Church
Trinity Frederick
United Methodist Church · Frederick: a neutral profile of what this congregation describes about its beliefs.
Where to find them
Public details for this congregation.
TraditionUnited Methodist ChurchAbout →
Sourcing statusTradition default
Beliefs on file863 positions
Statement of faithNot on file
Where they stand
Each position below is labelled by how it was sourced, so you can weigh it for yourself.
VerifiedConfirmed by the church
From their statement of faithEstimated, not verified
Tradition defaultEstimated, not verified
Showing 85 of 863 positions across 18 topics. Expand any topic to see the rest.
God & the Trinity56 positions
- Analogical LanguageAffirmsTradition defaultHuman language about God is analogical: true but never capturing God univocally as it captures creatures.Estimated, not verified
- Apophatic PriorityAffirmsTradition defaultWhat God is in himself is ultimately beyond human comprehension, so negative ("God is not...") statements are more reliable than positive ones.Estimated, not verified
Christ64 positions
- Assumed Fallen Human NatureStrongly rejectsTradition defaultChrist assumed a fully fallen human nature (subject to the effects of the Fall) in order to heal it from within.Estimated, not verified
- Assumed Unfallen Human NatureStrongly affirmsTradition defaultChrist assumed an unfallen, sinless human nature, untouched by original sin/corruption.Estimated, not verified
Sin & the fall47 positions
- Adams Sin Brought Physical DeathStrongly affirmsTradition defaultPhysical death entered the human race as a consequence of Adam's sin; humans were not originally subject to death.Estimated, not verified
- All Sin Deserves Death EquallyStrongly affirmsTradition defaultEvery sin, however small, deserves God's condemnation/death: there is no class of sin that does not by nature merit it.Estimated, not verified
Salvation58 positions
- Active Obedience ImputedStrongly affirmsTradition defaultChrist's lifelong law-keeping (his "active obedience"), not only his death, is imputed to the believer as their positive righteousness.Estimated, not verified
- Assurance Grounded In Christ AloneStrongly affirmsTradition defaultAssurance rests on Christ's finished work and God's promise, not on the believer's own works or sacramental performance.Estimated, not verified
The Holy Spirit47 positions
- Assurance Is Normal For BelieversStrongly affirmsTradition defaultSettled assurance of salvation is normal and to be expected for genuine believers in this life.Estimated, not verified
- Blasphemy Against Spirit UnforgivableStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThere is a specific sin against the Holy Spirit that is unforgivable.Estimated, not verified
The Church52 positions
- Apostolicity Is Doctrinal Not SuccessionalAffirmsTradition defaultApostolicity consists primarily in fidelity to apostolic DOCTRINE, not in an unbroken chain of ordinations from the apostles.Estimated, not verified
- Baptism Is The Entry Into The ChurchStrongly affirmsTradition defaultBaptism is the rite of entry/incorporation into the visible church.Estimated, not verified
Sacraments & ordinances49 positions
- Anointing Sick Is A SacramentRejectsTradition defaultAnointing of the sick with oil is a sacrament conveying grace, healing, and forgiveness to the seriously ill.Estimated, not verified
- Baptism Affusion ValidStrongly affirmsTradition defaultBaptism by pouring water over the head (affusion) is a fully valid mode.Estimated, not verified
Worship & liturgy33 positions
- Bowing And ProstrationStrongly rejectsTradition defaultBowing, prostration, or full physical reverence before the altar, icons, or sacrament is fitting in worship.Estimated, not verified
- Communion Only SeasonallyStrongly rejectsTradition defaultCommunion seasons (a few solemn observances a year with extensive preparation) are the fitting pattern.Estimated, not verified
Last things27 positions
- A Literal Mark Of The Beast Is ComingAffirmsTradition defaultA literal future "mark of the beast" will be imposed as a condition of economic participation.Estimated, not verified
- Apocalyptic Prophecy Read Literally FuturisticallyRejectsTradition defaultThe prophecies of Daniel and Revelation should be read primarily as literal predictions of still-future events.Estimated, not verified
