Our Mission
Since 1885, Bothell UMC has been working to meet the needs of its neighbors.
OUR STORY
Since 1885, Bothell UMC has been serving the Bothell community with a commitment to faith, compassion, and connection. For generations, we have sought to be a place where people can grow spiritually, build meaningful relationships, and make a positive impact in the world. Today, we continue that legacy through worship, outreach, and creating a welcoming community where all people are invited to belong
A Worshiping Community.
Our community is made up of people who don’t have it all figured out. We span the spectrum of faith (and doubt) and commit to journeying together through questions, dialogue, and healthy conversation about the definition of church and religion in our society and world. We are a progressive Christian community, exploring how God is at work in the world, guided by the life and teachings of Jesus Christ and the leadings of the Holy Spirit.
On Native Land
We acknowledge that we are located on the unceded ancestral homelands of the Duwamish, Stillaguamish, Snohomish, and other Coast Salish Peoples. We honor the original ancestors of this land and offer respect for their enduring care and protection of the lands and waterways we share. We strive to be accountable by acknowledging this living history and cultivating respect in our relationships with this land’s Indigenous Peoples.
Anti-Ableist
We affirm the sacred worth of all people and recognize that disability is a natural part of the human experience, including many disabilities that are nonapparent.
We commit to an intersectional approach, recognizing that ableism often overlaps with other forms of discrimination and working in solidarity with all marginalized communities.
We will center the voices and lived experiences of disabled people, embracing the principle of “Nothing about us without us” as we pursue full inclusion in the church and community.
We commit to ongoing learning, inclusive language and practices, celebrating the gifts of disabled people, and fostering a culture of hospitality, accessibility, and sustainable rest for all.
A Safe Place
We care committed to guarding and protecting the children, youth, and vulnerable adults given to our care. To ensure our congregation is a place of safety, trust, and compassion, we practice Safe Sanctuaries, which includes background checks of staff and adult volunteers, preventative education, and proper response to disclosures of abuse. Through our policy, we hope people become more aware of what it takes to keep our community and children safe.
Welcoming and Inclusive.
Our hope is that you know that you are welcome and that you belong.
We affirm that every person is welcomed, valued, and belongs in our church community.
We commit to creating a safe and inclusive space, especially for those who have experienced exclusion or harm.
We celebrate people of all backgrounds, identities, life experiences, and economic circumstances.
We honor the God-given dignity and worth of every person and seek to foster a community of love, respect, and belonging.
Know that you are welcome and that you belong.
Meeting the Needs of the Community.
Our purpose is Becoming Christ in the Community. Church is more than a building, and we work to empower our community to put their faith in cation. We strive to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God, and follow the principles attributed to John Wesley that we, “Do all the good you can, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can, In all the places you can, At all the times you can, To all the people you can, As long as ever you can.”
We believe that we are invited into God’s holy work, transforming our communities through peace, joy, hope, and love. With God’s guidance and strength, we can be co-creators with God to transform the world.
Anti-Racist
We affirm the sacred worth and dignity of every person as a beloved child of God.
We denounce racism, ethnic discrimination, and all forms of oppression.
We commit to equity, healing, and justice in our church and community.
We work to identify and dismantle systems that create barriers and disparities.
Stewards of the Earth
With gratitude for the gift of Creation, we conserve natural resources and advocate for the health of the earth (or all creation).