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The ministries of Cokesbury are shaped by major principles of the United Methodist Church, which are grounded in the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. To know more about our mission statements click here. 

The Five Principles of United Methodism are Radical Hospitality, Passionate Worship, Intentional Discipling, Salty Service, and Extravagant Generosity... more on these in a moment.

You will see on Our Vision & Mission page that Cokesbury divided its ministries into four areas. We have integrated our vision and mission statements with the five Methodist principles, and into our four areas of ministry in order to make everything cohesive.

Radical Hospitality

Christian hospitality refers to the active desire to invite, welcome, receive and care for those who are strangers, so that they find a spiritual home and discover for themselves the unending richness of life in Christ. As followers of one who easily and gladly welcomed children, tax collectors, lepers, prostitutes, Samaritans and indeed, sinners of all sorts into his fellowship – how can we not do likewise?

Passionate Worship

The defining well-spring of a congregation’s life together is their worship. Christ calls us out of the world to gather around Him as a congregation of passionate worshipers. We are a church who worships God as revealed to us through Jesus Christ. Before we do anything, this is our basic identity: we are Jesus’ disciples who gather because of what God has done and is doing in us and in the world. We gather with attitudes of trust and gratitude, of openness and obedience. We gather to be formed as God’s people through praise, prayer, Word and Sacrament.

Intentional Discipling

Accepting the gift of salvation (being justified by grace) and being born again through the Holy Spirit is a cause for celebration. Jesus also stressed the need for and in fact commanded obedience to his teachings. He also commanded that we go and spread that same faith and obedience, making other disciples. We may be alive in the Spirit, but there is a great need for always maturing in the faith - being transformed by the sanctifying power of Christ's Holy Spirit.

Salty Service

“Let me tell you why you are here,” says Jesus. “You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness?" (Matthew 5:13). Service flows naturally and inescapably from the teachings and example of Jesus. He was clear that his followers are to be servants: “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant... just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:26-28).

Extravagant Generosity

Methodists have always been guided by a philosophy of "make all you can by working hard at an honest and honorable trade; save all you can, never squandering money; and give all you can by supporting your immediate family, the household of faith and then to all who are in need." John Wesley, a chief founder of the Methodist movement said that if you make all you can and save all you can but do not give all you can, you may be a living person, but you will be a dead Christian. We continue to believe this and remain obedient to Christ by offering our prayers, our presence, our gifts, and our service to advancing Christ's ministry of reconciling the world to himself.