Scripture51 positions
- Authority Holy Tradition OrthodoxStrongly rejectsTradition defaultScripture is rightly read only within Holy Tradition: the Fathers, councils, liturgy, and consensus of the Church.Estimated, not verified
- Authority Magisterium InterpretsStrongly rejectsTradition defaultThe authentic interpretation of Scripture is entrusted to the Church's living teaching office (Magisterium), whose judgments bind the faithful.Estimated, not verified
Revelation, creation & science32 positions
- Adam Special Creation From DustStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe first human was specially and directly created by God from the dust, not biologically descended from earlier hominins.Estimated, not verified
- Angels Created BeingsStrongly affirmsTradition defaultAngels and other spiritual beings are part of God's created order, made by God.Estimated, not verified
Life & bioethics62 positions
- Abortion Early Less Wrong Than LateLeans toward affirmingTradition defaultEarly abortion is significantly less morally serious than late-term abortion.Estimated, not verified
- Abortion Gravely Wrong In PrincipleStrongly affirmsTradition defaultDeliberately ending a pregnancy by killing the unborn is in itself a grave moral wrong.Estimated, not verified
Sexuality & marriage51 positions
- Abortifacient Contraception WrongStrongly affirmsTradition defaultContraceptive methods that may act after fertilization (potential abortifacients) are morally wrong even if other contraception is permitted.Estimated, not verified
- Annulment Recognizes Invalid MarriageRejectsTradition defaultSome unions that appeared to be marriages were never valid marriages, and the church can rightly declare them null (annulment).Estimated, not verified
- Artificial Contraception Is WrongRejectsTradition defaultArtificial contraception (barrier, hormonal, sterilization) is intrinsically morally wrong.Estimated, not verified
- Celibacy Is A Higher CallingStrongly rejectsTradition defaultConsecrated celibacy/virginity is a higher or more excellent state than marriage.Estimated, not verified
- Chastity Is A Positive VirtueStrongly affirmsTradition defaultChastity (rightly ordered sexuality according to one's state in life) is a positive virtue to be actively cultivated, not merely abstinence.Estimated, not verified
- Church Should Bless Same Sex UnionsAffirmsTradition defaultThe church should liturgically bless and solemnize same-sex unions.Estimated, not verified
- Civil Marriage Is Valid MarriageStrongly affirmsTradition defaultA marriage contracted before the state (civil marriage) is a fully valid marriage in God's sight.Estimated, not verified
- Clergy Should Be CelibateStrongly rejectsTradition defaultThose ordained to the priesthood/ministry should be celibate.Estimated, not verified
- Contraception Fully PermissibleStrongly affirmsTradition defaultMarried couples may use contraception freely as a matter of prudent stewardship, with no moral cloud over it.Estimated, not verified
- Divorce Permitted For AbuseStrongly affirmsTradition defaultSevere abuse (physical, emotional, or sexual) is itself a legitimate ground for divorce.Estimated, not verified
- Divorce Permitted For AdulteryStrongly affirmsTradition defaultDivorce is permitted in the case of a spouse's sexual unfaithfulness (the "exception clause").Estimated, not verified
- Divorced Remarried Barred From CommunionStrongly rejectsTradition defaultA person divorced and civilly remarried without annulment should be barred from receiving Communion.Estimated, not verified
- Every Sex Act Open To ProcreationRejectsTradition defaultEvery marital sexual act must remain open to the possibility of procreation.Estimated, not verified
- Experience And Conscience AuthoritativeAffirmsTradition defaultThe lived experience and conscience of faithful believers (including LGBTQ Christians) is a legitimate source that can correct inherited sexual teaching.Estimated, not verified
- Gay Christians Called To CelibacyRejectsTradition defaultChristians who experience exclusive same-sex attraction are called to lifelong celibacy or to a mixed-orientation marriage with the opposite sex.Estimated, not verified
- Historical Polygamy Was Divinely ToleratedRejectsTradition defaultOld Testament polygamy was genuinely permitted/tolerated by God for that era, not merely recorded as sin.Estimated, not verified
