Alum Rock United Methodist Church is a diverse spiritual community of many. We are a church centered in these three words, "God Loves You", and this divine love is for all of God's creation. And, all means ALL. This then is our task: to accept, to welcome, and to love one another, just as you are. This happens regardless of one's faith tradition, station in life, what your life experience has been or where you are headed in life. This happens primarily because of God's grace is given to you. As we explore together the many different ways to include one in our spiritual community, we hope to discover together opportunities for our spirit, mind, body, and emotion to thrive, to grow vigorously and flourish faithfully and more fully into God's spirit and grace. Our core value and purpose is to live God's love as expressed in three primary missions to be: A Multi-Cultural, Justice Seeking, Reconciling Congregation.

MULTICULTURAL

Our primary mission is creating cultural and social programs designed to promote intercultural dialogue, awareness and respect for diversity. Through advocacy, cultural programs, education, and spiritual learning, Alum Rock hopes to address, understand and appreciate racial, ethnic, gender and other differences, while creating opportunities for all who enter our doors to challenge bias and expand their cultural knowledge and appreciation. We strive to provide an optimum environment where all members of the Alum Rock community may develop to the highest level of their potential in an atmosphere free from harassment and bias, thereby ensuring Alum Rock's standing as a truly spiritual and culturally vibrant community.

Therefore, Alum Rock is committed to promoting and enhancing the well-being of all who come through our doors. We are devoted to affirming and honoring the uniqueness of our multicultural members and constituents. Our mission is to create an atmosphere based on dignity, inclusiveness, and self-awareness that is focused on individual healing and wellness for all, respective of cultural identity.

JUSTICE SEEKING

It is the essence of Alum Rock UMChurch to cultivate the formation of the whole person to be an active, informed, and responsible citizen locally, nationally, and globally. Rooted in our United Methodist theological understanding of: tradition, scripture, reason, experience; our faith calls us to promote a safe and welcoming environment in which each person is affirmed, respected and cared for both inside and outside of the church. We intend to empower all members of our community—young, parents, elders, visitor, guest, members and staff with the tools to recognize and value the distinctive perspectives, experiences and gift and graces of others.

We seek to uphold the mission of The United Methodist Church, whose vision is "to make disciples of Jesus Christ, for the transformation of the world."

We commit ourselves to fostering an awareness that impels us to act because we answered the "call to follow" Jesus, and our belief in the dignity of each person.

We are called by faith to be compassionate, fair and treat one another equally. This then, requires us to stand with Jesus in biblical obedience to make right the wrongs and empower the least of these—creating opportunity for dialogue, learning and activism. It is expected that all members of the Alum Rock community value differences that include, but are not limited to, ability, age, belief, ethnicity, family structure, gender, learning styles, race, religion, sexual orientation and socioeconomic status. This means developing opportunity and access to realize and fulfill ones highest potential.

Therefore, we are committed to faith in action, being spiritual activists for social justice. This means instilling hope, modeling love and offering peace, to transform individuals, communities, and make a difference in the world. We hope to do this by collaborating and partnering with the community to mobilizing people of faith, while focusing on racial and social justice.

RECONCILING

We, the people of Alum Rock United Methodist Church, have love in our hearts for every person. We affirm that all people are created in the image of God and as beloved children of God, all are worthy of God's love and grace. We welcome full inclusion of all people in the life of Alum Rock UMC, where we are on a spiritual journey together in this path of life. We recognize that there are differences among us, but believe that we can love alike even though we may not think alike. We celebrate our human family's diversity of sexual orientation, gender identity, race, ethnicity, age, faith history, economic status, marital status, physical and mental ability and education. We invite all people to join us in our faith journey toward greater love, understanding, and mutual respect. We learn this from Jesus, who teaches us to love our neighbors as we love ourselves, without qualification. Therefore, we affirm and stand in love with our Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer sisters and brothers as whole persons in Christ.

Reconciling Ministries Network logo The United Methodist Church as a whole has rightfully received much criticism for its decision to hold on to rules that discriminate against our LGBTQ sisters and brothers. Alum Rock leaders are saddened by this decision which is clearly not based in the love, justice and equality that our Christian faith teaches.

Our leaders affirm that everyone deserves to share in the joy of being the people God has created us to be, whether that be gay or straight. As a neighborhood family church in the East San Jose community, Alum Rock UMC will continue to work within our larger United Methodist denomination for equality for all people. And we will welcome, with love and joy and without discrimination, any person who walks through our doors!