The Wesleyan Covenant Association isn’t wasting any time getting itself ready to become a new denomination. Judging from its latest newsletter, WCA folks seem pretty convinced that a schism in The United Methodist Church is a foregone conclusion.
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.
As GC2020 nears, fewer keep to the sidelines
By Heather Hahn
Dec. 10, 2019 | UM News article
In the denomination’s longtime homosexuality debate, fewer United Methodists are keeping to the sidelines.
The fallout continues after the 2019 special General Conference in St. Louis adopted, by about a 53% vote, the Traditional Plan that tightens enforcement of church bans on same-sex weddings and “self-avowed practicing” gay clergy.
Some United Methodists are taking public stands to support the plan, while others are taking steps toward resistance. The denomination also has seen a drop in giving following the rancorous special session.
by Cynthia B. Astle, November 21, 2019 (republished with permission of UM-Insight.net)
This is an important and well-documented history of the conservative movement in the United Methodist Church. It is reprinted here under Creative Commons "Free Cultural Work" license, per Hacking Christianity's site. Original post here. See also this "river" of posts from Jeremy on the WCA.
November 9, 2019 by Jeremy Smith
The seeds for the Wesleyan Covenant Association have been growing for a long time. It’s important to trace the efforts which have led to its creation of a new Wesleyan denomination.
1966: One Against the Many
The WCA consistently uses narratives of institutional oppression, “one against the many” and rallying language of minority status. This is a throwback to its origins in the 1960s.
Gathering dreams of inclusive future
By Kathy L. Gilbert
Nov. 18, 2019 | ROLLING HILLS ESTATES, Calif. (UM News)
More than 200 United Methodists from the Western Jurisdiction gathered Nov. 14-16 to cast a vision and dream of a future for The United Methodist Church that is diverse and inclusive of “all God’s children.”
Participants at the Fresh United Methodism Summit at Rolling Hills United Methodist Church included the Western Jurisdiction bishops, delegates to the 2020 General Conference and Jurisdictional Conference, communicators and other leaders as well as a limited number of observers.
By the summit’s end, a working group of five clergy and five laity were elected as a visioning team. That team will bring a report to the 2020 Western Jurisdictional Conference to be held July 15-18, 2020, in Billings, Montana. [Continue reading at UMNews]
Read more: 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
- The Current Three-Way Standoff in the UMC
- The winding road ahead for United Methodism
- The Bursting of the Methodist Wineskin
- Reflections on Where We Are
- Western Jurisdiction Holds "Fresh United Methodism Summit"
- African Pastor Calls For Honesty in Global Methodism
- Two Traditionalist Arguments that Fall Flat
- Global? Who You Calling 'Global'?
- Papers, Discussions, Research: UM-Insight.org
- Parody Humor; Venn Diagram; First African Reconciling Congregation
- GC2020: Pick Up a Pen, Start Writing
- The struggle for the perfect plan
- State of the UMC: Bloggers weigh in
- The US & the Central Conferences at the UM Scholars Conference
- Speech: Four Words, Three Rules, Two Standards, One Grace
- Commission on General Conference added to confusion
- Bishop Richard Wilke: A plea to the United Methodist Church
- Diverse group of United Methodists explores separation
- Plans canceled for GC2024 in Philippines
- Connectional Table Approves Legislation Creating New U.S. Structure
- Mainstream UMC Survey Results Show Urgency
- Scholars gather to champion LGBTQ inclusion
- Petition Process Open for 2020 General Conference
- Judicial Council Docket - October, 2019
- Church leaders look at options for future of denomination
- Apportionment collection rates down after GC2019
- Conferences Mull Denomination's Future
- What does it mean to Dissolve The United Methodist Church?
- Where The Money (Doesn't) Come From
- Bishops Release Rulings of Law on Ordinations, Finances
- Two Bishops Offer Plan for UMC Future
- Arbitration: A Possible Help in the Coming Separation