Everything we do at Paoli Methodist—whether within or outside the confines of our church building—is rooted in our six-word mission statement: “Love God. Follow Christ. Serve Others.” These three directives are inseparable from one another. Loving God leads naturally to following Christ. And a major part of following Christ— abiding by his teachings and learning from his example—is to joyfully serve others, especially those who most need to experience God’s grace and compassion.
Our vision statement is “To be a Christ-centered community of caring and inclusivity, guided by the Holy Spirit, where love and justice prevail and where all are welcomed as family. With open hearts and warmth, we aspire to embody the teachings and compassion of Jesus Christ.”
Our values and mission priorities reflect those of Methodism’s founder, John Wesley, whose ministry was rooted in the doctrine of personal salvation by faith and who preached that God’s grace was “free in all, and free for all.” Wesley had a special concern for the needy, was an ardent abolitionist, and gave his full support to women in ministry.
We at Paoli Methodist know that we are far from perfect as individuals or as a congregation. We have our share of disagreements on issues related to theology, public policy, and more. But we understand that loving God requires that we love one another and that we allow this love to permeate our relationships and help us rise above our differences.