Several new members have asked, “Why do we say the Apostles’ Creed?”
It’s a great question, especially because we can sometimes recite familiar words without stopping to consider what they mean.
The United Methodist Church does not officially include the creeds among our doctrinal standards, but we use them in worship to affirm our faith and connect us to generations of Christians who have gone before us.
The Apostles’ Creed developed during the early centuries of Christianity as a summary of the central beliefs of our faith: God the Father, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, forgiveness of sins, resurrection, and life everlasting.
What does “holy catholic church” mean?
You may also wonder about the phrase “holy catholic church.” Here, catholic does not mean the Roman Catholic denomination. It comes from the Greek word katholikos, meaning universal.
When we say these words, we are affirming that we are part of the worldwide body of Christ—Christians of many traditions, cultures, and practices.
So, when we recite the creed, we are doing more than repeating ancient words.
We are saying, “This is what we believe.”
And we are saying it together.
The next time we recite the Apostles’ Creed, I invite you to listen to the words and let them remind you that your faith is connected to something much bigger than yourself—a story that began long before us and continues through us.
We believe. We belong. We are part of the story.
