The United Methodist Churches of Ashton, LeRoy and Luther were linked to form Pine River Parish in 1966. One pastor shepherds the entire parish and conducts their three consecutive Sunday morning worship services. Each church retains an autonomous administrative board-council while also being represented on a parish wide administrative board-council which encourages and coordinates special parish-wide activites uniting the three sister churches. Each of these three churches have observed their centenials and are known for being vital forces serving God in their communities.
Our Christian Beliefs
United Methodists share a common heritage with all Christians. According to our foundational statement of beliefs found in The Book of Discipline, we share the following basic affirmations in common with all Christian communities:
God: God, who is one, is revealed in three distinct persons. Read More
Jesus: We believe in the mystery of salvation through Jesus Christ. God became human in Jesus of Nazareth, and his life, death and resurrection demonstrate God’s redeeming love. Read More
The Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit is God’s present activity in our midst. When we sense God’s leading, God’s challenge, or God’s support or comfort, it’s the Holy Spirit at work. Read More
Human Beings: Genesis 1:27 asserts that we have been made in the image of the Creator. Like God we have the capacity to love, care, communicate, and create. Read More
The Church: The church is the body of Christ, an extension of Christ’s life and ministry in the world today. Read More
The Bible: We believe that the Bible is the primary authority for our faith and practice. Read More
God’s Reign: The kingdom or reign of God is both a present reality and future hope. Read More
Our Wesleyan Heritage
United Methodists trace our heritage back to a pair of brothers who started the Methodist movement in 1700s England. John and Charles Wesley, helped lead a movement to “spread Scriptural holiness over the land.”
Read “Why the Wesleys, and Others Came to be Called ‘Methodists’” and “Roots of the UM tree: Digging Deeper” to learn more about our heritage.
Our Social Principles
Taking an active stance in society is nothing new for followers of John Wesley. He set the example for us to combine personal and social piety. Ever since predecessor churches to United Methodism flourished in the United States, we have been known as a denomination involved with people’s lives, with political and social struggles, having local to international mission implications. Such involvement is an expression of the personal change we experience in our baptism and conversion.
Excerpt from The Book of Resolutions of The United Methodist Church 2016. Copyright ©2016 by The United Methodist Publishing House. Used by permission.
The United Methodist Church believes God’s love for the world is an active and engaged love, a love seeking justice and liberty. We cannot just be observers. So we care enough about people’s lives to risk interpreting God’s love, to take a stand, to call each of us into a response, no matter how controversial or complex. The church helps us think and act out a faith perspective, not just responding to all the other ‘mind-makers-up’ that exist in our society.”
Excerpt from The Book of Resolutions of The United Methodist Church 2016. Copyright © 2016 by The United Methodist Publishing House. Used by permission.
Social Priciples Preface
The Social Principles are a prayerful and thoughtful effort of the General Conference to speak to the issues in the contemporary world from a sound biblical and theological foundation.
Social Principles Preamble
We affirm our unity in Jesus Christ while acknowledging differences in applying our faith in different cultural contexts as we live out the gospel.
The Natural World
All creation is the Lord’s, and we are responsible for the ways in which we use and abuse it.
The Nurturing Community
We believe we have a responsibility to innovate, sponsor, and evaluate new forms of community that will encourage development of the fullest potential in individuals.
The Social Community
We affirm all persons as equally valuable in the sight of God’s sight. We reject discrimination and assert the rights of minority groups to equal opportunities.
The Economic Community
We claim all economic systems to be under the judgment of God no less than other facets of the created order.
The Political Community
We hold governments responsible for the protection of people’s basic freedoms. We believe that neither church nor state should attempt to dominate the other.
The World Community
God’s world is one world. We pledge ourselves to seek the meaning of the gospel in all issues that divide people and threaten the growth of world community.
Our Social Creed
Our Social Creed is a statement of faith reflecting our Social Principles.
Pine River Parish is proud to be a part of the larger denomination of The United Methodist Church. We invite you to learn more about our beliefs, denomination and greater denominational resources and projects.
