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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.

by Cynthia B. Astle
January 2, 2020 (Used by permission of United Methodist Insight.)

The Rev. Adam Hamilton, senior pastor of the multi-site, mega-membership United Methodis Church of the Resurrection based in Leawood, Kansas, endorsed the #ResistHarm movement in a year-end email sent to participants of the 2019 Leadership Institute.

In addition to recommending #ResistHarm as a resource for congregations in the run-up to the 2020 General Conference in May, Rev. Hamilton responded to frequent requests for updates on The United Methodist Church’s struggle over LGBTQ+ acceptance and potential schism. He cited the following:

Read more: New Era Begins with Resistance, Warnings

A special GNJ Annual Conference session may be called...

The New Discipline

December 18, 2019 | GNJ News

Dear Lay and Clergy Members of GNJ,

May the light of Jesus Christ fill your Advent Season with hope, love and salvation.

As we prepare to celebrate the birth of our Lord, there is also a new Book of Discipline being born. This new Book of Discipline has a working title of The Connection: The Life and Order of The United Methodist Church. As you read these words, it is being developed by a group of laity and clergy leaders from GNJ including members of our general conference delegation.

The primary purpose of The Connection is to make it easier for congregations to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world and to help all United Methodists stay on a Wesleyan Path. It will be simpler, clearer and better organized than our current Discipline. The Connection recognizes that the mission of United Methodism is best served by empowering congregations to develop laity who are equipped for leadership in the church and community, and clergy who are equipped to cultivate and lead leaders. The General, Jurisdictional/Central and Annual Conferences exist to resource and equip local congregations to thrive. [Continue reading at the Greater New Jersey site]

by Heather Hahn and Sam Hodges
December 18 2019 (UM News article)

A small group of United Methodist bishops and U.S. traditionalists, centrists and progressives met this week as part of negotiations about the denomination’s future. [Here's the result.]

The Dec. 16-17 meeting in Washington was an outgrowth of discussions that Sierra Leone Bishop John K. Yambasu initiated in July to find consensus on any potential church separation ahead of the 2020 General Conference. Participants, who represent varied perspectives on LGBTQ inclusion, agreed to confidentiality while their delicate conversations proceed.

Read more: Church Future Under Negotiation Before GC2020

[This speech was delivered to the Central Conference Bishops at the November 1 Council of Bishops meeting. A similar speech was given to the Philippines College of Bishops November 22.]

Concerned Central Conference Group Opposes Breaking Up the UMC

by Lloyd T. Nyarota
December 10, 2019

Special to United Methodist Insight (original here)

Introduction

We would like to thank you our Bishops for creating time to listen to us as your own people from central conferences.

Who are we: We are a Forum of Concerned Central Conferences United Methodists pushed by the love of our Church and the need for a United Global Connectional Church.

We are a group of people who meet online by Zoom and we are from different parts of the global connectional church based in different parts of the world. Because of the love for our church when we have our Zoom meetings, time differences has not been an obstacle even though some will have to wake up in the middle of the night, while others will take a break from daily activities so we reflect on the future of our beloved denomination. [Continue reading at UM-Insight. ]

  1. Background and Update on UMC Debate
  2. Separation Outlook: It's All in the Details
  3. The WCA: How Did We Get Here?
  4. Western Jurisdiction's "Fresh" Summit Envisions Inclusive Church
  5. WCA looks toward new, traditionalist church
  6. WJ Bishops Promise Safe Harbor, Invite Others To Do Likewise
  7. Bishop Carter Suggests Moratorium on Trials
  8. Bishop Carter reflects on journey to GC2020
  9. Greater New Jersey Conference Chooses a Way Forward
  10. An Inspiring and Courageous Episcopal Address
  11. The Filipino UMC Link Between Revival, Unity, and Mission
  12. A Filipino Experience With Schism
  13. BIshop Announces "Guiding Coalition" For Future
  14. Background: Breaking up would be hard to do
  15. We're Not in Kansas Anymore
  16. Will Filipinos Resolve the UMC's Three-Way Standoff?
  17. Leadership Gathering Holds Conversations on UMC Future
  18. COR Leadership Institute Focuses on Future of UMC
  19. 'Reform & Renewal' Forces Acknowledge 20 Percent Delegate Drop
  20. Black Leaders Meet to Discuss Future of United Methodist Church
  21. The Current Three-Way Standoff in the UMC
  22. The winding road ahead for United Methodism
  23. The Bursting of the Methodist Wineskin
  24. Reflections on Where We Are
  25. Western Jurisdiction Holds "Fresh United Methodism Summit"
  26. African Pastor Calls For Honesty in Global Methodism
  27. Two Traditionalist Arguments that Fall Flat
  28. Global? Who You Calling 'Global'?
  29. Papers, Discussions, Research: UM-Insight.org
  30. Parody Humor; Venn Diagram; First African Reconciling Congregation
  31. GC2020: Pick Up a Pen, Start Writing
  32. The struggle for the perfect plan
  33. State of the UMC: Bloggers weigh in
  34. The US & the Central Conferences at the UM Scholars Conference
  35. Speech: Four Words, Three Rules, Two Standards, One Grace
  36. Commission on General Conference added to confusion
  37. Bishop Richard Wilke: A plea to the United Methodist Church
  38. Diverse group of United Methodists explores separation
  39. Plans canceled for GC2024 in Philippines
  40. Connectional Table Approves Legislation Creating New U.S. Structure
  41. Mainstream UMC Survey Results Show Urgency
  42. Scholars gather to champion LGBTQ inclusion
  43. Petition Process Open for 2020 General Conference
  44. Judicial Council Docket - October, 2019
  45. Church leaders look at options for future of denomination
  46. Apportionment collection rates down after GC2019
  47. Conferences Mull Denomination's Future
  48. What does it mean to Dissolve The United Methodist Church?

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