“Disaffiliation” — the act of formally leaving The United Methodist Church — tops concerns for many clergy and laity these days as about 1,800 congregations out of 30,000 U.S. churches have left since 2019. However, not all the votes for…
Suburban Dallas UMC congregation withholds funds in protest of former pastor’s ‘scapegoating’ by the local bishop
A congregation in suburban Dallas is withholding about $15,000 in dues to the United Methodist Church’s North Texas Annual Conference to protest the “scapegoating” of a former pastor there who is gay. As if the schism in the UMC weren’t…
BNG’s most-read news stories were about Matt Chandler, Adam Greenway, Charles Stanley, Johnny Hunt, John MacArthur and the United Methodist Church schism
Controversies involving church and denominational leadership, an impending denominational split, sexual abuse and the contentious figure behind a U.S. Supreme Court ruling approving public prayer led by government officials make up a large share of Baptist News Global’s top 15…
Truett Seminary names theologian for breakaway Methodist group to chair Wesleyan Studies program
A theologian for a breakaway group of conservative Methodists has been named professor of Christian theology and the first person to hold a new chair in Wesleyan studies at Baylor University’s Truett Seminary. The new academic chair is named in memory…
United Methodists elect married gay clergyman among 13 new bishops who represent many other firsts
A married gay clergyman from California was among 13 new bishops elected by United Methodist delegates to five regional U.S. conferences Nov. 2-5. And that was only one of several first-ever results of this year’s elections. The election of Cedrick…
Events turn against disaffected forces wanting to leave the UMC
Like the lyrics from Paul Simon’s hit song “Call Me Al,” there have been “incidents and accidents, hints and allegations” swirling about The United Methodist Church in the past two weeks, and they add up to some disappointing developments for…
It isn’t a church and doesn’t have members, but it is a way to keep United Methodists in the fold as their congregations disaffiliate
The social media messages can be heartrending to read: “I feel abandoned by my church that voted to leave the UMC.” “This separation has caused a rift in decades-old fellowships.” “I’m feeling … like our beloved church got pushed off…
As frustration and misinformation mount, United Methodist Church’s reputation takes a beating
The ongoing break-up of The United Methodist Church escalated in mid-July to a public legal feud that appears further to damage the troubled denomination’s reputation. The latest episode erupted July 14 when 106 local congregations, most located in rural areas…
Here’s why the United Methodist Church is at odds with recent Supreme Court decisions
The recent spate of ultraconservative decisions by the U.S. Supreme Court has put The United Methodist Church officially at odds with the nation’s highest judicial body. The denomination’s opposition to the high court’s decisions can be found from its core…
Conservative clergywoman claims United Methodist system unjust
Among Protestant denominations, The United Methodist Church admittedly has one of the most complicated, lengthy processes for ordaining its clergy. Now a clergywoman has written a “whistleblower” book claiming the UMC’s ordination process is rife with nepotism, cronyism, bullying and…
Why breaking up is so hard to do for United Methodists: Connectionalism
Why is it so hard for dissident church units to leave the 12-million-member worldwide United Methodist Church? The ties that bind United Methodists together are contained in one arcane word: “connectionalism.” The concept of connectionalism was confirmed May 9 when…
United Methodist Church split draws celebration, lament and soul-searching
A funny thing happened after the theologically conservative Global Methodist Church officially launched on May 1: Dozens of United Methodists took to social media to voice their reasons for staying with the denomination that the GMC’s parent body has denounced…