Several theologically conservative United Methodist leaders have recently unveiled plans to launch a new denomination in 2022.
According to The Christian Post, the United Methodist Church has long been at a crossroads as conservative and progressive members have been largely divided over issues such as same-sex marriage and the ordination of LGBT clergy.
On Monday, the Wesleyan Covenant Association and the 17-member Transitional Leadership Council published a statement announcing the new denomination, “The Global Methodist Church” (GMC).
The denomination, however, will not be officially launched until 2022 because the UMC General Conference will need to convene to pass a separation measure known as the Protocol for Reconciliation and Grace through Separation.
The General Conference, which is held every four years, was initially scheduled to be held last year but was postponed to 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The conference would later reschedule this year’s meeting to next year.
The Protocol, which will be debated at the General Conference, involves granting conservative UMC churches permission to part ways with the denomination and create their own.
Rev. Keith Boyette, who serves as the Transitional Leadership Council Chairman explained in a statement that the newly proposed GMC would “make disciples of Jesus Christ who worship passionately, love extravagantly, and witness boldly.”
“Over the past year the council members, and hundreds of people who have informed their work, have faithfully and thoughtfully arrived at this point,” Boyette added. “They are happy to share with others a wealth of information about a church they believe will be steeped in the life-giving confessions of the Christian faith.”
Another member of the Transitional Leadership Council, the Rev. Philippe Adjobi, said “it was a great honor to participate in such exhilarating work,” regarding the GMC.
He believes that the new denomination “will fulfill the expectations and aspirations of local churches throughout Africa. They will appreciate focusing on what is essential: testifying to Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.”
At the present time, GMC has launched a website explaining the new denomination in further detail, including the ordination of women and commitment to racial equality.
Late last November, a group of progressive United Methodists announced that they will form a new denomination known as the Liberation Methodist Connexion, or LMX as they, like the GMC, await approval from the General Conference.
At the present time, the General Conference is set to take place on Aug. 29 through Sept. 6, 2022, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Related:
Progressive United Methodists Announce New Denomination: Liberation Methodist Connexion
United Methodists Reschedule Meeting — And Decision on Splitting — Again
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Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer. He is also the co-hosts of the For Your Soul podcast, which seeks to equip the church with biblical truth and sound doctrine Visit his blog Blessed Are The Forgiven.
