About Urban Abbey

A Foundation in Methodism

Urban Abbey is a United Methodist Church

This congregation is rooted in social change and personal transformation. John Wesley started as a campus minister and he helped students experience their faith deeply; they tried to do what Jesus did and people mocked them. They studied scripture, visited the sick, spent time with poor people, worked to abolish slavery, and organized people into small groups to talk, think and grow.

Where Does the Term "Methodist" Originate?

Because of all this intentionality and because they were so “methodical,”  Wesley's pupils were called – wait for it – "Methodists."  Perhaps they thought, “Hey yeah, we are Methodists and we like it.”  Well,  maybe not those words exactly, but they nevertheless decided to own it. 

The Abbey has inherited this tradition of looking at our faith through the lens of scripture, tradition, reason and experience.  The goal is to be a thinking, feeling and acting people; humans who make mistakes and understand grace as an agent that helps us grow into the people God created us to be.  Faith is not a single moment of conviction, it is a practice that we choose each day and each moment.  The Urban Abbey community loves the foundation that connects it to the joys and challenges of a global church family and roots it in something bigger than a single, unique church.

What is the Methodist Mission?

The mission of the United Methodist Church is "Making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world."  This is how Urban Abbey lives its mission. 

We believe disciples are:

Servant-hearted, light hearted.
Joy-filled and faith-fueled,

Listening for God in prayer, scripture, 
words spoken in love or sung in a song.

Authentic and vulnerable brave and ordinary
wise and humble, honest and strong.

Present. Present in the everyday.
Present in the hard spaces and ready to grow.
Present with ears open and voice, even if trembling,
ready to stand up and speak out.

Generous with time, money and talent.
Generous with grace and gratitude,
compassion for self and others, in the face of mistakes.
Generous with food to share, bread to break 
and room to make for one another.

On fire for God in a way that orders life,
burning brightly, deeply calm, living with purpose,
drawing the best out of others,
sincere and alive to love in all moments.

Willing to try and then try again.

‹ HISTORY