Vision for Covenant

What is the Global Methodist Church?
It is a church committed to making disciples of Jesus Christ who worship passionately, love extravagantly, and witness boldly. They are grounded in Scripture and the life giving confessions of the Christian faith found in the Apostles’ and the Nicene Creeds.

Why Join The Global Methodist Church?
Many churches in South Carolina departing the UMC are rooted in a long and rich history of connection with other churches, both in their community and the world.  Wesleyan ideals are as important today to the local church as in the past – many of which are unattainable by an independent local church.  THE GMC provides a leaner and simpler general church with an emphasis on the ministry of the local church rather than general agencies and bureaucracy.  This includes no trust clause and much greater autonomy and freedom for the local church.  It means a less expensive organization with a simpler and fairer appointment and ordination system.

Most critically, the GMC holds fast to an orthodox doctrine that reestablishes the tradition of the early church fathers and the global, Christian church that is founded wholly in scripture.

How Does A Congregation Join Global Methodist Church?

To join the Global Methodist Church, the following motion must be adopted by a simple majority at a congregational meeting, such as:

“I move that _____________ Church become a member congregation of the Global Methodist Church, that it affirms and endorses the doctrinal standards (Part One), Social Witness (Part Two), and church governance of the Global Methodist Church as set forth in its Transitional Book of Doctrines and Discipline, and agrees to be accountable to such standards, witness, and governance. Our leadership and trustees are authorized to take all actions necessary to implement this motion.”

A person authorized by the church must then complete and submit a digital church application.  As part of completing the digital church application, you must upload the minutes of the meeting at which the motion above was adopted.

What are the core beliefs of the GMC?

The one God – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit – created all things; that Jesus Christ, through the power of his cross and Resurrection, is the Lord and Savior of all the world; and the Holy Spirit empowers the people of his church to worship and praise God and to proclaim the Gospel throughout the world in word and deed. This includes unity around the authority of Scripture, the classical confessions of the Christian faith as articulated in the Apostles’ and Nicene Creeds, and in the historic Christian ethical standards that derive from them.

For a full accounting of the church’s core beliefs, see the Transitional Book of Doctrines and Discipline, pages 4–19.

Will churches own their own property?

According to the Global Methodist Church’s Transitional Book of Doctrines and Discipline local churches own all their property and assets. Since it is widely assumed the local churches, annual conferences and central conferences are strongly inclined to join the Global Methodist Church do not want to be part of a denomination with a “trust clause” (i.e., where local church property is held in trust for a general church). There is no trust clause in the GMC. Therefore, local churches in the Global Methodist Church will own all their property and assets in perpetuity.

How will a church in South Carolina be assigned a Pastor?

The appointment process as per the Transitional Book of Doctrines and Discipline (see paragraph 510) will be a consultative process between the church and the Bishop:

The local church must be given the opportunity to give input on the suitability of a proposed appointment and to raise any concerns they might have. When a committee raises substantive and missional concerns about the suitability of an appointment, such concerns must be addressed by the bishop and cabinet in considering whether to make the appointment. The bishop and cabinet must provide a rationale for their decision to the committee if they make the appointment. Consultation is both a continuing process and a more intense involvement during the period of change in appointment. This process will also be freed from a yearly appointment with no guaranteed appointments for clergy.

What are the lengths of terms for preachers?  District Superintendents?  Bishops?

According to the Global Methodist Church’s Transitional Book of Doctrines and Discipline (paragraph 516.2), bishops will not serve life terms. Rather, bishops will only serve predetermined terms as defined by the convening general conference. Once they serve their terms, they will either return to ministry in a local church or to some other area of service in the GMC denomination.

The position of” District Superintendent” does not currently exist in the Transitional Book of Doctrines and Discipline it is replaced by the position titled “Presiding Elder”. The Presiding Elder is an existing clergy elder at a church within the district. Presiding Elders will assist in the needs and accountability of the Regional District. Term limits will be set by the general conference.

Clergy appointment terms will be at the discretion of each church and its leadership.

How will churches, bishops, clergy and laity be held accountable to the shared beliefs of the GMC?

The Global Methodist Church is clear and unambiguous in its doctrine and unity around the authority of Scripture, the classical confessions of the Christian faith as articulated in the Apostles’ and Nicene Creeds, and in the historic Christian ethical standards deriving from them. Clergy and laity at every level will be expected to warmly embrace these hallmarks of the faith. For the sake of its mission and the unity of the church, it is crucial its leaders will be responsible for holding one another, its clergy, and its laity accountable to doctrine and unity around the authority of Scripture.

The Transitional Book of Doctrines and Discipline (Part 8) provides extensive means of accountability at all levels. This includes very specific accountability mechanisms for holding Bishops accountable to not only one another, but more specifically to the laity.

What will apportionments look like in the GMC?

The GMC will not have “Apportionments” but “Connectional Giving”. The terminology is more than just semantics. Apportionments are “apportioned” or assigned by the denomination to a local church based on the needs of the denomination. Connectional giving is determined based on what a church is able to give in response to what they have received in annual income. The intent is to invert giving from a top down to a congregation up plan.

The Transitional Book of Doctrines and Discipline (paragraph 349) currently caps limits for Connectional Giving at 1.5% for general GMC ministry and 5% for the Annual Conference ministry of the local church’s operating income for the previous year (versus no cap for apportionments in the UMC). Churches can also apply for exemptions due to extenuating circumstances or for new church plants. The intention is Connectional giving will be half or less of current UMC Apportionments.

