About Us as a Disciples/Methodist Yoked Congregation

The Story – by Gary Vetter

1. We believe the Bible to be the inspired Word of God. John 1:1, II Timothy 3:16, Hebrews 4:12, Matthew 4:4

2. We believe in the triune God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Colossians 2:10

3. We believe God created the heavens and the earth.  We believe God created mankind and made us in the image and likeness of God.  God gave man authority over the earth. God breathed into them the spirit of life.  Genesis 1:1-27, Genesis 2:7

4. We believe that man was tempted by Satan to eat from the tree that God told them not to.  Because man sinned, man now takes on a sin nature and God had to separate himself from man.  Man dies spiritually.    Genesis 2:16-17, Genesis 3:6-7, I Corinthians 15:21. 

5. We believe that God starts to reconnect with mankind through the old covenant agreement.  God gave the 10 commandments and other laws, so they knew what was right/wrong!  Established a covenant with Abraham (Jews only). You follow these commands (law) and I’ll bless you, you don’t I’ll curse you.  When you did sin, a priest could offer an unblemished bird or animals as a sacrifice for your sins, didn’t get rid of the sin but the blood atonement covered the sin. Man still had a sin nature. Romans 6:23, Genesis 17, Deuteronomy 28.

6. We believe that Jesus was born fully God and fully man. (Christmas)Fully God in that he was born of a virgin, seed of God, no sin nature in the seed.   Fully man in that he was born of a woman, born subject to the same laws and regulations as any human.  Jesus must pass the test of the first Adam, live on this earth and not sin.  He followed all the laws of the Old Covenant. Hebrews 9:22, Isaiah 7:14, Philippians 2:7.

7. We believe that Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, received the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and fulfills his earthly ministry of teaching, healing and proclaiming the good news.  Matthew 3:16, Luke 4:18-19

8. We believe that on the cross Jesus took our sin (was made to be sin), he was forsaken by God, sheds his blood for the sins of mankind, closes out the Old Covenant by being the last sacrifice, Jesus dies alone, both physically and spiritually.  Upon Jesus death his spirit is released from his body and taken to hell and is tormented for 3 days.  Only one problem, Jesus never sinned, he was made to be sin.  Jesus was in hell and being punished illegally.  God caused his spirit to be reborn from dead.  First spirit to ever be born again.  II Corinthians 5:21, Acts 2:24, Isaiah 53:3-5 

9. We believe that our spirit must be reborn to join the family of God under this new covenant. (John 3:3) To do this you must make Jesus the Lord of your life. (Romans 10:9-10). This must be a decision of the heart; the choice is ours. (Hebrews 11:6) We become a new creation in Christ Jesus. (II Corinthians 5:17) We become children of God. John 1:12-13.

10. We believe that the just live by faith. That faith comes by hearing and believing the Word.  Faith perceives as real fact those things not revealed to the senses. Habakkuk 2:4, Romans 10:17, Hebrews 11:1, Romans 8

11. We believe that the only command under the new covenant is to Love God and your neighbor as yourself.  God is love.  We can love others because God first loved us.  Mark 12:29-31, I John 4:4-8, I Corinthians 11

12. We believe this new Covenant (or New Testament) is the promise that God makes with humanity that He will forgive sin and restore fellowship with those whose hearts are turned toward Him and accepted him. Jesus Christ is the mediator of the New Covenant. (Luke 22:20).  We believe that the new covenant is a covenant of grace (undeserved favor), that everyone is invited, not just the Jews.  It is only by grace that we can even choose God.  That it is our responsibility to walk in the Spirit and mature in our new relationship with God through Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:8-9, Colossians 3:11, Galatians 5:16.  

13. We believe in the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.  This age of grace under the new covenant will end with the return of Christ.  The world will be judged, and Christ will reclaim dominion over the earth, establishes his kingdom and reign forever.  I Corinthians 4:5, Revelations 1:7-8.

St. Charles Parish has very deep roots, our history goes back to 1855 when the United Presbyterians built the first church in St. Charles, Iowa. In 1857 the Christian Church was founded and in 1858 the Methodist Church was founded in St. Charles.  

In 1974 a movement was started to combine the three churches into one church that would become “St. Charles Parish.”  The United Presbyterian Church was the smallest and they left the Parish as a denomination, but the people stayed as part of the Parish. The history of the Parish is very interesting, there is much cooperation between the United Methodist and the Disciples of Christ denominations as St. Charles Parish supports both denominations.

In 1905 the present building was built by the Methodist church, with several major building updates since. We love the fact we have all come together to serve God, the Father and Jesus, the Son.

The Holy Spirit is alive and well within God’s church and within God’s People.

St. Charles Parish is a church where all are welcome, and all are invited to gather to Worship our Risen Savior.

HISTORY

1855 - Presbyterian Church is formed

1857 - Christian Church is formed 

1858 - Methodist Church is formed

1868 - United Presbyterian church building erected

1870 - Christian Church builds first church.

1874 - Methodist church building erected (Later became the Opera House)

1882 - Christian Church hit by storm and demolished

1890 - Christian church builds second building

1905 - Present Methodist Church is built

1916 - Presbyterian Church builds the current church building 

1930 - Methodist Church in Hanley moved to St. Charles to be used for school shop classes

1973 - United Presbyterian, United Methodist and Christian churches begin to yoke to form Saint Charles Parish

1977 - St. Charles Parish officially formed

1979 - Presbyterian Church and St. Charles Christian church buildings sold at auctions

1990 - Membership reporting changed to reflect 50% Disciples 50% Methodist