We invite you to join us and hope you enjoy your time. We encourage you to participate in some of the activities we share together, and contribute to them as you are able.
As well as our regular activities, we enjoy occasional social events with other churches such as picnics, themed dinners and sports for fun.
If you are new to our faith community, have any queries or would like to become a member, then talk to Valma, the Deacon-on-the-door or Julienne, the Parish Steward, 07-544-2565.
What Do We Stand For?
 We believe our purpose is to live out God's love for the world in our daily lives.
We do our best to make known to all people that God loves them and wishes to be in a loving relationship with them.
We strive to maintain a community of worship, prayer and service.
We seek to provide opportunities for people to make spiritual connections.
We also seek justice, proclaim truth, promote peace and support the needy.
Our Beliefs
God loves the world and all who live in it.
God desires a loving relationship with every person.
Lives can be turned around, renewed, and/or transformed through God's love as demonstrated in Jesus Christ.
Our Values
(Quotes from John Wesley)
John Wesley (June 17, 1703 - March 2, 1791) was an 18th-century English clergyman and Christian theologian who founded the Methodist movement of Protestantism. When he and his brother, Charles Wesley, joined with George Whitefield, Methodism began the first widely successful evangelical movement in the United Kingdom. Methodists, under Wesley's direction, became leaders in prison reform and abolitionism movements. As a theologian, he was a reluctant schismatic, preferring to alter the doctrinal focus of the Anglican Church than to form a new denomination. ~ Wikipedia
1. We value our Christianity as a social religion, not solitary.
a. "Christianity is essentially a social religion, and to turn it into a solitary religion is indeed to destroy it."
2. We value Christianity as a whole, rather than denominational labels.
a. "But from real Christian, of whatsoever denominations they be, we earnestly desire not to be distinguished at all."
3. We value the concept of "Think, and let think."
a. "Though we cannot think alike, may we not love alike?"
b. "What is our religion if we cannot think and let think?"
c. "I impose my opinions on none. I make no opinion the term of union with any man; I think and let think. What I want is holiness of heart and life."
4. We value an outward focus. Go to people.
a. "How much better is it, when it can be done, to carry relief to the poor than to send it!"
5. We value open communication among ourselves.
6. We value openness, care, and concern.
7. We value acceptance.
8. We value an involvement in ministry of every person. (Lay people.)
Read more about John Wesley
History
Methodists have a long history in New Zealand, the Bay of Plenty and the Tauranga area. Wesley Church has played a key role in that history. The story is a long and interesting one, much too detailed for our website. But we've included some highlights here. For a more in-depth look we suggest asking to look at a copy of "The People Called Methodists" which is available for reference at the Church office.
When Tauranga was a straggle of buildings along a harbour beach in 1886, a grant of land was made for the Wesleyan Methodist Church. A few years later visiting missionary Rev. J. Buller promised to find the Tauranga Wesleyans a minister either within the colony or during his forthcoming visit to England. So it was that the 1880 Wesleyan Conference meeting in Nelson appointed to this place Rev. Edward Barber who had recently come from England with Mr. Buller.
Until he arrived in February 1881 his people had worshiped with other congregations in the town. People gathered for the first Wesleyan service at 11 a.m. on March 13th, 1881. It was held in the Temperance Hall which stood on a Wharf Street site immediately west of that occupied today by Red Cross House. Later that year a church was built on the corner of First Ave and Devonport Rd which catered for the growing church until after World War 2.
In 1954 a site was purchased in 13th Ave and an old hall was shifted there which was used to worship in until 1958, when construction of the new Wesley Church began. Opening ceremonies were held with an 8:00am Communion service on April 18, 1959. In October of 1980 a fire destroyed the worship centre and this was replaced with the modern brick building that we worship in today.
Wesley Photo Album - Click to view some Wesley Church photos!
| 