- Husband Is Head Of WifeRejectsTradition defaultThe husband is the divinely appointed head of the wife, who is called to submit to his leadership.Estimated, not verified
- Lustful Desire Itself Is SinStrongly affirmsTradition defaultInternal lustful desire/fantasy, even without any outward act, is itself sin.Estimated, not verified
- Marital Sex Acts Have Moral LimitsLeans toward rejectingTradition defaultEven within marriage, some sexual acts are morally illicit (not "anything goes" between spouses).Estimated, not verified
- Marriage Is A CovenantStrongly affirmsTradition defaultMarriage is essentially a covenant (a binding, God-witnessed promise) more than a contract or a means to ends.Estimated, not verified
- Marriage Is A SacramentStrongly rejectsTradition defaultMarriage between the baptized is a sacrament that confers grace.Estimated, not verified
- Marriage Is IndissolubleRejectsTradition defaultA valid, consummated marriage is absolutely indissoluble; nothing but death ends it.Estimated, not verified
- Marriage Is Lifelong MonogamousStrongly affirmsTradition defaultMarriage is by nature a lifelong, exclusively monogamous union.Estimated, not verified
- Marriage Is Male Female By DefinitionStrongly affirmsTradition defaultBy definition and divine design, marriage is the union of one man and one woman.Estimated, not verified
- Marriage Requires Proper Form And ConsentRejectsTradition defaultA valid marriage requires proper canonical form, free consent, and openness to its essential ends; defects in these can void it.Estimated, not verified
- Masturbation Is SinfulAffirmsTradition defaultMasturbation is morally wrong.Estimated, not verified
- Natural Family Planning PermissibleLeans toward rejectingTradition defaultSpacing or limiting births by natural family planning (periodic abstinence) is morally acceptable for serious reasons, where artificial means are not.Estimated, not verified
- No Grounds Justify DivorceStrongly rejectsTradition defaultThere are no grounds whatsoever that morally justify divorce for a believer.Estimated, not verified
- Orthodox Economia Permits Second MarriageRejectsTradition defaultThe church may, by pastoral mercy ("economia"), permit a second or third marriage with a penitential rite even though it is less than the ideal.Estimated, not verified
- Polyamory Can Be EthicalStrongly rejectsTradition defaultConsensual polyamorous or "ethical non-monogamous" relationships can be morally legitimate.Estimated, not verified
- Polygamous Converts May Remain MarriedRejectsTradition defaultA man already in a polygamous marriage when he converts may remain married to all his wives rather than being required to divorce.Estimated, not verified
- Polygamy Is ImmoralStrongly affirmsTradition defaultPolygamy (one man, multiple wives) is morally wrong for Christians.Estimated, not verified
- Pornography Use Is SinfulStrongly affirmsTradition defaultUsing pornography is morally wrong.Estimated, not verified
- Premarital Sex Always WrongStrongly affirmsTradition defaultPremarital sex (fornication) is always sinful, even between an engaged or committed couple.Estimated, not verified
- Remarriage Permitted For Any PartyAffirmsTradition defaultAny divorced person may remarry, regardless of fault in the prior divorce.Estimated, not verified
- Same Sex Acts Always SinfulLeans toward rejectingTradition defaultSexual acts between two people of the same sex are always morally wrong.Estimated, not verified
- Same Sex Attraction Is DisorderedRejectsTradition defaultSame-sex sexual attraction is an objective disorder of desire even when not acted upon.Estimated, not verified
- Same Sex Marriage Is True MarriageLeans toward affirmingTradition defaultA covenanted union between two people of the same sex can be a true marriage in God's sight.Estimated, not verified
- Same Sex Question Is Third Way AcceptableAffirmsTradition defaultThe church can legitimately leave the same-sex marriage question to local conscience without dividing fellowship over it.Estimated, not verified
- Scripture Norms Sexual EthicsAffirmsTradition defaultScripture provides binding, authoritative norms for sexual conduct that the church is not free to revise.Estimated, not verified
