Who We Are and What We Believe

Who We Are

The United Methodist Church of Ludington is a warm, friendly community of believers, committed to the worship of God, the study of God's Word, service to others, and mission at home and abroad.

What We Believe

United Methodist preaching and teaching is grounded in Scripture, informed by Christian tradition, enlivened in personal experience, and tested by reason. With Christians of other communions, we believe in a triune God -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God summons us to repentance, pardons us, receives us by grace given in Jesus Christ and gives us hope of eternal life. Faith is the only response essential for salvation.  However, salvation evidences itself in good works. We believe there are two sacraments, Baptism and Communion, ordained by Christ as symbols and pledges of God's love for us. With other Christians, we declare the essential oneness of the church in Christ Jesus. The heart of Christian ministry is Christ's ministry of outreaching love.  The United Methodist Church reaches out to establish peace and justice in the world.  The mission of the United Methodist Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ.

News From 2010 Annual Conference

Al Bouda reports:

The forty-second session of the West Michigan annual Conference was held June 3-6, 2010 on the campus of Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Attended by approximately 1,000 members of Clergy and Lay Members, the Conference was declared by Bishop J. D. Keaton to be a huge success.

Each daily session consisted of Worship, Business and Legislative segments as well as special speakers bringing uplifting messages. The Conference included a Memorial Service for departed members of Clergy, introduction of new members of Clergy and special recognition of retiring Clergy. (Our Pastor Ken Tabor spoke eloquently during the latter session).

On the legislative front, of interest to UMC-L, was the rejection of a motion to return the annual Ministry Shares to 10% of reported specific income. That motion was rejected and then adjusted to 12.6% in lieu of the 12.4% that had been in effect, to accommodate a modest increase for conference employee salaries. The recommendation that the Conference be moved from Calvin College was also rejected. Other elements of legislative business were also enacted, but none had an immediate and direct impact upon UMC-L.

Of interest to all was a presentation by three leaders of The United Methodist Church for All People, located in Columbus, Ohio.  Initiated in 1999 as a "Free Store" focused on mission work within the community, the organization rapidly grew into a formal Church by 2003. The concept of the "Free Store" was based on allowing people to take from the items contained therein, that which they needed, and not what was presumed to be "suitable". As of 2010 this inner city mission has now touched 110,000 people. Many of these persons are now part of and working within the organization. All items in the store are donated goods, and the directors of the store rapidly discovered that donations increased with the need to maintain supplies. They discussed the concept of "Radical Hospitality" and "Abundant Giving" as the driving force for the success of their organization. (Issues discussed by Pastor Tom last year). Their Church has now grown to include food and meals as well as material goods. They have joined with another local Church to provide meals to the needy several days a week. Their final speaker emphasized the importance of personal relationships with, and within, the membership of the congregation. He said "in this case, It's not just about 'those people', it's about us" (all of us).

Worthy of note is the fact that our former Pastor Bill Dobbs, currently the District Superintendent for the Heartland District, is being appointed to the Cabinet Post of Clergy Assistant To The Bishop.

The program materials for the session honoring retiring members of Clergy, contained written statements from each individual. I include below a very brief segment of the words written by two Pastors, close to the hearts of UMC-L, and whose presence in our mist, provided enrichment to our lives.

Joe Elenbass:  "In our retirement Mary and I are enjoying our home in the pines on our eighty acres where we gaze at the stars, feed the trout in our ponds, work the land and continue to discover the presence of God in all that is around us."

Ken Tabor: "Always moving to deeper waters where ministry was needed, I feel blessed. When meeting people at their deepest needs, I have learned the meaning of being on Holy Ground, I am in awe."