What is First United Methodist Church (fumcb.org)?

Updated

First United Methodist Church (fumcb.org) is a Christ-centered, inclusive congregation in downtown Bloomington, Indiana, a few blocks from the IU campus. It describes itself as "united and open to all" and is a member of the Reconciling Ministries Network, which works for the full participation of LGBTQ+ people in the life and leadership of the Church. If you are looking for a congregation that combines traditional and contemporary worship with an explicit welcome to all people, this is the community the site presents.

What happens on Sundays

The Sunday schedule is the clearest way to understand what the church offers, because it includes two distinct worship styles plus an education hour.

Time Offering What it is
9:30 a.m. Classic Worship Traditional worship service
10:45 a.m. Discipleship Hour Classes for all ages and stages in faith
11:45 a.m. Common Ground Contemporary worship with upbeat music, community-building activities, arts, and justice/service projects

Worship can also be watched live online, according to the site, so you can sample a service before attending in person.

Who it is for

The church describes itself as a place where you can ask questions and grow in your spiritual journey, with opportunities to serve God and give to others. Two groups are called out specifically:

  • College students and young adults — Jubilee, a Christ-centered community of college students and twenty-somethings, meets Wednesdays at 7:30 PM in the Jubilee & Youth Rooms for meals, worship, and discussions. The site frames it as a safe place to be honest, be yourself, and belong.
  • All ages and stages in faith — the Discipleship Hour classes are organized for every age and stage.

How to get involved

The site organizes involvement around three verbs: connect, grow, and serve.

  • Discipleship Pathway — a tool the church uses to connect people in community, grow together, and serve. The site invites visitors to "find your path."
  • Volunteer — a dedicated section for getting involved in service.
  • Justice at First — a section for learning about the congregation's justice work.
  • Newsletter — sign-up is available for updates on what's happening now.

Practical next steps

If you want to decide whether to visit, the site gives you a low-commitment path: watch a worship service live online, check the newsletter for current events, then attend a Sunday service in your preferred style — Classic at 9:30 a.m. or Common Ground at 11:45 a.m. — with the Discipleship Hour in between. College students and young adults can add the Wednesday Jubilee gathering. The site does not publish pricing or membership requirements, so questions about joining or giving are best directed to the church through the contact options on fumcb.org.