What We Believe

Making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world…

Who We Are

Where Did We Come From?

Floris Church was established more than 125 years ago by a small group of people who wanted to share the benefits of American Methodism, with its emphasis on personal holiness, social outreach and dynamic worship. The founders of Floris met for Sunday school, followed by worship services led once a month by a Methodist preacher and other weeks by a layperson. When they built the first church facility, it was out of a desire for Christ to be at the center of their lives and the church to be at the center of our community.

Over the years, Floris proved itself to be a church where people were willing to widen the circle for those who were searching for a community in which to worship and to live. The church became a center of community functions. It was a place where school graduations were held, weddings and funerals of community members took place, and cooperative ministries were shared with other congregations. Floris members over the decades have reached out to others to offer programs and ministries that bless the lives of local residents, displayed compassion to those in need, and met the real needs of the community.

Floris has always been a place where people have shown a special devotion to the cause of Christ and the work of the church. The story of Floris is one of people who are willing to worship, grow and serve in community, sharing Christ and changing the world.

Read More About Our History…

Who Are We Now?

Floris United Methodist Church is a community of people committed to making a difference in the lives of those in the community and in the world. Floris strives to reach people with the love and compassion of Christ and does so by being at the center of the community. Floris focuses on teaching children, students and adults about the Christian life through Sunday messages that tackle real-life challenges and struggles.

Floris is committed to building relationships and creating an authentic community. Life groups encourage and equip participants to be more loving, more selfless, more joyful and more hopeful. Floris provides care through prayer, support groups and encouragement to everyone who calls Floris their church home.

Serving opportunities impact the local Herndon/Reston community and the world while significantly impacting those who participate. Floris United Methodist Church has a heart for children in poverty and actively engages in opportunities that focus on children, including a local school partnership and a child rescue center and hospital in Bo, Sierra Leone, Africa. Floris is also committed to addressing basic needs like food and shelter.

In response to projected population growth in Reston, Virginia, Floris UMC opened a new campus, Restoration Church: Reston in January 2015. Through the opening of this campus, Floris UMC envisions reaching existing and new residents of Reston who are not connected to a church. In 2019, Floris UMC opened another campus in Loudoun County called Restoration Church: Loudoun.

Floris United Methodist Church has a history of more than 125 years in the Herndon area and imagines an exciting future.

How We Live Into Our Vision

We CHOOSE

We choose to be faithful disciples of Jesus Christ and live out Christian values. We choose to love God and to respond to God’s call to serve and love our neighbors. We also choose to resist evil, injustice and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves.

To be VITAL

To be vital, we must be active rather than passive. The teaching of the Church is relevant as long as it shapes attitudes and actions that arise from it. We, therefore, work toward societies in which each person’s value is recognized, maintained and strengthened. We are committed to acts of compassion and justice in the world as modeled by Jesus Christ, the Son of God and directed by God’s Holy Spirit.

CHRIST-CENTERED CHURCH

We choose to place Jesus Christ at the center of our collective lives and believe the power of the good news of Jesus’ sacrificial love for humanity is sufficient to unite any and all people. We choose to be a people who recognize and embrace the image of God in each individual and celebrate the unique gifts each person offers.

For ALL PEOPLE

God created our human family and called it good, including the diversity of sexual orientation, gender expression (or identity), race, ethnicity, age, faith, culture, history, economic status, marital status, physical and mental ability and education. We welcome and value all persons and celebrate diversity. We know historically that many in our society have been ignored, oppressed and/or victimized by violence. We believe all forms of oppression arise from human sin and the evil we inflict on each other. As followers of Jesus Christ, it is necessary that we confess these sins, repent of them and work for a just society that is fair, safe and healthy for all people. We are supportive and active in current reform efforts within the United Methodist Church that seek to remove discriminatory rules against clergy and others who identify as LGBTQIA+.

We deplore acts of hate or violence against groups or persons based on race, color, national origin, ethnicity, age, gender, disability, status, economic condition, sexual orientation, gender identity or religious affiliation.

In our COMMUNITY

We choose to remember and celebrate that our church community includes people in Loudoun County, Reston, Herndon and Fairfax County. We also remember the words of Rev. John Wesley, who said, “I look upon all the world as my parish.” Our local, regional and global mission outreach is done in the hope that we can be a blessing to our community and the world.

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