MooreTrucker said:

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UTExan said:

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I wish y'all well on the property issue. The general rule in the UMC is that any UMC church property is the actual property of the local (annual) conference, even though local members have the responsibility for upkeep, utilities and operating costs. Add to that a bishop's prerogative on reassignment of clergy (also members of the annual conference, not the local church) and you have an awful system in which nobody has the highest incentive to build up a local church since clergy are transient. It's not just about the sexuality issue but church (mis)governance itself driving the split.

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Exactly right. It's the sexuality issues that gets people fired up to stay or not, but the governance (and ignoring established discipline) that are the actual issues.

Our church had no mention of UMC in the deed and we were told that because of that, and something called the trust clause, we could leave with our building, etc. intact. Our sr pastor manipulated enough people that we voted to stay, and you can already see the negative results from that decision.

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YouBet said:

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MooreTrucker said:

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UTExan said:

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I wish y'all well on the property issue. The general rule in the UMC is that any UMC church property is the actual property of the local (annual) conference, even though local members have the responsibility for upkeep, utilities and operating costs. Add to that a bishop's prerogative on reassignment of clergy (also members of the annual conference, not the local church) and you have an awful system in which nobody has the highest incentive to build up a local church since clergy are transient. It's not just about the sexuality issue but church (mis)governance itself driving the split.

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Exactly right. It's the sexuality issues that gets people fired up to stay or not, but the governance (and ignoring established discipline) that are the actual issues.

Our church had no mention of UMC in the deed and we were told that because of that, and something called the trust clause, we could leave with our building, etc. intact. Our sr pastor manipulated enough people that we voted to stay, and you can already see the negative results from that decision.

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Does the general population of Methodists know this or think this though (misgovernance vs gay stuff)? I've never heard anyone in our church mention the former being an issue for them. May just be a function of our situation. Dunno.

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OldSchoolRdAg said:

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SW AG80 said:

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Coker Methodist. And that was percentages

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I thought that it might be Coker. Attended about 20 years ago. I am kind of surprised by the margin to disaffiliate. Must have a solid membership. Good for you.

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OnlyForNow said:

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This is NOT going how the UMC thought it would go, because they are/were delusional.

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HumpitPuryear said:

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OnlyForNow said:

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This is NOT going how the UMC thought it would go, because they are/were delusional.

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Leftists have caused division and wreckage within another Christian denomination. It's going exactly how they want it to go. You're up next Catholics.

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The Chicken Ranch said:

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Is there any update on additional Rio Texas churches leaving for the GMC?

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AgLiving06 said:

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I'm curious.

I was looking at the old Methodist Church I somewhat attended during my childhood.

They are now part of the Global Methodist Church.

What I found interesting is when I was looking at their staff, they have a woman as an Associate Pastor.

I found that interesting because I thought female Pastors was a dividing point between the UMC and GMC?

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The Shank Ag said:

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In my 36 years of life, I had never known life outside of the Methodist Church. My wife, who primarily grew up baptist, had. While I had been our home's leader in determining our church membership since we had been married, I told her when I realized FUMC Cleburne wasn't going the direction I hoped, that she could take the reins.

While certain things are still foreign to me (No monthly communion, no recited creeds, no infant baptisms) I'm not sure I have found worship on this level at any of the three methodist churchs I have been an active member in. I love that the bible is leaned on in everything. Each sermon is very much a bible study, going line by line through the topic passages and discussing the historical, contemporary, and personal meanings behind them. There is passion and direction with the children in the church like I've never seen. There are things talked about and discussed from a biblical standpoint the UMC churches I have been a member of would not touch, or would espouse views that argue against the bible.

I say all this to really say, I loved my time the Methodist Church. I have memories that I will take with me the rest of my life. Friends I will take with me forever as well. That said, my trepidation about leaving was unfounded. The rumors/stereotypes I was given by other methodists about the baptist faith were vastly untrue. I really, really hope those that split from the UMC to independent or Global churches both make it and thrive. I hope the UMC realized the bed they have made for themselves.

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The Shank Ag said:

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Haven't made it to this thread in a while.

Since the beginning of the year, for a brief recap in as close to chronological order as possible

-My church, FUMC Cleburne, decided to go through discernment
-After a quick survey, I knew where the vote would lie and my family visited three different churches
-A vote was had, failing by 1/3 to 2/3 margin
-I left the church I grew up in, baptized my children, and still have family at
-We found a church we loved that encompassed what i loved about my old church (Familiar faces and great worship), but had even more (vibrant children's community, a preacher that's now a close friend, etc).
-My former church's somewhat new pastor (1 year) retired early. The female associate pastor has now assumed his position. Lovely person that I care for, but definitely leaning the way of the greater UMC.
-I was baptized (dunked) and joined First Baptist Church of Cleburne.


In my 36 years of life, I had never known life outside of the Methodist Church. My wife, who primarily grew up baptist, had. While I had been our home's leader in determining our church membership since we had been married, I told her when I realized FUMC Cleburne wasn't going the direction I hoped, that she could take the reins.

While certain things are still foreign to me (No monthly communion, no recited creeds, no infant baptisms) I'm not sure I have found worship on this level at any of the three methodist churchs I have been an active member in. I love that the bible is leaned on in everything. Each sermon is very much a bible study, going line by line through the topic passages and discussing the historical, contemporary, and personal meanings behind them. There is passion and direction with the children in the church like I've never seen. There are things talked about and discussed from a biblical standpoint the UMC churches I have been a member of would not touch, or would espouse views that argue against the bible.

I say all this to really say, I loved my time the Methodist Church. I have memories that I will take with me the rest of my life. Friends I will take with me forever as well. That said, my trepidation about leaving was unfounded. The rumors/stereotypes I was given by other methodists about the baptist faith were vastly untrue. I really, really hope those that split from the UMC to independent or Global churches both make it and thrive. I hope the UMC realized the bed they have made for themselves.

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goatchze said:

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AgLiving06 said:

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Gotcha. So whether you go GMC or UMC, female pastors are an accepted part of either group?

Are there any pastoral differences between the two groups?

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Both allow female clergy.

The GMC does not allow clergy to be practicing homosexuals.

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goatchze said:

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The GMC does not allow clergy to be practicing homosexuals.

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