Our Doctrinal Heritage

United Methodists profess the historic Christian faith in God, incarnate in Jesus Christ for our salvation and ever at work in human history in the Holy Spirit. Living in a covenant of grace under the Lordship of Jesus Christ, we participate in the first fruits of God's coming reign and pray in hope for its full realization on earth as in heaven.

Our heritage in doctrine and our present theological task focus upon a renewed grasp of the sovereignty of God and of God's love in Christ amid the continuing crises of human existence.

Our forebears in the faith reaffirmed the ancient Christian message as found in the apostolic witness even as they applied it anew in their own circumstances.

Their preaching and teaching were grounded in Scripture, informed by Christian tradition, enlivened in experience, and tested by reason.

Their labors inspire and inform our attempts to convey the saving gospel to our world with its needs and aspirations.

Our History

In 1846, Frederick David Karbach came to Comal County. He was a devoted Christian and rode many miles to hear a Methodist circuit rider, John Wesley DeVilbiss. Methodist classes were organized to meet in homes. On March 7, 1853, the first Quarterly Conference was held, establishing the New Braunfels German Mission. "The Karbach Settlement" was the core of Methodism. Meetings were held on ranches until 1858, when a building was erected on the corner of Common and Union Streets in New Braunfels. That building was used until 1913, when a new building was built on West San Antonio Street. In 1951, the present sanctuary was erected, and other buildings were added through later years.

Doctrinal Standards and General Rules

From The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church - 2004. Copyright 2004 by The United Methodist Publishing House. Used by permission.