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A Little About UCF UCF was UNC Charlotte’s first campus ministry. It was established by the Methodist and Presbyterian churches to serve the students of UNC Charlotte in 1963. Dr. Loy Witherspoon (Doc) was the first campus pastor. Do you live in Witherspoon hall? It was named after Doc. Later the Lutheran and Episcopal denominations joined the party. UCF is a 501c3 non-profit ministry and is always staffed with an ordained pastor to ensure integrity in student ministry. Our tradition is enhanced by the fact that we remain relevant today.
Contact Us Link to our Leadership Page Student Center and Offices :: 704-549-8291 Email: leader@campus-ministry.org Mailing Address: PO Box 562776 Charlotte, NC 28256
Beliefs Worship Worship comes first. Worship precedes theology. We all worship, something. At UCF we worship the risen Christ.
Theology Theology is asking the big questions. Who is God? Is God Love? Why do bad things happen? Why are we here? These are theological questions. We hold to the historic theological doctrines and beliefs of the Christian faith:(Episcopal, Lutheran, Presbyterian, United Methodist).
Some Basics We believe in God! We believe that God inspired the writers of the Old and New Testament to speak prophecy, wisdom, law, good news and love. We are inspired by the Bible to study it, to use it, to be wrapped up in it, but most of all to faithfully understand and live it. The Bible tells us a story of why God created the world. And no matter how bad things get, God promises always to be with us as our Father, as our Lord Jesus Christ, and as the comforting Holy Spirit. If God is always with us, then we are created to always be with God. Being with God is a call, a mission, a service, and a love for others. We are not called to be God, but to be with God. Sometimes we get this mixed up. We try to be too big, too much … everything but us. God could choose to loose it—to destruct creation and start all over—but God hasn’t. The mystery of God is that despite our failure to love our neighbors, to hear the cry of the needy and to turn from our stupid motives, God doesn’t turn from us. This is called grace. In fact, God proved his love for us! God revealed to the world his very own flesh, Jesus Christ. Jesus preached good news to the poor. He showed mercy to the troubled and trouble to the merciless. He proclaimed that in the empire which he lived, a new empire—a Kingdom of God—would restore the violent, impoverished, and troubled world. Seemingly a next to impossible promise, he was rejected, he suffered, he died at the hands of that empire and was buried. His life and death brought wisdom to the world. But on the third day, he rose from the dead. Death could not stop God. And so his resurrection brought hope to the world: Despite the junk of the world, God understands!
God brings peace, offers a new choice, and reconciles us to him and to each other. Trusting and believing in Jesus helps us understand this and shows to the world that we actually do trust in God’s faith in us. Following Jesus, taking up the cross, helps the world understand that God is still at work—redeeming us, reconciling us, and loving us. In other words, Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. Through him we meet, live with, and relate to God. Therefore …
We are Episcopal! We believe in passionate, thankful and emergent worship within sacred space and time. We understand the Eucharist (communion, the Lord’s Supper) to be vitally important to our walk with God.
We are Lutheran! Luther, a follower of Jesus, taught us that we are called to empower one another, through daily Bible study, prayer, and through the work of the Holy Spirit to reform the church, the community and the world. We are called to take a stand, to make a difference, and change the world.
We are Presbyterian! Calvin, another follower of Jesus, reminded us that by grace alone, by nothing of our own doing, we confess and know that God forgives us.
Why we are Methodist! Wesley, still another follower of Jesus, taught us that it is critical to believe that we are the body of Christ redeemed by the death and resurrection of Jesus, and sent forth to make disciples and love our neighbor.
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DIRECTIONS
STUFF TO CLICK
THEOLOGY
LINKS
SEMINARY
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ABOUT UCF & WHAT WE BELIEVE |
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UCF was UNC Charlotte’s first campus ministry. It was established by the Methodist and Presbyterian churches to serve the students of UNC Charlotte in 1963. Dr. Loy Witherspoon (Doc) was the first campus pastor. Do you live in Witherspoon hall? It was named after Doc. Later the Lutheran and Episcopal denominations joined the party. UCF is a 501c3 non-profit ministry and is always staffed with an ordained pastor to ensure integrity in student ministry. Our tradition is enhanced by the fact that we remain relevant today.
Contact Us Link to our Leadership Page Student Center and Offices :: 704-549-8291 Email: leader@campus-ministry.org Mailing Address: PO Box 562776 Charlotte, NC 28256
Beliefs Worship Worship comes first. Worship precedes theology. We all worship, something. At UCF we worship the risen Christ.
Theology Theology is asking the big questions. Who is God? Is God Love? Why do bad things happen? Why are we here? These are theological questions. We hold to the historic theological doctrines and beliefs of the Christian faith:(Episcopal, Lutheran, Presbyterian, United Methodist).
Some Basics We believe in God! We believe that God inspired the writers of the Old and New Testament to speak prophecy, wisdom, law, good news and love. We are inspired by the Bible to study it, to use it, to be wrapped up in it, but most of all to faithfully understand and live it. The Bible tells us a story of why God created the world. And no matter how bad things get, God promises always to be with us as our Father, as our Lord Jesus Christ, and as the comforting Holy Spirit. If God is always with us, then we are created to always be with God. Being with God is a call, a mission, a service, and a love for others. We are not called to be God, but to be with God. Sometimes we get this mixed up. We try to be too big, too much … everything but us. God could choose to loose it—to destruct creation and start all over—but God hasn’t. The mystery of God is that despite our failure to love our neighbors, to hear the cry of the needy and to turn from our stupid motives, God doesn’t turn from us. This is called grace. In fact, God proved his love for us! God revealed to the world his very own flesh, Jesus Christ. Jesus preached good news to the poor. He showed mercy to the troubled and trouble to the merciless. He proclaimed that in the empire which he lived, a new empire—a Kingdom of God—would restore the violent, impoverished, and troubled world. Seemingly a next to impossible promise, he was rejected, he suffered, he died at the hands of that empire and was buried. His life and death brought wisdom to the world. But on the third day, he rose from the dead. Death could not stop God. And so his resurrection brought hope to the world: Despite the junk of the world, God understands!
God brings peace, offers a new choice, and reconciles us to him and to each other. Trusting and believing in Jesus helps us understand this and shows to the world that we actually do trust in God’s faith in us. Following Jesus, taking up the cross, helps the world understand that God is still at work—redeeming us, reconciling us, and loving us. In other words, Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. Through him we meet, live with, and relate to God. Therefore …
We are Episcopal! We believe in passionate, thankful and emergent worship within sacred space and time. We understand the Eucharist (communion, the Lord’s Supper) to be vitally important to our walk with God.
We are Lutheran! Luther, a follower of Jesus, taught us that we are called to empower one another, through daily Bible study, prayer, and through the work of the Holy Spirit to reform the church, the community and the world. We are called to take a stand, to make a difference, and change the world.
We are Presbyterian! Calvin, another follower of Jesus, reminded us that by grace alone, by nothing of our own doing, we confess and know that God forgives us.
Why we are Methodist! Wesley, still another follower of Jesus, taught us that it is critical to believe that we are the body of Christ redeemed by the death and resurrection of Jesus, and sent forth to make disciples and love our neighbor.
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