The Church of the Nazarene sees itself as a Wesleyan body in the Methodist tradition. The traditional view was upheld. And they accept all modes of baptism (sprinkling, pouring, immersion, etc.) (See above), Yes, congregations may be involuntarily removed from the denomination with right to appeal. Many conferences in the U.S. protested this action and traditionalists concluded that the institution is not reformable. In order to be truly alive, we embrace Jesus mandate to love God and to love our neighbor and to make disciples of all peoples., from BDD 301 The mission of the Global Methodist Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ who worship passionately, love extravagantly, and witness boldly. ", Yes. Churches in the Holston Conference of the United Methodist Church will meet in a special called session today to decide whether to allow 264 churches to disaffiliate. I am pleased to see this comparison chart. Forming a new denomination essentially from scratch is a difficult and complex undertaking. Your email address will not be published. Making disciples of Jesus Christ who worship passionately, love extravagantly, and witness boldly The role of the committee on pastor-parish relations is advisory., No; all clergy are appointed by the bishop in consultation with the local church. The United Methodist Church acknowledges that all persons are of sacred worth. However, it will take time for any potential separation from The United Methodist Church to take place. from 104, Articles of Religion, Article III) "Christ did truly rise again from the dead, and took again his body, with all things appertaining to the perfection of mans nature, wherewith he ascended into heaven, and there sitteth until he return to judge all men at the last day. For general church connectional funding, not more than 1.5% of local church operating income (see 349.3) as set by the Transitional Leadership Council or the Convening General Conference; b. Congregations that do not agree with the decision made by their annual conference may hold a church conference to consider a different affiliation. Many are bound for the newly formed conservative denomination, the Global Methodist Church. It was only after receiving repeated requests from outside my congregation that I decided to share it online. Technically, no. The primary reason for the separation was that many churches in the United Methodist Church were embracing homosexual clergy and same-sex marriage. Each plays a significant role in the life of the church. There will be permanent deacons and deacons on their way to becoming elders. If another viable Protocol option for congregations becomes available, I will add it to the chart. A bishop or clergy member of an annual conference, including senior clergy and clergy on honorable or administrative location, may be tried when charged (subject to the statute of limitations listed below) with one or more of the following offenses:d. Promoting or engaging in doctrines or practices, or conducting ceremonies or services, that are not in accord with those established by the Global Methodist Church; e. Disobedience to the order and discipline of the Global Methodist Church;2. Is that a specific document that can be accessed? First, the sections on the beliefs of the post-separation UMC on abortion and pluralism are pure conjecture and have nothing to do with the Protocol. I imagine you will not publish this comment but here goes. http://stevewestsmusings.blogspot.com/2021/07/an-open-letter-to-chris-ritter.html?m=1. The chart may be reproduced and shared freely. The program is open to those from different denominational backgrounds, but participants are expected to represent The United Methodist Church and uphold its social . The goal the transitions BOD is to keep things operating in a stable way until a BOD can be formally approved. First, the sections on the beliefs of the post-separation UMC on abortion and pluralism are pure conjecture and have nothing to do with the Protocol. endobj COMPARISON FACT SHEET United Methodist Church (UMC) and Global Methodist Church (GMC) UMC GMC Formation 1968 through merger 2022 - new denomination Mission Statement Make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Wonder which church my Christ would lead in? Peace and a blessed weekend. Rather than retaining the long and complex UM statement on abortion, the Wesleyan Covenant Association suggests the following simple language for the Global Methodist Church: We believe that life is a holy gift of God whose beginnings and endings are set by God, and that it is the particular duty of believers to protect those who are powerless to protect themselves, including the unborn. Compare this to the UMC where Mt. Second, it leaves out contrasting information that is less of a selling point such as the new section of the GMC Discipline on congregational fidelity. Third, it implies that this is a binary choice between two destinies, a narrative which I do not