St. John's United Methodist is both mainline Protestant and Evangelical. Several churches in the Davenport area came together and merged at the turn of the 20th century. In 1902, our current building was completed. Like all United Methodist Churches we trace our roots back to the revival movement of John and Charles Wesley within the Church of England. Our theological orientation is Wesleyan. We embrace both traditional and contemporary elements in worship and in our ministry life together.  We have an important mission to share the Good News of God's love shown to us in Jesus Christ who is the Savior of the world. We are called to make a difference in the lives of others by sharing our faith in words and actions.

St. John's ​Mission Statement

Our Mission:
To make disciples of Jesus Christ for the
transformation of the world by being a
creative, compassionate, Christian community!

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We believe God is calling our congregation:

• To be an authentic place of love
• To bring people of all ages into this community of love
• To share the story of Christ who is the reason why we love
• To help people grow in their understanding of who Christ is and who Christ is calling us to become
• To invite people to be in relationship with Christ
• To make disciples of Jesus Christ
• As disciples of Christ, to share the love of Christ in the world in order to make the world better
• To proclaim that the end goal is the Reign of God in our hearts and in our world.

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Some specific examples ​of how we live out our calling:

For five years, we have held an annual Change the World Sunday, where worship becomes service in our neighborhood and community. We gather on Sunday morning, and go into the neighborhood and community to do random acts of kindness, pick up litter and trash, makes kits for the homeless, write cards to the home bound, and package meals for Kids Against Hunger. In this ministry, we seek to be authentic in love as we become God's love in action to make our world better.

Members of our congregation lead weekly Bible studies at the Scott County Jail with women who are incarcerated. This weekly ministry has inspired a very passionate group from St. John's to start W.I.S.H. Ministries to house and help women who are are released from prison and reenter the community. In this ministry, we seek to help people know that they are loved by Christ and their lives can be redeemed and transformed.

We sponsor men, women and youth in our congregation to go on spiritual retreats called the Walk to Emmaus and Chrysalis to deepen their relationship with Christ and seek further guidance in their life's journey. In this ministry, we call people into a closer relationship with Christ.

We partner with The Center across the street to put our faith into action as we fight poverty and make a difference in the lives of people. The Center does a myriad of ministries for the neighborhood, including showers and a laundry ministry for the homeless, worship at their indoor skate park for youth, rental and utility assistance for our neighbors, and a Christian social worker who provides counseling and guidance. The Center houses the local Food Pantry, a Thrift Store, as well as providing a place for high school equivalency classes and citizenship classes. St. John's provides volunteers, contributions, and in-kind giving. In this ministry, we seek to be agents of God's transforming love in the world.

We hold weekly learning classes for children, youth, and adults on Sundays and Wednesday evenings (during the school year). Adult classes include devotional studies, church season studies, understanding United Methodism, and the basics of Christian faith. Children's and youth studies include basic learning, along with fun! In this ministry, we seek to make people disciples of Jesus Christ and grow in their understanding of who Christ is calling them to become.