Saturday, May 15, 2021

European UMC Bishops Make Plans for Separation


United Methodists in Europe are beginning to make plans for what happens if a proposal for the denomination’s separation wins General Conference approval.

Several European annual conferences have indicated plans to remain with The United Methodist Church. Other conferences expect to join a new, traditionalist denomination should the church eliminate its bans on same-sex marriages and noncelibate gay clergy. Still other conferences are taking a wait-and-see approach.

The COVID-19 global pandemic has postponed General Conference, the denomination’s top lawmaking assembly, from May 2020 to Aug. 29-Sept. 6, 2022, in Minneapolis. That postponement has put on hold any formal separation.

However, the continent’s four bishops see a need to prepare now. By the time the dust settles, they expect the church’s map in Europe to look very different. Read More

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