agree with (the Protocol allows for the gracious exit of more than one denomination, a traditionalist denomination and a progressive denomination). The General Board of Pension and Health Benefits shall determine the aggregate funding obligations of the annual conference using market factors similar to a commercial annuity provider, from which the annual conference will determine the local churchs share", Yes. Methodism doesn't recognize the Catholic Pope. And there are many such problems. Position on Abortion seems a little odd given the other items in the comparison chart? The beginning of life and the ending of life are the God-given boundaries of human existence. Titles are not held by The United Methodist Church (see 807.1) or by the General Conference of The United Methodist Church, but instead by the incorporated conferences", Yes. So the Protocol agreement involves those who agree with current teaching to leave. Yes, with qualifications. from 16 & 509) "The General Conference shall have full legislative power over all matters distinctively connectional No person, no paper, no I was a bit surprised you chose an open letter to refute the chart. Don't expect The United Methodist Church to look much different come May 2. In short, it is a simple and persuasive chart but it is clearly biased. The majority pay is between $79,384 to $104,002 per year. 0:35. The UMC vision seems to be a big tent where many different theologies are welcome. I love my church and am sad to see these divisions. Yes, churches that fail to remit payment in full may be involuntarily disaffiliated. One of the most confusing parts of the 2553 paragraph to me is the sectio about unfunded pensions. Very helpful comparison chart. . Even if they did, they do not qualify for the Protocol because they were formed before the Protocol passed. .". Bethel UMC experienced the seizure of its properties and assets by the conference trustees without due . . But these efforts seem to have been subsumed into the GMC effort. Concerning a Date with Miss Information, Caution Precedes Confidence: Avoiding the John Wayne Syndrome, Two Methodisms: A Comparison Chart (v. 1.6). See Judicial Council Decisions 702, 708, 722, 725, 764, 844, 984, 1020, 1341. We are intent on continuing Wesleyanism, as John Wesley first articulated it. And how will they select them? Their major obstacle has been the conservative caucus. Use the links to read each of the major proposals . The Global Methodist Church has announced that a new denomination will officially launch in May, which will mark the beginning of the long-coming split of the United Methodist Church denomination. The average age of its members is 57. I believe the chart is fair and objective. Related to your third point, I stand by my prediction that there will be two primary groups coming out of the Protocol. (My wife and I had both been divorced before we met.) Deacons not serving under appointment shall be classified as inactive and shall have no voting rights in the annual conference, except as provided for in 417. I think the GMC still has a ways to go in ensuring they dont repeat the failures of the UMC. Thanks for allowing me to explain. Thank you for attempting to clear an issue that as previously seemed cloudy to those of us who were not even aware of these intentions until a few weeks ago. from 405.2) "Those to be ordained must meet the following qualifications: Nurture and cultivate spiritual disciplines and patterns of holiness consistent with the General Rules, including responsible self- control by exhibiting personal habits that are conducive to bodily health, mental and emotional maturity, integrity in all relationships, fidelity in a Christian marriage between one man and one woman, chastity in singleness, social responsibility, and the knowledge and love of God. An error has occurred; the feed is probably down. Along with homosexuality, abortion has been a hot-button issue throughout United Methodisms history. People are sharing it so widely, I suppose, because they are hungry for accessible information. Votes will first happen at the level of the annual conference. Charges should have absolute input on who their pastor is, with Bishops approval. Second, it leaves out contrasting information that is less of a selling point such as the new section of the GMC Discipline on congregational fidelity.. a bit but cant seem to get a good feel for what that liability will be. The idea that we would conflate abortion with divorce tells you all you need to know about the difference in the two Methodisms. endobj The average age of its members is 57. The obvious response to a chart you deem defective is to produce a chart that you feel is not. Unlike the UMC, the GMC does not yet exist. Authors of most of the other plans below were part of the group developing the compromise proposal. However, in their strongest statement to date, the leaders of the WCA made clear that, even if centrists and progressives in the present