The disaffiliation of United Methodist churches continued making headlines. These churches were in different UM Conferences across the United States, including the East Ohio Conference.
According to an article published by WKBN First News, more than 10 United Methodist churches in Ohio disunited with UMC. The news stated the 13 disaffiliated United Methodist churches were part of the East Ohio Conference.
WKBN First News credited Rev. Abby Auman, who spoke about these churches. He said the 13 churches were previously among hundreds of UM churches of the East Ohio Conference. The reverend explained the successful breakaway was after the vote of the Annual Conference.
Plan to Join The Global Methodist Church
Issues on theology and sexuality in The United Methodist Church sparked disaffiliation of its churches. These churches plan to unite with a newly-founded denomination. The conference is the Global Methodist Church.
WKBN First News reported the Global Methodist Church is a conservative denomination.
The Global Methodist Church began this year. According to The Tennessean, the founding organization of the newly-founded denomination is the Wesleyan Covenant Association. The news report stated disunited United Methodist churches started joining right after the Wesleyan Covenant Association founded the denomination.
Establishes Leadership for The Global Methodist Church
The Tennessean reported in May that leaders of The Global Methodist Church gathered in a session. These selected individuals discussed the leadership of the new denomination. Attendees appointed the Rev. Keith Boyette as the leader of The Global Methodist Church. He passed his leadership post in the Wesleyan Covenant Association. His successor was the Rev. Jay Therrell.
Therrell served a Florida-based church before he started leading the Wesleyan Covenant Association.
The East Ohio Conference is not the only conference losing United Methodist churches. UM, churches in the Western Pennsylvania Annual Conference also plan to cut ties with The United Methodist Church. According to WKBN First News, approximately 300 of its churches began processing disaffiliation.
The report credited the statement of the Wesleyan Covenant Association. Leaders of the organization stated outgoing churches could possibly leave The United Methodist Church next year.
Methodist Churches Splitting with United Methodist Church
Hundreds of United Methodist churches from across the United States announced a plan to cut ties with The United Methodist Church. One of these churches is the Dallas-based St. Andrew United Methodist Church of Plano.
Juicy Ecumenism reported St. Andrew United Methodist Church of Plano has more than 6,000 members. The news outlet obtained the statement of its pastor regarding their decision.
The church minister, Pastor Arthur Jones, addressed the mission of St. Andrew United Methodist Church focuses on serving Jesus Christ. The disaffiliation sparked when the late Rev. Robert Hasley urged leaders to focus on the mission. Then, issues over theology and sexuality at The United Methodist Church erupted. However, Pastor Hasley transitioned into the Kingdom of God in May.
Other churches planned to disunite were part of the Virginia Conference and the Western North Carolina Conference.
About The United Methodist Church
The United Methodist Church became the network of UM Churches in the United States in 1968. Methodism began in 1730 when two leaders of the Methodist movement spread the faith in the country. They were Charles and John Wesley.
The Wesleys worked with other leaders, including Martin Boehm and Philip Otterbein. Their collaborative efforts resulted in the establishment of The United Methodist Church.
