are poor, sick, mistreated, marginalized or alone.

  • Love & Justice

    Although we may not all think alike, we can still all love alike. We believe everyone deserves a seat at the table and try to live out our baptismal vows, resisting evil and oppression in all forms.

  • Acceptance & Inclusion

    Jesus included those the rest of society did not. We offer a safe space where anyone can explore, grow in their faith and belong – just as they are.

  • Community & Connection

    We are better together and believe that the best way to follow Jesus is to engage in deep, authentic relationships with one another and God.

About Our Logo

Our logo prominently features Milford First’s bell tower, an iconic structure in the community, a nod to the church’s rootedness and 200+ year history. Rays extend upwards and out from the tower, symbolizing the equal importance of the church’s core values. They position Milford First as a light that shines brightly beyond its walls, a beacon of hope for all people. The greens and blues below the rays represent sky, water and land – symbols of new life, the spiritual journey and the church’s solid foundation. The circular shape behind the bell tower illustrates the church’s limitless possibilities and impact in Milford and around the world.

The logo’s colors, a variety of warm earth tones, highlight the city’s proximity to many wonderful natural resources, and the unfolding vision of ministry that focuses on deepening connection and service to God and each other through nature.

The colors in the logo covey an inclusive, unified mission in which all have a role to play in ministry together. They also represent the diverse hues of creation, sending the message that all are loved, cared for and belong at Milford First.

Our Shared Blessing

With one voice, we proclaim these words at the close of worship to guide us throughout the week.
“Almighty God, may the Love between us be strong, may the Trust between us be whole, and may the words between us be true. May our eyes truly see one another, may our ears truly hear one another, may our hearts truly touch one another, and may our souls truly hold one another. Now and forever! Amen.”