United Methodist Church fail to honor the protocol, the Global Methodist Church will soon become a reality. It is reasonable to assume they will have an easier time getting their way once a significant group of traditionalists departs. from 509 and 510) clergy shall be appointed by the bishop, who is empowered to make and fix all appointments in the episcopal area of which the annual conference is a part. 80% of it is accurate of course but it has three blind spots. I worked to make the information objective and non-partisan. Of course, you and I both have our biases. from 105, Article II) "The following summaries of the apostolic witness disclosed in Scripture have been affirmed by many Christian communities, and express orthodox Christian teaching: 1. Try again later. While this is officially banned in the Book of Discipline, many feel this ban will be officially lifted in 2024. Based in Oakdale, Pennsylvania, it's one of the largest congregations in the conference. The other will focus more on the historic documents. The General Church Agencies have $434,000,000 ($434 million) in reserves - does your church? Let me briefly respond to your other specific concerns. This video might help a bit. The information below is aimed to be as accurate as possible, with the knowledge that some of these positions are aspirational. You can also learn more by reading the article in the July Newsletter. The 2016 Book of Discipline is about a clear as much on this deeply concerning issue, though its pretty clear it supports abortion rights, not human rights. The Global Methodist Church launched earlier than originally expected, casting it in a state of flux right as churches are already joining. I guess the Methodist Church has to take a stand on todays issues, ie abortion, the LBGQ, Trans, and women in leadership rolls. The post was about the Methodist Episcopal Church South (MECS), which, in 1844 just before the American Civil War, broke off from the Methodist Episcopal Church so they could continue to cling to slavery and reject free abolitionist authorities. would leave with their properties intact and there is a process of appeal. The Protocol of Reconciliation and Grace Through Separation won't be considered until at least then. "Some of the churches . If facts on the ground change, I am happy to make adjustments to the chart. Huh. Chris, down here in Alabama we have churches committing to the Free Methodists or starting their own independent connections and not joining the GMC. Maintaining an option for involuntary disaffiliation, the paragraph states, is intended to protect the integrity of the church. Ordained elders guaranteed an appointment, and the local church guaranteed a pastor of the bishops choosing with consultation. UM Fallout: A Compendium People Need Jesus, A gospel response to Pride month Eyes Fixed on Jesus, Denominational ABCs: Advantages, Burdens and Controls (Part One) People Need Jesus, Response to Steve Wests Open Letter People Need Jesus, Creative Congregations Navigating UMC Division, Methodist Mitosis 2.0: New Thoughts on a Needed Direction. Former UM local pastors will be eligible for ordination as deacons. 1. ) The Global Methodist Church, a theologically conservative breakaway denomination, has set May 1 as its official start date. 2 0 obj Yes. From what we observe it is clear the founders of the GMC are heavily influenced by the situation in the US UMC. Most certainly. Thank you, very helpful comparison chart. from 409.3 and 410.3) Deacons are clergy members in full connection of the annual conference with full voice and vote on all matters except the ordination and conference relation of elders. equal to its pro rata share of any aggregate unfunded pension obligations to the annual I would rather see a pool system where pastors could avail themselves to charges looking for new pastoral leadership. Growing in our personal faith, and effectively discipling others, are both life-long expressions of loving the Lord with all of our hearts, all of our being, and all of our minds, as well as loving our neighbor as ourselves.. Find me a pastor who has had a successful relationship with a DS and Ill show you a company man, rather than a Sheperd leading a flock. As he changed the Christian landscape of his day, Wesley wrote and received dozens of public letters. As to your first concern, we really dont have to guess much on the abortion issue. There are currently 80 Methodist denominations, including Free Methodists, Africa Methodist Episcopal Church, and Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. people in other countries (not the USA) have all kinds of laws and norms i.e. Will apportionments be required for each local church? from 349.9) The failure of a local church to remit connectional funding in full as calculated annually may result in the Transitional Leadership Council or designee proceeding under 354 (see above) to involuntarily disaffiliate the local church from the Global Methodist Church.