Welcome to First United Methodist Church of Salem
First United Methodist Church is a well-known landmark in Salem, Oregon. Our distinctive steeple and beautiful downtown building are signs of our deep historical ties with the city of Salem and the mid-Willamette Valley. Our services emphasize prayerful and meaningful teaching, and quality music and worship.
But we have so much more to offer than what happens in our building! We work to create ministries that “Feed the Hungers” of people in our community – the Spiritual, Physical, Intellectual, and Relational hungers.
All are welcome here
We believe that God’s love and grace extends to all people. We welcome all into our church family and into a walk with Jesus Christ, regardless of race, gender, marital status, nation of origin, physical or mental ability, sexual orientation, economic status or any other label placed upon people. No matter where you are on your spiritual journey you are welcome in the life and ministry of First United Methodist Church of Salem.
In 1998 our church Administrative Council voted to include in our Mission Statement the phrase “diverse and inclusive” to describe who we are as a community of faith. In 2013 when our new mission statement was adopted the Administrative Council re-affirmed our commitment to be an inclusive and diverse church by adopting the following Statement of Welcome.
We are a diverse community of faith
At First United Methodist we have a great diversity of views on social, theological, and political issues and we celebrate this fact. Such diversity draws many to our fellowship and truly makes this church a gracious place. Here is a church where there is room to think and to question, to affirm faith and to listen to others, at times to argue and disagree, but always to appreciate the richness and wonderful complexity of God’s creation, especially as it is revealed in the variety of people and opinions in our congregation.
This doesn’t mean there is nothing that binds us together. Quite the contrary is true. We are a community of people who are working out our faith together and we draw on Holy Scripture, Church tradition, Christian experience, and inspired reason as our sources of authority. We are joined by our United Methodist heritage and are being shaped by our common desire to walk as disciples of Jesus Christ. There is a diversity in our church which gives space for personal faith development and encourages actions of social justice and love.
A letter from our pastors:
At First United Methodist Church of Salem, we have a great diversity of views on social, theological, and political issues and we celebrate this fact.
Such diversity draws many people here and truly makes this church a gracious place. Here is a church where there is room to think and to question, to affirm faith and to listen to others, at times to argue and disagree, but always to appreciate the richness and wonderful complexity of God’s creation, especially as it is revealed in the variety of people and opinions in our congregation.
This doesn’t mean there is nothing that binds us together. We are a community of people who are working out our faith together and we draw on Holy Scripture, church tradition, Christian experience, and inspired reason as our sources of authority. We are joined by our United Methodist heritage and are being shaped by our common desire to walk as disciples of Jesus Christ.
There is a diversity in our church which gives space for personal faith development and encourages actions of social justice and love. We believe that God’s love and grace extend to all people. We welcome all into our church family and into a walk with Jesus Christ, regardless of race, gender, marital status, nation of origin, physical or mental ability, sexual orientation, economic status, or any other label placed upon people.
No matter where you are on your spiritual journey you are welcome in the life and ministry of First United Methodist Church of Salem.
Pastor John Fleming
Pastor Alyssa Baker
Pastor Kalina Malua Katoa
MICAH Worship - 8:45 a.m.
At the MICAH Worship Center is a casual atmosphere with comfortable seating, exceptional contemporary music presented by the praise band, visual presentations, deep prayer, and dynamic sermons. A friendly come-as-you-are attitude is expressed here!
Sanctuary Service - 11:15 a.m.
Join us in the main Sanctuary filled with stained glass for traditional hymns, organ, bell, and choral music, liturgy and prayers from the United Methodist Hymnal, dynamic sermons and more – surrounded by the beauty of the historic Salem First sanctuary.
We are a member of Open Door Churches
Salem First UMC is one of six Open Door Churches in the Salem-Keizer area. Open Door Churches are in ministry together in the Salem community. We collaborate for several of our ministries, we work together with youth ministries, young adult ministries, food cupboards/pantries, planning for VBS, worship themes, and other special events for all ages. The pastors, office staff, and church leadership also support one another in many ways.
Other churches who are part of the United Methodist Open Door churches are Trinity United Methodist Church, Morningside United Methodist Church, Keizer Clear Lake United Methodist Church, Las Naciones United Methodist Church, and West Salem United Methodist Church. All churches have their own worship times and office contacts which you can find by visiting opendoorchurches.org.
