US annual conferences can’t just leave the United Methodist Church, rules top court
United StatesRNS No, an annual conference in the United States can’t just up and leave the United Methodist Church. At least not yet. While the denomination’s Book of Discipline has provisions for individual churches wishing to leave the United Methodist Church with their properties, there’s nothing within church law that would allow an annual conference […]
Church schism: After years of loud debate, conservatives quietly split from United Methodist Church
EMILY MCFARLAN MILLER, of Religion News Service, reports that after decades of rancorous debate over the ordination and marriage of LGBTQ United Methodists, a schism finally came “without fanfare, but full of hope, faith, and perseverance”…
United Methodist bishops acknowledge breakup is imminent
United StatesAP The United Methodist Church’s Council of Bishops, ending a five-day meeting Friday, acknowledged the inevitable breakup of their denomination – a schism that will widen this weekend with the launch of a global movement led by theologically conservative Methodists. The breakaway denomination, called the Global Methodist Church, will officially exist as of Sunday. […]
United Methodist bishops open spring meeting in US with message of unity amid schism
United StatesRNS Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey, the outgoing president of the United Methodist Church’s Council of Bishops, opened the bishops’ spring meeting on Monday with a recap of the historic events the denomination has faced since she took office in 2020: political turmoil in the United States and beyond; the war in Ukraine; a global […]
United Methodist meeting to consider split is still on…for now
RNS Organisers of the United Methodist Church’s General Conference announced last week they are moving forward with plans for the meeting next fall…for now. But, the Commission on the General Conference said on Friday that it hasn’t ruled out postponing the usually quadrennial meeting of the denomination’s global decision-making body yet again. That would mark the third […]
Essay: United Methodist leaders on both sides need to rally the troops for schism
JACOB LUPFER, in an article published on Religion News Service, says that most laity and many clergy are not nearly so invested in moving the Methodist divorce along as those at the extremes…
ESSAY: WHY THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH’S PLAN FOR SEPARATION IS GOOD FOR EVERYONE
In an article first published on Religion News Service, Rev CAROLYN MOORE, founding pastor of Mosaic Church in Evans, Georgia, and the vice-chairwoman of the Wesleyan Covenant Association, writes about why she’s hopeful about the latest plan for separation of the UMC…
ESSAY: HOW DENOMINATIONS SPLIT – LESSONS FOR METHODISTS FROM BAPTIST BATTLES OF THE 80s
In an article first published by Religion News Service, NANCY T AMMERMAN, professor of sociology of religion at Boston University, looks at lessons from the US Baptist experience amid talk of schism in the United Methodist Church…
ORTHODOX CHURCH: OFFICIAL RECOGNITION FOR UKRAINIAN CHURCH CREATES GROWING DIVIDE
NIKOLIA APOSTOLOU reports for Religion News Service…
ESSAY: IS SCHISM POSSIBLE IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH?
US Catholic commentator THOMAS REESE, in an article first published on Religion News Service, looks at whether a split is possible within the Catholic Church…