Arlington United Church
50 years
As a United Church
We are United to Serve Jesus Christ
About our Church and People
We are imperfect people learning to love the way that Christ loved and serve the way that Christ served.
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Vision and Mission
OUR VISION
Our vision is to be a multiethnic, multigenerational body of believers impacting our community with the love of Christ and reflecting the Body of Christ in all its diversity.
OUR MISSION
To make and deepen disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of ourselves, our community, and the world.
ACCESSIBILITY
We believe all people are precious in God’s sight and should not be hindered in worshiping God. Therefore we have made our facility accessible and we offer gluten-free communion and hearing devices.
What We Believe
As people united by our shared faith in Jesus Christ, we celebrate and proclaim His life-transforming Good News by following the example set in the Book of Acts:
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Studying God’s Word and encouraging one another in faith.
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Sharing the hope of abundant life in Jesus Christ with the world around us.
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Lifting one another up through prayer.
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Remembering Jesus through the Holy Sacraments.
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Caring for one another through fellowship, love, and mutual support.
We are a community of believers who know Jesus Christ as our personal Savior—and the Savior of the world.
We Are Pilgrims on a Journey
We recognize that everyone is at a different point on their spiritual journey. Whether you're just beginning to seek God or have been walking with Him for years, you are welcome here. We value honesty, questions, and dialogue as we explore faith together.
Our faith is rooted in Jesus Christ, whom we affirm as the Son of God and Lord of our lives. We accept the Bible—both Old and New Testaments—as the Word of God and our perfect guide for faith, doctrine, and daily living.
We believe that all people are in need of a Savior. Out of His great love for humanity, God came into the world as Jesus Christ to offer us salvation—not based on anything we’ve done, but through faith in Him alone.
We also believe that God’s love reaches every part of who we are—body, soul, and spirit—and that His blessings are meant to be shared. That’s why we are committed to serving others. You’ll find our members volunteering at the food bank, Youth Dynamics, Lunch on Us, and wherever else we can share the tangible love of Christ with our community.
Our response to denominational differences
Historically, United Methodist Churches are overseen by a Bishop who provides leadership and guidance for all areas of church life. In contrast, Evangelical Covenant Churches operate under the leadership of the local congregation, with accountability to both regional and national offices.
Our church was formed through a merger of these two traditions in 1974. Our Bylaws and Articles of Incorporation outline how we function and how we relate to each denomination.
In 2024, the United Methodist Church and the Evangelical Covenant Church came into conflict over differing views regarding LGBTQ+ marriage and ordination. As a congregation, we are discerning our own path in how we live in relationship with the LGBTQ+ community, guided by prayer, Scripture, and open conversation.
To learn more, please read our full position statement