What We Believe
The Okemos Church is interdenominational, which means that its beliefs are in keeping with the more moderate Protestant denominations.
- We believe that the Holy Bible is our primary source for Christian doctrine, and that the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ forms our understanding of who we are, who God is, and what the relationship between us is to be like.
- We believe that through the power and presence of God’s Holy Spirit our understanding of God’s intention for us continues as we grow in knowledge and grace.
- We believe that while only faith is necessary for salvation, God’s love calls from us a response in the manner in which we live our lives. Salvation shows itself in the life of the believer in works of justice, love, mercy and forgiveness.
- We believe that there are two sacraments: Baptism and Holy Communion (the Lord’s Supper). Baptism is open to all – of any age – as a “once-in-a-lifetime” experience. It acknowledges Christ’s claim upon the life of the individual and our joyful response to it. Holy Communion is a remembrance of the suffering and death of Christ and a symbol of the union all Christians share with him and with one another. We celebrate Holy Communion frequently throughout the year and we believe in “open communion” – meaning all are welcome and encouraged to receive the elements as a gift of God, regardless of age or church membership.
The mission of the Okemos Community Church is:
- To spread the Gospel
- Help people grow in faith
- Build strong family units
- Care for one another
- Minister to both the local and world communities
- Serve God and our neighbors in all that we do
This congregation is affiliated with the West Michigan Conference of the United Methodist Church.