by Bishop Scott Jones, Global Methodist Church

Many churches have left The United Methodist Church and chosen to be independent. Many of them are led by a trusted senior pastor and team of laity and they are sure that day-to-day operations will run smoothly. Many of these churches also fear the entanglements of a denominational affiliation and they cherish the freedom of being on their own.

The difficulties of independence may not arise for many years. When they do arise, however, it quickly becomes important for them to make up for the deep structure provided by denominations for local congregations. The following questions give some indications of what those deep structures are and how a congregation needs to decide about its governance on crucial issues. For each of these questions, the Global Methodist Church provides an answer which a congregation accepts when it becomes part of that denomination.

Many such congregations are evaluating their future relationships. If a congregation is considering joining a denomination, they should explore what commitments that entails. If they are considering joining one of the networks, they should ask which questions are answered by belong to that group, if any. If the congregation is planning to remain independent and non-denominational, they should answer all of the questions for themselves.

Doctrine

  • What are your congregation’s doctrinal commitments?
  • What are your congregation’s beliefs about these historically controversial topics:
    • Gifts of the Holy Spirit
    • Ordination of women
    • Infant baptism or believer’s baptism
    • Baptism by immersion or by sprinkling
    • Way of salvation
    • Predestination
    • Episcopacy
    • Nature of holy communion—e.g., transubstantiation, real presence, consubstantiation, memorialist
    • Frequency of communion
    • Authority of scripture
    • Relationship to secular government
    • Human sexuality including same gender marriage, inclusion of transgendered persons and inclusion of LGBTQIA+ persons as clergy and lay leaders
    • Race relations
    • Migration
  • How can your doctrinal commitments be changed or amended and by what body?

Discipline

  • Who is authorized to administer the sacraments?
  • Who decides that a particular person should be so authorized? This is often seen as the question of ordination.
  • Who decides on the credentialling of clergy and by what standards?
  • If theological education for clergy is required, what educational programs are approved and who decides about the programs?
  • What body takes action when a clergy is accused of moral failure or problematic behavior?

Transitions

  • When there is a change in senior pastor what process is used to decide on the new one?
  • From what pool of potential candidates will the selection process draw?
  • How are associate pastors chosen?
  • From what pool of candidates will associate pastors be chosen?
  • How are other staff, if any, chosen?

Spirit

  • What is your congregation’s mission?
  • Who is responsible for ensuring fidelity to the mission?
  • What other churches do you recognize as being in mission or full communion with you?
  • How do your clergy and lay leaders find inspiration and continuing education?
  • How do you pick partners for local, regional and international mission?

Photo Credit

Scott Jameson Jones is a bishop of the Global Methodist Church. He holds a Ph.D. in Religious Studies from Southern Methodist University and has joined George W. Truett Theological Seminary’s Wesley House of Studies as an Affiliate Professor and Pastor-Theologian in Residence.

He is the author or co-author of 11 books. His most recent books are The Once and Future Wesleyan Movement (2016), Ask: Faith Questions in a Skeptical Age (with his son Arthur D. Jones), The Wesleyan Way, Staying at the Table: The Gift of Unity for United Methodists (2008), United Methodist Doctrine: The Extreme Center (2002) and The Evangelistic Love of God and Neighbor: A Theology of Discipleship and Witness (2003), all from Abingdon Press.