The Reign of God

• We believe that the kingdom or reign of God is both a present reality and future hope.

• We believe that wherever God's will is done, the kingdom or reign of God is present. It was present in Jesus' ministry, and it is also present in our world whenever persons and communities experience reconciliation, restoration, and healing.

• We believe that although the fulfillment of God's kingdom--the complete restoration of creation--is still to come.

• We believe that the church is called to be both witness to the vision of what God's kingdom will be like and a participant in helping to bring it to completion.

• We believe that the reign of God is both personal and social. Personally, we display the kingdom of God as our hearts and minds are transformed and we become more Christ-like. Socially, God's vision for the kingdom includes the restoration and transformation of all of creation.

Adapted from Who Are We? Leader's Guide, p. 28.

*From www.UMC.org