We the people of Immanuel United Methodist Church believe Jesus' words, "The kingdom of God is at hand," and we do whatever we can to help this become a reality. Through intentional spiritual formation we strive to grow inwardly, and through social action we strive to help bring about peace and justice outwardly. We also believe that God has called us to grow and to serve specifically in the multi-cultural, urban setting where God has placed us.

Spiritual Formation

While not a perfect people, we strive to be a healthy, functioning congregation committed to lifelong faith development. We do this knowing that our faith calls us to action. Sometimes it calls us to support society. At other times it calls us to challenge society. And sometimes, our faith calls us to transform society. We meet in groups both large and small to encourage, explore, guide, and support each other in spiritual growth so that God's love among us can move outward, transforming our world for the better.

For 2009 through 2013 we aim to enhance spiritual formation at Immanuel until each of us is involved in some regular, specific program of spiritual formation in which accountability is encouraged.

Intercultural

In 1854 a small group of immigrants in Kenosha founded the German speaking Immanuel Methodist Church. Today Immanuel remains sensitive to the needs if new arrivals in Kenosha. As in 1854, today's newcomers need neighbors to welcome them, and we strive to be a friendly, inviting and supportive community to these, most especially to the members of Principe de Paz (Prince of Peace) and the Korean United Methodist Church of Kenosha. Our churches are in a threefold covenant relationship marked by sharing peace, ministries, and mission. We respect our cultural differences, celebrate our unity, and pledge to care for each other with the same energy and concern with which we care for ourselves.

For 2009 through 2013 we aim to learn more about the gifts and challenges of our non-citizen friends. We will also seek specific forms of mutually beneficial and desired interaction. These may include shared worship, celebration and service, but they may also extend to practical matters such as job training, language acquisition, family reunification, political action, and help with immigration and naturalization.

Urban and Inclusive

Immanuel embraces the United Methodist motto: Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors. Thus we welcome persons of all ethnicities, races, gender identities, and mental health conditions. We are also an urban congregation and so we are specially called to minister to the urban poor, jobless, homeless, disenfranchised, and substance dependent. For instance, we serve locally through INNS, CUSH, and the Crop Walk. We value persons of all ages, respecting the dignity of the very young, of the aged, and of everyone in between. We also seek to integrate fully persons of all ages into our church community, each according to their needs and gifts.

For 2009 through 2013 we aim to build a public identity as one of the several Kenosha area congregations known to welcome all persons, with continuing special emphasis on the immigrant and homeless populations. While our faith leads us into action locally, we affirm our interdependence with all creation, supporting ministries of mercy and justice globally.

As we focus on our distinctives and our vision, we plan to seek other like-minded people of faith to join us in our mission, adding two units (families, or individuals) in 2010, four in 2011, six in 2012, and eight in 2013. Considering attrition, we believe that our church family will be ten units larger in 2012 than in 2009.

We the people of Immanuel United Methodist Church believe Jesus' words, "The kingdom of God is at hand," and we do whatever we can to help this become a reality.

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