UMC Split - the Traditional Denomination and the rest

[Shane R]

I've noticed some Methodist churches going independent. There are many Methodist churches where I live. One went independent in the previous decade. The one closest to my daughters' school is in the discernment process. Their pastor is of a mind to join GMC but will abide by the congregational vote.

 

[Sors]

I just want to make a comment. This split is why I finally joined the Methodist church. I have some theological liberal beliefs, especially when it comes to the book of Genesis, evolution, and the literal truth of some the the old testament. At the same time, I believe completely in the death and resurrection of Jesus. That he died on the cross for our sins. I also believe in the teachings of Paul and other apostles. A lot of churches in my area are reformed, and after a lot of study, I knew I didn't agree with them. This split, as horrible as it has been for all of yall, has allowed me to find a church home. I waited a long time. [Staff Edit] With this split I was able to finally join a GMC church. I don't know if this matters so much, but I thought I would say it.

 

[seeking.IAM]

With this split I was able to finally join a GMC church.

Differing opinions aside, it is always a good thing to follow one's conscience and find a church home that is a good fit. I'm happy you were able to do that.

 

[tampasteve]

Well, it came full circle. The Methodist Church that I am a member at voted to leave the UMC and go independent. I am OK with the decision, I think it makes a lot of sense for them. There were 54 other churches in Florida that also voted to leave this round. Some will go GMC, most I don't know.

 

[Leaf473]

Well, it came full circle. The Methodist Church that I am a member at voted to leave the UMC and go independent. I am OK with the decision, I think it makes a lot of sense for them. There were 54 other churches in Florida that also voted to leave this round. Some will go GMC, most I don't know.

May the Lord be with your local church in this new opportunity

The local church I attend (not a member) has some rumblings, some people want to move ahead with a vote.

I'm not sure if they
(the church I go to)
understand the implications. They may be under the impression that they can just change the name on the sign and go on. My understanding was that there are often significant financial issues to be resolved.

 

[tampasteve]

May the Lord be with your local church in this new opportunity

Thank you

The local church I attend (not a member) has some rumblings, some people want to move ahead with a vote.

I'm not sure if they
(the church I go to)
understand the implications. They may be under the impression that they can just change the name on the sign and go on. My understanding was that there are often significant financial issues to be resolved.

The financial issue varies by church, in the 55 leaving this round here the figures from a low of $4,500 to a high of over $1M. I am honestly not sure how that is calculated, but I can say the church with over $1M obligation is a very large church with a fairly new building.

These 55 churches represent about 15% of the UMC membership in the Florida Conference.

 

[tampasteve]

Potentially relevant thread:

Methodist Label for accounts

Many members have the "United Methodist" faith label as they were members of the UMC when they joined. It occurs to me that some members may want to change their label to just "Methodist" if you are no longer a member of the UMC but still are Methodist in some way. If you wish to change your...

www.christianforums.com

 

[HARK!]

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[RileyG]

I've noticed some Methodist churches going independent. There are many Methodist churches where I live. One went independent in the previous decade. The one closest to my daughters' school is in the discernment process. Their pastor is of a mind to join GMC but will abide by the congregational vote.

There is multiple Methodist Churches where I live and one belongs to a very small conservative sect (not Global Methodist).

 

[tampasteve]

As a local update, another 46 churches were voted to be allowed to leave the Florida Conference on the UMC this past weekend. That makes just over 100 churches lost from the UMC in Florida this year. They will officially be disfellowshipped on September 1st. As seems typical, a number are going GMC, others will be independent. The largest church from this group will be going GMC.

 

[Leaf473]

As a local update, another 46 churches were voted to be allowed to leave the Florida Conference on the UMC this past weekend. That makes just over 100 churches lost from the UMC in Florida this year. They will officially be disfellowshipped on September 1st. As seems typical, a number are going GMC, others will be independent. The largest church from this group will be going GMC.

Now, that is interesting! Is there a particular thing that's happening in that annual conference that's causing a lot of churches to want to leave?

I've heard that a lot of churches in the western Pennsylvania conference voted to leave. But the particular annual conference my wife and I go to has had very few churches leave. Our pastor advised the congregation to at least wait until the 2024 general conference to see if something is decided there.

The conferences with a lot of churches leaving, do they have a particularly liberal bishop, or something?

 

[tampasteve]

Now, that is interesting! Is there a particular thing that's happening in that annual conference that's causing a lot of churches to want to leave?

In general Florida is a conservative and growing state, so the big churches and the conservative churches see value in separating from the denomination. The churches going to the GMC are ones that have been conservative and would like to be a part of a denomination that is outright conservative and not mainline.

I've heard that a lot of churches in the western Pennsylvania conference voted to leave. But the particular annual conference my wife and I go to has had very few churches leave. Our pastor advised the congregation to at least wait until the 2024 general conference to see if something is decided there.

The conferences with a lot of churches leaving, do they have a particularly liberal bishop, or something?

I'm not so sure that it is that the bishop is so much liberal as the churches wish to leave the denomination as a whole as it is seen to either be moving to the liberal side or ineffective at enforcing the rules that are already in effect. It seems the conferences with the most churches leaving are in conservative states.

 

[9Rock9]

I've heard that a lot of conservative churches splitting off from the UMC are going independent or non-denominational rather than joining the new GMC denomination.

Is this true?

 

[Leaf473]

I've heard that a lot of conservative churches splitting off from the UMC are going independent or non-denominational rather than joining the new GMC denomination.

Is this true?

Hi 9Rock9,

I don't know what the statistics are of churches that have left going independent versus GMC.

There may be a decline in the number of churches leaving now that the "special disaffiliation" window closed at the end of 2023. That's as I understand it

 

[seeking.IAM]

I've heard that a lot of conservative churches splitting off from the UMC are going independent or non-denominational rather than joining the new GMC denomination.

Is this true?

I have been tracking action by UMC churches that my dad used to pastor. Many have left, and those that did all became non-denoms, not Global UMC. I suspect the issue was so bitter for them that they didn't want to be associated with a denomination anymore.

 

[rockytopva]

Most of the churches I attended these days have what I would consider a Methodist foundation but none advertise a denomination. They will call themselves something like, "First Worship" for example.

 

[rockytopva]

I would not recommend any church or denomination these days without first getting to know the senior pastor. Would you? It seems there are good and crazies in every movement these days.

 

[Leaf473]

I would not recommend any church or denomination these days without first getting to know the senior pastor. Would you? It seems there are good and crazies in every movement these days.

I hear what you're saying. Myself, the important thing in the congregation is if the works of the flesh are dwindling and the fruit of the Spirit is growing

 

[seeking.IAM]

I would not recommend any church or denomination these days without first getting to know the senior pastor.

I agree that a senior pastor can be a blessing to inspire and nurture one's faith, and the "crazies" can affect us negatively. I think there is a risk, however, in attaching ourselves to a personality. Pastors come and go. The church remains.

 

[tampasteve]

I think that some, in particular the larger churches, that have left the UMC don't see a lot of value in being attached to a new denomination when they just paid the ransom to leave the UMC. They may join down the line when things shake out a bit, but at this point there is not a lot of value in paying a new denomination. I know my church went independent and now have extra dollars that they are allocating to children's programs, needy families, and another local church.