Currently, Connectional Giving is not required — the Annual or Convening General Conference, made up of delegates, will determine the exact timing of the mandatory beginning. Until then, churches can voluntarily provide Connectional Giving to the Annual Conference if they desire to help fund the formation and administration of the conference and potential events and activities in the future.

Do women serve as clergy in the Global Methodist Church?

Yes! Women, like men, are called to serve in the Global Methodist Church and are entitled to serve at all levels of the Global Methodist Church.

When will the global Methodist Church hold a convening General Conference?

The Global Methodist Church’s Transitional Leadership Council (TLC) will work to determine the most feasible dates for holding its convening General Conference. During a transitional period of 12 to 18 months, local churches, annual conferences everywhere, and central conferences in Africa, Europe, Eurasia, and the Philippines will have the opportunity to join the Global Methodist Church. Once local churches and annual conferences make their decisions, the Transitional Leadership Council (TLC) will apportion delegates accordingly and invite them to the Global Methodist Church’s convening General Conference. Most likely sometime in the late fall of 2024.

Who is leading the Global Methodist Church?

Officially, the 17-member Transitional Leadership Council (TLC) is leading the Global Methodist Church during its transitional phase. However, over a thousand people have had a role in giving shape to the GMC and bringing it into existence. Clergy and lay people in Africa, Europe, Eurasia, the Philippines and the United States have sacrificially given of their time, talent, and resources to discern God’s will for the formation of the Global Methodist Church. During its transitional phase, the church will be governed by the Transitional Book of Doctrines and Discipline. Ultimately, duly elected delegates to the Global Methodist Church’s convening General Conference will prayerfully seek God’s will for the GMC’s future. The convening General Conference will adopt a Book of Doctrines and Discipline to replace the transitional document.

How does a clergyperson (ordained or licensed as a local pastor) become ordained in the Global Methodist Church?

To apply to be a clergy member of the Global Methodist Church, the clergyperson must complete and submit a digital clergy application. As part of completing the digital clergy application, you will upload certain documents such as a copy of ordination certificates or licenses evidencing your current ministerial credentials, diplomas from educational institutions, and transcripts of courses completed. During completion of the digital clergy application, you will initiate a background check as part of completing the digital clergy application. Church applications can only be submitted using the digital clergy application. If you have questions about the clergy application process, please email applications@globalmethodist.org.

Does the Global Methodist Church provide a retirement program for member clergy and lay employees of member churches?   As of July 1, 2022, the Global Methodist Church offers the Covenant Clergy Personal Investment Plan (Covenant PIP), a 403(b) defined contribution plan sponsored by the Global Methodist Church. A brochure accessible here provides information on clergy participation in Covenant PIP.

 Local churches may also participate in Covenant PIP for their lay employees. Churches would have a menu of three options from which to choose: 1) allow employees to make discretionary contributions from their pay; 2) the church matching the lay employee’s contribution, up to 5% of the lay employee’s compensation; or 3) contributing 5% of the lay employees’ compensation plus a match of the employee’s contribution up to an additional 5%. The process for enrolling lay employees is under development.

Does the Global Methodist Church provide life and disability insurance for member clergy and lay employees of such churches?   The Global Methodist Church offers eligible lay and clergy participants long-term disability and life insurance benefits administered through Unum. A brochure accessible here provides additional information.

Where can I find a Global Methodist Church in South Carolina?

Currently, the UMC SC Annual Conference will vote in June 2023 to permit South Carolina local churches seeking separation the permission to leave the UMC. The local SC churches are open to join the GMC after an affirmative vote at the SC Annual Conference and completing the GMC application process.

After one hundred (approximately) local churches join the GMC a Transitional Annual Conference can be formed. In the meantime, a Transitional District Advisory Team (TDAT) has formed in South Carolina.

Will there be a GMC publishing house?  Will there be a place to buy church resources?

While the Global Methodist Church does not have a publishing house at this time, Seedbed — a publishing and media company established by Asbury Theological Seminary — publishes Bible studies, books, small-group studies, training courses, videos, podcasts, and conferences from a Wesleyan tradition perspective matching the orthodox, scripturally authoritative trajectory of the Global Methodist Church.

We will we have conference retreat properties in South Carolina?

Most of the Methodist retreat properties in South Carolina are accustomed to not wholly being owned by The United Methodist Church or the UMC South Carolina Annual Conference. While the Global Methodist Church will not own or maintain any retreat properties at this time, many of the properties you are accustomed to will still be fully available for use by GMC churches.

Will we need to purchase new hymnals?

Existing UMC hymnals are still filled with the wonderful hymns of John & Charles Wesley and many others as well as liturgical resources are still valuable today and do not require replacement. The Global Methodist Church does not have an official hymnal at this time, however, the Seedbed is releasing a new, modern Wesleyan tradition hymnal that will likely be a valuable resource for many Global Methodist churches: Our Great Redeemer’s Praise: A Hymnal for All God’s People.

What forms of communication are available to learn more about South Carolina GMC?

The South Carolina Transitional District Advisory Team currently provides several methods of communication and will continue to develop more as it becomes more established. This communication includes a website at: GMCofSC.org, bi-monthly newsletter (signup available on the website), and social media on Facebook.

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