PCHUM is a congregation of The United Methodist Church, the third largest Christian denomination in the world. The United Methodist Church has it’s roots in England, dating to the mid-18th century when the Reverend John Wesley gathered Anglican student priests together in a call to prayer and personal piety. Other students called these young priests “Methodists” because they had ritual hours of prayer, study, and worship. When the Revolution broke out in the Colonies, Wesley was disgusted that priests of the Church of England returned to the mother land, rather than staying and ministering to the colonists through the war. Wesley took it upon himself to send priests to America. Bishops were then elected, effectively starting the Methodist Church in America. The new church took on the organizational structure of the new United States: that is, The Methodist Church was, and still is, a representative democracy.
Today, The United Methodist Church stands out in its call to spiritual development balanced with social holiness. We are highly involved in bringing Christ to the world through word and deed, transforming communities to be “doing justice, loving mercy, and walking in humility before God” (from the prophet Micah). One of our distinctions is the “Social Principles,” which lays out our denominational stands and advisories on the social issues of our time. Another distinction is that our ordained ministers are appointed to local congregations by area Bishops, following consultation with local church leadership and pastors, according to ministry needs.
Chapel Hill is committed to making use of the many local, national and global mission agencies of the denomination. You will hear of UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief), GBGM (General Board of Global Ministries), District Board of Missions, and more as we, together, seek to maximize our giving to benefit people in need and communities working to become self-sufficient through development. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is spread in deed AND in word through the mission work of Chapel Hill within the denomination and beyond.
Chapel Hill UMC is a member of the Reconciling Ministries Network, joining with the Network in working toward the full participation of all persons in The United Methodist Church.