Our Vision
As a United Methodist Church, our mission is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. As disciples, we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to love boldly, serve joyfully, and lead courageously.
What makes us unique is how we live out this charge:
People. Doing life together. Connecting all through Christ.
People.
Every single person matters. Period. We invite people from all walks of life and hope they recognize this community is home. We recognize that people aren’t perfect, but God meets us where we are. That means we make room—there is a place for every person! and we treat one another with grace and kindness.
Doing Life Together.
We are created to be part of community. Created in the image of God means that we are meant for relationships. God is community (Father/Son/Holy Spirit), which means we most look like God when we are part of a loving community.
Connecting All Through Christ.
Jesus makes several promises about how he is present, such as when two or three gather in his name, or when we serve the least of these. We trust that when we worship together, serve together, pray together, eat together, and do life together that God is present. That changes everything!
We are part of The United Methodist Church.
We love the way we are connected with other churches. Our children and youth attend camps and retreats at Camp Glisson. We respond to natural disasters by the conference teams and UMCOR. We help start and encourage other churches in the same way that the conference invested in us when Gwinnett County began a growth spurt.
We commit to being a safe space with caring relationships, listening hearts, and unconditional love for those in need. We remain committed to being a safe harbor for those who have been hurt by churches, whether from conflict, disaffiliation, or closure.
Our Values as United Methodists
The UMC is founded on a Wesleyan theology of grace, anchored in Scripture and based in the life and teachings of Jesus Christ and the continuing movement of the Holy Spirit.
We embrace the fundamentals of the Wesleyan tradition and dedicate ourselves to the mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
We embrace a Church anchored in Scripture and a theology of grace.
We embrace a Church that aspires to be a more just and inclusive force in the world.
We embrace the connected power of 12 million souls united, working towards good in the world.
We embrace a Church that has uplifted our own lives and the lives of our friends, family, and those we cherish.
We embrace a Church built in loving relationships rather than uniformity in thought and action.
We embrace a Church where everyone does not have to agree and where everyone is welcome.
Our 2026 Goals
At McKendree, we believe that discipleship is not static—it grows as we deepen our love for God and others. Guided by prayer and congregational visioning, our Leadership Council identified several priorities to help our church live more fully into our mission. These 2026 goals focus on helping people discover their gifts, live out God’s call, and strengthen our connection with one another and the community. The summary describes more about the visioning responses and 2026 goals.