- Sex Is Fixed Binary GivenStrongly affirmsTradition defaultA person's sex is a fixed, binary, God-given reality determined at conception, not something that can be changed.Estimated, not verified
- Sex Reserved For MarriageStrongly affirmsTradition defaultSexual intercourse is morally reserved exclusively for marriage.Estimated, not verified
- Sexual Ethics Are A Salvation IssueRejectsTradition defaultOne's stance and conduct on sexual ethics bears on salvation/standing before God, not merely on discipleship maturity.Estimated, not verified
- Sexual Pleasure Is A Good In ItselfStrongly affirmsTradition defaultSexual pleasure within marriage is a genuine good to be enjoyed for its own sake, not merely tolerated for procreation.Estimated, not verified
- Sexual Sin No Worse Than Other SinAffirmsTradition defaultSexual sins are not categorically graver than other sins and should not be singled out for special emphasis or discipline.Estimated, not verified
- Singleness Is A Full Equal VocationAffirmsTradition defaultLifelong singleness is a full and equal Christian vocation, not a lesser or transitional state.Estimated, not verified
- Spouses Mutually Submit As EqualsStrongly affirmsTradition defaultHusband and wife are called to mutual submission as equal partners, with no role assigned by sex.Estimated, not verified
- Unitive Companionship Is Primary EndStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe unitive good (companionship, mutual love, and one-flesh union of the spouses) is at least as central as procreation, if not more so.Estimated, not verified
- Vowed Celibacy Is BindingStrongly rejectsTradition defaultA vow of lifelong celibacy (religious life) is genuinely binding before God and should not be dispensed lightly.Estimated, not verified
- Women May Be Ordained PastorsStrongly affirmsTradition defaultWomen may be ordained as pastors/priests and hold the church's highest teaching/governing office.Estimated, not verified
- Women May Teach And Lead Men In ChurchStrongly affirmsTradition defaultWomen may teach and exercise authority over men in the gathered church (preach, lead, govern), short of or including ordination.Estimated, not verified
Society & politics47 positions
- Active Nonviolent Resistance ObligatoryAffirmsTradition defaultChristians should actively resist injustice through nonviolent means (protest, civil disobedience, noncooperation), not merely abstain from violence.Estimated, not verified
- Capital Punishment LegitimateRejectsTradition defaultThe civil authority may rightly execute criminals for grave crimes.Estimated, not verified
Angelology Demonology47 positions
- Angelic Fall Caused By PrideStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe angels fell primarily through pride: refusing subjection to God / seeking to exalt themselves.Estimated, not verified
- Angelic Fall Predates Human FallAffirmsTradition defaultThe angelic rebellion occurred before the fall of humanity, and the serpent's temptation issued from an already-fallen angel.Estimated, not verified
Anthropology50 positions
- Body Essential To PersonStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe body is essential to being a complete human person, not an accidental or dispensable container for the soul.Estimated, not verified
- Body GoodStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe material human body is intrinsically good as created by God.Estimated, not verified
Covenant Law Israel27 positions
- Abrahamic Covenant Foundational And OngoingStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe Abrahamic covenant is foundational and its promises remain operative for the people of God today.Estimated, not verified
- Believers No Longer Under Laws CondemnationStrongly affirmsTradition defaultBelievers are entirely free from the law's condemning function but remain under its directing function.Estimated, not verified
Mariology Saints63 positions
- All Believers Are SaintsStrongly affirmsTradition default"Saints" in the New Testament sense means all believers, not a special canonized class.Estimated, not verified
- Altar Relics Required Or ProperStrongly rejectsTradition defaultIt is fitting (or required) that altars contain the relics of saints.Estimated, not verified
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