Judge Dismisses Lawsuit by 36 United Methodist Churches
A North Carolina Superior Court judge dismissed a lawsuit filed last year by 36 United Methodist churches demanding to sever their ties to the denomination.
For United Methodists’ Top Court, 2024 Is the New 2020
The United Methodist Judicial Council, the denomination’s top court, ruled again on the question of leaving the denomination in a decision released last week as the church goes through a slow-moving split over the ordination and marriage of its LGBTQ members.
‘Not a Real Schism’: Four Years Later, UMC Exodus Less a Gush, More a Trickle
Nearly four years ago, the United Methodist Church approved an exit plan for churches wishing to break away from the global denomination over differing beliefs about sexuality, setting in motion what many believed would be a modern-day schism. Since then, a new analysis has found,
Robin Lovin on Leading the Church in a Polarized Society
Robin Lovin, an ordained United Methodist minister and a former professor of ethics at Southern Methodist University, talks about his new book What Do We Do When Nobody Is Listening?: Leading the Church in a Polarized Society.
Some Churches Leave UMC Through Formal Process; Others Are Suing
Across the country, United Methodist churches are voting to leave the denomination by following an exit plan approved by its leaders more than three years ago. But in Florida and North Carolina, some churches have decided to sue United Methodist regional bodies. The denomination is
United Methodist Church Announces Date, Location for Thrice-Postponed General Conference
Perhaps the third time will be the charm for United Methodists awaiting a vote to officially split the denomination. The United Methodist Church has announced the dates for the next meeting of its global decision-making body after postponing its 2020 General Conference meeting three times
United Methodists’ Native American International Caucus Calls for End to Columbus Day
The Native American International Caucus, which advocates for Native Americans both inside and outside of the UMC, is calling on lawmakers to get rid of Columbus Day. To replace the federal holiday, which this year falls on Oct. 10, the caucus is asking Congress to
UMC Bishops in Africa Break With Africa Initiative, Wesleyan Covenant Association
A group of United Methodist bishops in Africa announced Thursday that it will no longer work with the Africa Initiative or the Wesleyan Covenant Association, accusing the groups of spreading misinformation. The bishops claim the Africa Initiative, which was formed in 2008 to give African
Bishop Slams ‘Negative Rhetoric’ as Conservative Methodists Declare End to Moratorium
In his first presidential address as president of the United Methodist Church’s Council of Bishops, Bishop Thomas Bickerton called on conservative groups encouraging churches to leave the denomination to stop the negative rhetoric. He accused the Global Methodist Church and the Wesleyan Covenant Association of
WCA Calls on Conservative Churches to Withhold Dues From United Methodist Church
The Wesleyan Covenant Association is calling for churches to stop paying dues to regional annual conferences it believes are making disaffiliation for churches difficult to impossible amid the United Methodist Church’s slow-moving schism, largely over the ordination and marriage of LGBTQ members. Those apportionments fund