What's next for the UMC? This is a question that many are asking as the General Conference of 2020 has been postponed a third time to 2024.

There are some who are anxious to leave the UMC over the disagreement about "homosexuality," and there are some who are anxious to stay and get beyond the fight of over 50 years over how to relate to and do ministry with Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, A-sexual, and other identifications related to the diversity of human sexuality. Some are wanting to leave for what is being called the Global Methodist Church; some are leaving for the new Liberation Methodist Connexion, an inclusive and social-justice focused denomination; some have already left for other Wesleyan-related denominations such as Free Methodist and Nazarene.

From UMNews:

From the United Methodist Association of Retired Clergy (UMARC):

What is the best way to prepare for the future of the United Methodist Church?

First would be to watch these webinars:

"'To Stay or Not To Stay, That Is the Question' Facing United Methodists." It was sponsored by the United Methodist Association of Retired Clergy and Friends. It occurred Tuesday evening April 5, with two more to follow. More information and registration is here. This first webinar can be viewed here.

The next two webinars were May 17, and June 22. May 17 the topic was "Look Before You Leap: Examining the Choices Between the UMC and the GMC." Recording is here. The June topic was "Gladly Choosing To BeUMC." Recording is here.

Then do some homework, with yourself, with small groups in your church, and perhaps a more formal church-wide study in your church. These studies should focus on discovering and clarifying what you know and believe, especially about the Methodist way of being church, including these areas:

  • What is your best understanding of Methodism, and what is most important to you that you want to be sure to be a part of the future of Methodism?
  • What are the best parts of your own local United Methodist Church that you want to be sure continue?
  • What are the plans for the future of the UMC which are being proposed? Which ones would help strengthen your church's ministry? Which ones most closely match the values you and your church hold dear? Pay particular attention to the Protocol and the Christmas Covenant.

Professor Steve Harper gives suggestions for this process of self-study and self-identification on his blog, here.

Several folks in Western Pennsylvania Conference have put together a study guide "Questions for United Methodists Considering Their Options" regarding affiliating with the new Global Methodist Church--some helpful questions and answers with some comparisons to the UMC.

Here's a bit of history of where the GMC came from, by Jeremy Smith, of Hacking Christianity.

Note this article about several Judicial Council decisions about disaffiliation, by Heather Hahn, Feb. 9, 2022.

The Mountain Sky Conference Trustees have developed a process for disaffiliation of churches within the MSC. Note the time deadlines.

Wespath has produced a FAQ Regarding Church and Conference Disaffiliations

Harper also writes a sad and insightful goodbye to his brothers and sisters in the more conservative wing of the UMC who are forming the Global Methodist Church. The entire piece is worth a prayerful read, but in our context, this is especially significant:

I have discovered that LGBTQ+ people live as committed Christians and devoted disciples of Jesus as much as conservatives do. They do so on the same basis as any Christian—fidelity to the covenant. [3] And they do so made in the image of God as much as anyone on the nonbinary spectrum of humanity. Additionally, I have seen them live their faith as ignored, demeaned, and persecuted people and do so with a depth of commitment greater than I have had to live it in a heteronormative environment. By expanding my understanding of humanity through the witness and friendship of LGBTQ+ people, my experience of God has been deepened and widened beyond what it once was.

Elsewhere on this site are all the plans submitted to the 2020 General Conference, now postponed to 2024.

To catch up on some of the latest analyses of where the UMC stands, visit these links:

When a marriage becomes irretrievably broken, nasty events can transpire in the dissolution. Such has occurred in the past month as The United Methodist Church faces the launch of a breakaway traditionalist denomination expected to draw an uncounted number of disaffected congregations opposed to LGBTQ inclusion. Since the Global Methodist Church’s transitional leadership council announced a May 1 launch date, several events have occurred that have confused and alarmed rank-and-file United Methodists. -- Baptist News article by Cynthia Astle

A reaction to the postponement of the 2020 GC to 2024, from the Love Your Neighbor Coalition (LYNC).

Another reaction to the postponement, from the Reconciling Ministries Network.

What about the postponed Episcopal Elections? A number of bishops are at or even past mandatory retirement age.

How one Conference's churches are facing the future, from the Arkansas Democrat Gazette Online.

UM Journalist Cynthia Astle interviewed several analysts on the things congregations should consider before deciding to leave the UMC. Study and compare the "rule books"!

Astle analyses some of the miscommunication going on about the new Global Methodist Church.

The two major plans coming before the 2024 General Conference are the Protocol for Grace through Separation and the Christmas Covenant. Note that all legislation presented to the now-postponed 2020 GC is still to be considered. Here's how the two plans complement each other, by UM and Global blogger David Scott.

The Western Jurisdiction Conference first-elected delegates spell out their goals for the now-postponed 2020 GC, including support for the Christmas Covenant and reluctant support for the Protocol.

Here's a take on the process of resolving our 50-year impasse, from Mainstream UMC.

Jeremy Smith, blogger of Hacking Christianity has a 3-part analysis of the state of the UMC:

A Commentary on the new Global Methodist Church, by Rev. Smith, comparing now with the Methodists in 1939.

A commentary on the central role of the Central Conferences and the future of the UMC, by David Scott.

Bishops Discern Ways for Churches Choosing to Separate from UMC;
Council seeks court's guidance on Jurisdictional Conferences. by Maidstone Mulenga, March 17, 2022

The bishops affirmed by an overwhelming majority that paragraph 2553 in the Book of Discipline would be the primary paragraph used for disaffiliation and separation. It is understood that different contexts may require utilization of additional paragraphs in the current Book of Discipline namely paragraphs 2548.2 and 2549: and that they would employ the values and principles as outlined in paragraph 2553...