About

All are welcome in this place

At St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, we do not claim to be perfect. Our church isn’t perfect, but it’s real, honest, and serious about sharing the love of Jesus Christ. You’ll be encouraged, challenged, and hear a message of hope that is relevant to your life today. We welcome all people, regardless of gender, race, age, cultural or religious heritage, ethnic background, sexual orientation, gender identity, economic circumstances, family configuration or difference of ability.

St. Paul’s is a Reconciling Congregation, meaning we not only welcome and celebrate all people as children of God, we also actively work toward full equality in UMC membership, ordination, and marriage for God’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. We have compiled a short list of websites for resources and organizations that may be helpful for LGBTQ individuals and their friends and families. Find the list here under the LGBTQ tab >>

You don’t have to dress up. You don’t have to pretend your life is perfectly in order. You’ll find a friendly, relaxed place where you can be yourself. A place where you are loved no matter who you are, where you’ve been, or what you’ve done. Our promise is God’s promise. We’d love for you to join us in worship this Sunday!

Our Beliefs

United Methodists share a common heritage with all Christians. The “What We Believe” section of the United Methodist Church website offers a comprehensive look at the beliefs of the United Methodist denomination, and we encourage you to explore your interests there.

Our Mission

The mission of St. Paul’s UMC is to LOVE God and all others unconditionally, SEEK answers to our questions, and SERVE God by serving others.

As reflected in our Welcome Statement, Love, hospitality, and welcome are primary virtues that we believe in. We affirm the Scriptural witness that Love is central to God’s identity (1 John 4:16) and to how God calls us to live (Matthew 22:38-40). We like to think of Sundays at St. Paul’s as family reunions. We’re a large enough church that we don’t all know each other by face or name, but we do know that we all belong. When you come to St. Paul’s you become part of the family. You will be nurtured and supported in good times and bad times.

If you have questions about faith and life then this may be the church for you. If you already have all the answers it probably won’t be the best fit for you. We see ourselves as seekers on a journey. Christianity is more about the journey than the destination. So we seek! You’ll find this true in our adult Sunday School classes and evening small groups that ask questions not only about the Bible but also about current world events and faithful living in a changing world. You’ll also find this in Sunday morning worship. We don’t just ask what the Bible meant 2,000 years ago. We explore what it means for our lives today. Sometimes we come away with new insights, and sometimes we come away with more questions than before. In any case we know that our opinions are respected and that we’re welcome to continue on the journey together!

You’ll find St. Paul’s members all over Kansas City serving God by serving others. We regularly participate in serving meals, collecting food and other donations, working on Habitat for Humanity houses, giving blood, and helping the homeless. You’ll also find us outside of Kansas City on mission trips (generally four a year including two youth trips and one international trip). Those are just some of the ministries that we sponsor. We also encourage our members to serve on their own. We understand that God uses many tools to change the world and we are just one of them.

Our Values

As Christ’s servants, we are empowering people to live fully and faithfully in a changing world by:

Living a theology of grace
Constantly seeking God’s guidance
Being conscientious stewards of our human and financial resources
Welcoming all persons, celebrating the worth, dignity and gifts of every person as a child of God
Supporting and practicing social justice
Finding life in serving others
Challenging ourselves to be dynamic and creative in worship
Acting as conscientious stewards of our world’s environment
Providing a safe learning environment that encourages questions and exploration of Scripture and our world

If we sound like a church you’re interested in being part of we’d love to have you come check us out on a Sunday, or just email or call the staff member who seems like the right fit for you.

Our Welcome Statement

We, the people of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, believe that God’s love is expansive and unconditional and that, through Christ, God calls us to love one another as God loves us. We welcome all people, regardless of gender, race, age, cultural or religious heritage, ethnic background, sexual orientation, gender identity, economic circumstances, family configuration, or difference of ability. We celebrate the worth, dignity, and gifts of every person as a child of God.