Our vision statement encompasses everything we try to do as this particular congregation, representing the universal Body of Christ.  Since we recognize that the three things the world needs the most are deep faith, secure hope, and true love, we have set our minds toward a proliferation of all three.  So at Brooks Chapel, we are...

Sharing faith.  Spreading hope.  Showing love.

     At Brooks Chapel, we share in the beliefs of all United Methodists--some of which include:

Our Doctrinal 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."  Our preaching and teaching are "grounded in Scripture, informed by Christian tradition, enlivened in experience, and tested by reason."

Basic Christian Affirmations:

"With Christians of other communions we confess belief in the triune God--Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  This confession embraces the biblical witness to God's activity in creation, encompasses God's gracious self-involvement in the dramas of history, and anticipates the consummation of God's reign."

     In other words, we believe Jesus Christ died for our sins and the sins of the world.  We believe that the Holy Spirit helps us experience God's great love on both an individual and communal basis.  We see ourselves as part of Christ's universal church when we turn wholly to him.  We see the reign of God as both a present and future reality.  We recognize the authority of Scripture, confess that our salvation is is by grace through faith, and ackowledge that the church is in need of continual reformation and renewal.

Distinctive Wesleyan Emphases:

"Grace pervades our understanding of Christian faith and life.  By grace we mean the undeserved, unmerited, and loving action of God in human existence through the ever-present Holy Spirit.  While the grace of God is undivided, it precedes salvation as 'prevenient grace,' continues in 'justifying grace,' and is brought to fruition in 'sanctifying grace.'"

     For more distinctive Wesleyan emphases in the UMC, see pp. 46-48 of The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church--2004 or visit http://www.umc.org

Racial Justice:

"The United Methodist Church proclaims the value of each person as unique child of God and commits itself to the healing and wholeness of all persons.  The United Methodist Church recognizes that the sin of racism has been destructive to its unity throughout its history...The United Methodist Church shall confront and seek to eliminate racism...in every facet of its life and in society at large."

Ecumenical Relations:

"As part of the church universal, The United Methodist Church believes that the Lord of the church is calling Christians everywhere to strive toward unity...through plans of union and covenantal relationships with churches of methodist or other denominational traditions."

The above quotations excerpted from The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church--2004.  Copyright ©2004 by the United Methodist Publishing House.  Used by permission.

      At Brooks Chapel, our mission is one shared by all United Methodists: "We insist that personal salvation always involves Christian mission and service to the world.  By joining heart and hand, we assert that personal religion, evangelical witness, and Christian social action are reciprocal and mutually enforcing...love of God is always linked with love of neighbor..."  You see, our mission is that given to us by Christ: to make him known to all the earth, and to baptize all nations (that is, all persons) in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  As such, we strive to serve our community as a beacon of hope and a safehaven for those in spiritual need.

     Regardless of age, gender, socio-economic status, ethnicity, or spiritual background, WE WELCOME YOU at Brooks Chapel United Methodist Church!

The above quotations excerpted from The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church--2004.  Copyright ©2004 by the United Methodist Publishing House.  Used by permission.

     The congregation of Brooks Chapel is very involved in the life of the community and the church universal, and firmly believes in helping those with a need.  Some of the programs we participate in are:

•Calloway County Relay for Life

•Singing for the residents of Spring Creek of Murray

•Collection of baby bottles for Lifehouse of Murray

•Participation in Murray State University's Great Beginnings program

•Support of Murray State University's Wesley Foundation

•Support of Reelfoot Rural Ministries

•Various disaster-relief efforts, as need arises

     There are plenty of opportunities for mission and ministry as part of Brooks Chapel.  If you are looking for a place to serve as Christ's hands and feet, you have found it!