Articles about developments of alternatives for the future of The United Methodist Church: discussions of options, other expressions of the Methodist or Wesleyan Way, new alignments, petitions and resolutions approved in annual conferences, etc.
The Postponed 2020 General Conference, finally held in 2024 in Charlotte, NC has begun a new era in United Methodism. See this article for the most resources.
Here are some summary articles:
- Historic Assembly Sets United Methodists on New Path (Hahn)
- Closing Press Conference (video)
- Closing Was a Time for Mourning As Well as Celebration
- May 3 wrap-up: Historic conference comes to a close
- Wrap-Up Video
- Western Jurisdiction Video (10 bishops comment)
Here's an article on all that was decided.
More Detail on GC2024
By Heather Hahn
April 25, 2023 | ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. (UM News)
The Judicial Council released rulings April 25 stemming from last fall’s jurisdictional conferences, including one dealing with a resolution on LGBTQ inclusion adopted by all five jurisdictions.
Read more: Judicil Council Ruling on LGBTQ Jurisdictional Conference Resolutions
Jeremy Smith, editor of the Hacking Christianity blog, covers some significant history of the past 9 years in the UMC. He points out that he predicted the course the UMC might take way back after the 2012 General Conference. I remember that disappointing conference--and the even worse 2016 and 2019. But he shows the emergence of a "starfish-like" movement in the UMC which has led to where we are now. Read on and be inspired to focus on the emerging new United Methodist Church, based on the metaphor of the "operating system" of the UMC:
On the Success of Methodism 2.0
Nine years ago in one of the most-commented articles ever, this blog articulated “Methodism 2.0” which predicted what would lead to transformation in The United Methodist Church. ...
by Heather Hahn, March 10, 2023, UMNews
The United Methodist Church’s top court released three decisions on March 10 that deal with resolutions related to the status of LGBTQ people in the church.
In another ruling, the Judicial Council reiterated its previous determination that annual conferences, the denomination’s regional bodies, do not have the authority to unilaterally withdraw from The United Methodist Church.
The nine-member Judicial Council released its rulings as the denomination is undergoing a slow-motion separation after decades of intensifying debate related to LGBTQ inclusion.
- Jurisdictional Conferences Point Towards New Future
- Ecclesiastical DIsobedience Isn't New
- Taking stock after a season of disaffiliations
- Injustice Continues in the UMC During Splintering
- Summary: Is the UMC Really...?
- Bishops push back against recruitment tactics
- Communicators Share Information to Counteract Lies About the UMC
- African Bishops Repudiate WCA, Africa Initiative
- 'UMsConnected' Offers a Way Station on the Journey toward a New UMC
- Where Do We Go From Here?
- The "Protocol" Dies
- Developments in Annual Conferences
- Highlights from David Scott's Blog
- Ruling opens door for bishop elections in 2022
- Judicial Council: Annual Conferences Can't Leave -- Yet
- UMC Update May, 2022
- General Conference Postponed a Third Time!
- Update, January 2022
- Catching Up With The UMC -- and Me
- Neocolonial Manipulations by Good News and WCA Are Resurfacing
- Delegates discuss mapping new church vision
- Wrestling with budget after GC2020 postponed
- Looking at financial impact of GC2020 plans
- New Website and Educational Materials Introduce the Revised Social Principles
- New Era Begins with Resistance, Warnings
- Greater New Jersey Creates New "Discipline"
- Church Future Under Negotiation Before GC2020
- Central Conferences Speak Up Against Dissolution of UMC
- Background and Update on UMC Debate
- Separation Outlook: It's All in the Details
- The WCA: How Did We Get Here?
- Western Jurisdiction's "Fresh" Summit Envisions Inclusive Church
- WCA looks toward new, traditionalist church
- WJ Bishops Promise Safe Harbor, Invite Others To Do Likewise
- Bishop Carter Suggests Moratorium on Trials
- Bishop Carter reflects on journey to GC2020
- Greater New Jersey Conference Chooses a Way Forward
- An Inspiring and Courageous Episcopal Address
- The Filipino UMC Link Between Revival, Unity, and Mission
- A Filipino Experience With Schism
- BIshop Announces "Guiding Coalition" For Future
- Background: Breaking up would be hard to do
- We're Not in Kansas Anymore
- Will Filipinos Resolve the UMC's Three-Way Standoff?
- Leadership Gathering Holds Conversations on UMC Future
- COR Leadership Institute Focuses on Future of UMC
- 'Reform & Renewal' Forces Acknowledge 20 Percent Delegate Drop
- Black Leaders Meet to Discuss Future of United Methodist Church