CANAAN UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

It is common to hear United Methodist leaders speak of the denomination as “the connection.” This concept has been central to Methodism from its beginning. One reason United Methodists are able to accomplish great things is the church’s emphasis on “connectionalism.” Followers of the Wesleys are indeed “methodical” about the ways they approach mission and ministry.

Based on this “Great Commission, ” our United Methodist Church has stated its purpose: “The mission of the Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Local churches provide the most significant arena through which disciple-making occurs” (From The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church—2008, p. 87. Copyright © 2008 by The United Methodist Publishing House. Used by permission).So the mission of our congregation is to make disciples. This is a four-fold task….We could abbreviate our mission as one of welcoming-worshiping-nurturing-sending. (See The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church—2008, p. 88, and Guidelines for Leading Your Congregation, 2005-2008.