A Step of Faith

 On January 15th, 2023 this church body gathered together and voted to separate from the United Methodist Church. This was a difficult choice for each member as we have been a part of the denomination since its inception in 1968. However, after months of deliberation, research, and intense prayer, this church body and its leadership took a leap of faith and left the UMC to become the independent Howe Methodist Church. We cherish our Methodist identity and maintain a strong Wesleyan theology and doctrine. God has led us into this new chapter of our church, and we continue to count the incredible blessings He brings to our ministry each and every day.

What does independent mean?

 Independent status simply means we are not under the authority of any denomination or governing body other than our own, elected leadership. Howe Methodist Church now has the ability to choose its own Pastor, partner with any other church or ministry we feel led to do so with regardless of their denomination and is no longer required to pay monthly apportionments.

 -“The governance of this church is vested in the body of believers by which it is composed. It is subject to the control of no other ecclesiastical body, but recognizes and sustains the obligation of mutual counsel cooperation which are common among churches holding to essential Christian doctrine.”          -HMC Constitution. Preamble. IV. Relationships

In what ways are you Methodist?

 We cherish our Methodist roots, theology, and doctrine. In all worship aspects in a Sunday service, we maintain a traditional Methodist approach from our Pastoral robes, litanies, and hymnals. We adhere to all Wesleyan doctrines including open-table communion, the loving grace of God in its three forms (Prevenient, Justifying, Sanctifying), and a desire to spread the gospel of Christ in a loving manner to the world around us.

 -“We believe that God has called us to live together in a faithful covenant that expresses our commitments both to God and to each other. With John Wesley, we affirm that the scriptures know of no such thing as “solitary religion,” but that we have been designed to grow in our discipleship in the company of others.”         -HMC Constitution. Church Covenant. V.

 Do you turn away the LGBTQ community?

Absolutely not! We hope to change this false narrative that a church following scripture can’t also be a safe haven of love and grace for every single person that walks through our doors, no exceptions. We want everyone to feel cherished as a child of God, bought with the blood of Christ, and loved unconditionally. Let us show you just HOWE much we love you!

-“Inclusiveness means openness, acceptance, and support that enables all persons to participate in the spiritual life of the Church and its service to the community and the world.”

-“This connection is founded in both our common doctrinal understandings, as well as in our core mission of sharing the gospel with the world. Toward that end, we celebrate our unity with one another at the table of the Lord that extends across the globe, crossing all boundaries of language, culture, customs, and social and economic distinctions.”             

-HMC Constitution. V. Church Covenant