About Us
FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
Marion, Indiana
"Our New Day!"
"Do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up, do you not perceive it?"
Isaiah 43:18b, 19
Our Core Values
VIBRANT WORSHIP Christ-centered and meaningful to all
BOUNTIFUL TITHING of our lives and resources
MISSION AND OUTREACH to spread the Gospel
CONTAGIOUS HOSPITALITY for all
CONTINUOUS GROWTH in our faith and lives
GENUINE FELLOWSHIP building Christian community
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION transformational and continuing
Our Vision
Today, we are shaping the future with consensus, with clarity of vision and with conviction in our hearts.
In 2007, we completed a year of prayerful discernment and discovery to reach the historic decision made at our December 21 Church Conference. At that meeting with a nearly unanimous vote, the congregation decided to remain a downtown church and to begin the work of building a campus at 7th Street and Adams that would serve the generations to come. A Building Committee was elected to begin the work that would lay the foundation for the fulfillment of our vision for the future.
As we worked through the discernment process, we-also developed a new vision statement and a set of Core Values for the church. The Administrative Council then' adopted a set of operational strategies to guide the work of the future.
Our new vision statement is: Creating passionate followers of Jesus Christ who actively love
and serve others.
Our Next Steps
Your Building Committee has begun its work to bring the new vision into reality; They have heard your voices regarding the accessibility needs of the building and especially the need for an elevator in the education wing that will service all four floors. We all realize that it is more than just accessibility. The need speaks to the hospitality of our church and our mission to bring new people to know. Jesus Christ. If the facilities aren't accessible, the people will not - or more importantly cannot - come; some of the smaller pieces will be handled-by the Trustees but the larger part - the new entrance and elevator are the cornerstone pieces of the Campaign to fund our future.
The Building Committee is also looking at acquiring additional property to develop our FUMC Campus. In the process they are looking at options that will give US room in the future to build a-multi-purpose building with a gymnasium for our youth program and for all of our members to use and additional classroom space.
This proposed work is designed to help us build the ministries and programs that will bring FUM into the lives of future generations of Marion residents. We are expanding our ministries to youth and young adults. We are building programs for our adult populations with the Life Enrichment Center, with small groups, Bible studies and other opportunities to grow disciples for Jesus Christ.
Another opportunity for the life of FUMC is the growth of our concert programs. With the help of the Presnall Fund, we are again offering concerts such as the recent piano/organ concert by Susan Seacott and Sheila Todd. These Presnall concerts are presented free to the public. We also have hosted the Indiana Wesleyan Chorale and the exciting Choral Festival of last October. Our sanctuary boasts one of the most significant organs in the area. We need to assure its condition for future generations with some much needed upgrades.
Proverbs 29: 18 says "Where there is no vision, the people perish". FUMC is a church with a vision - to continue to be the mainline United Methodist Church in downtown Marion. While other churches have deserted the city in favor of the suburbs, we have made the decision to be the beacon of the light of Christ to downtown Marion. We see people coming to us from outlying areas as well as those within walking distance of the church. We see a vision of thriving, growing disciples of Jesus Christ filling their hearts and souls with the love of Jesus and the fellowship of our church. It is to that future that we pledge ourselves as we look to fulfill our future in line with the will of God for us in this time and place.
