Global Methodist Church Surges to 6,000 Congregations Amid Historic Split

Methodists who hold to the scriptural definitions of gender continue to flock to the new Global Methodist Church. Since the denomination was founded in 2022, it has grown to 6,000 congregations worldwide.

“That’s 6,000 pulpits preaching the gospel,” a spokesperson said. “Six thousand altars where hearts are renewed, 6,000 congregations worshiping in a variety of nations and languages. Join us in praying for the movement as we continue to welcome existing churches and plant new ones to spread the love of Christ to our communities and beyond.”

The Global Methodist Church was founded in response to the decades-long divisive debate over whether the United Methodist Church should amend its Book of Discipline to allow the blessing of same-sex marriages and the ordination of those in same-sex sexual relationships. Although efforts to amend the Book of Discipline at General Conference always failed, many theological liberals within the denomination refused to follow or enforce the polarizing rules.

The origins of this schism trace back to deep disagreements about biblical interpretation and church doctrine, especially concerning human sexuality. These rifts, simmering since at least the 1970s, intensified as American society shifted on LGBTQ rights, and churches wrestled with balancing tradition and inclusion. For some, the United Methodist Church’s repeated debates and lack of consensus became untenable, driving a desire for clarity and cohesion.

Global Methodist breaking point with General Conference

At last year’s United Methodist Church General Conference, delegates would finally vote overwhelmingly to amend the Book of Discipline to remove the rules, though the changes still allowed for regional bodies and local congregations to continue enforcing them. This outcome reflected the growing diversity of perspective within the global denomination, as United Methodists in Africa, Asia, and the United States took widely different stances on sexuality and church governance. Some progressive clergy and congregations celebrated the new flexibility, while others saw it as a signal that their church was moving away from what they viewed as orthodox Christian teaching.

In January 2020, a group of 16 leaders from diverse theological backgrounds announced a proposed separation protocol that would provide a pathway for churches that wanted to disaffiliate from the mainline denomination over theological differences. The protocol also set aside funds to create a theologically conservative denomination for those congregations that were interested in launching such a church body. Thousands of congregations disaffiliated from the ongoing debate about LGBTQ issues, with most of them voting to join the Global Methodist Church.

The disaffiliation process has not been without controversy. Some congregations have faced legal and financial hurdles, with disputes over property ownership and denominational ties. In certain cases, entire regions have seen dozens of churches leave en masse, reflecting just how deeply the split has affected local communities and their relationships.

“The current member congregations are predominantly former UMC congregations, but we do have member congregations that have come from other denominations, who were previously nondenominational or independent or new church plants that have already been recognized as member congregations,” Transitional Connectional Officer Keith Boyette said.

Observers note that the rapid growth of the Global Methodist Church points to a significant appetite among biblical Christians for a denomination that aligns closely with their beliefs on scripture and tradition. How this young denomination will shape broader Methodism—and the landscape of American Christianity—remains to be seen, but its swift rise suggests that the debate over faith and sexuality in the church is far from settled.

–Alan Goforth