by Bob Phillips
A while ago I had a conversation, actually several such conversations, with a spiritually vigorous evangelical United Methodist couple who departed their congregation when the vote to disaffiliate failed. They dedicate hours weekly to volunteering in programs to aid people on the margins. Financially very secure, they tithe…plus. They have a long track record of leading Bible study and small groups, all firmly rooted in the historic Wesleyan tradition.
They wound up in a non-denominational (Baptist-like) church. The differences from an evangelical Wesleyan church are significant. The church rejects any role of women in spiritual leadership over men. The church embraces a ‘Young Earth’ approach to science, insisting the earth is 6,000 years old. The church is very limited in its willingness, or desire, to cooperate actively with other churches unless they are ‘pure.’ The church holds modern public education and higher education in general, with a subtle but clear suspicion. The church’s vision, budget and actions have only a tiny interest in “social holiness” ministries to those trapped on the margins. Of course there is no infant baptism (understandably for that tradition), no creeds, no women deacons or elders, and no Wesley hymns beyond Hark, the Herald Angels Sing.
After an initial fit of quiet pique I stepped back to reflect on how this could happen. The resulting reflection is offered for benefit to any and all for whom the issue may hold relevance.
- First, a vigorous Global Methodist Church was outside of reasonable driving distance and other Wesleyan churches (such as Free Methodist or Nazarene) had issues with “processing Sunday visits from strangers.”
- Second, worship at the ‘nondenom ‘ church was passionate, uplifting, and inspiring. It is not like “a forced, two-hour tour of your own living room.”
- Third, the pastor of 15+ years tenure has a gracious, welcoming personality, is an excellent public speaker, and though preaching to 800+ weekly, visits with newcomers in their homes, a slap at what is seen as the unctuous “Pastor as CEO, not shepherd’ model.
- Fourth, the sermons are filled with scripture, typically cited from memory and unpacked in conversational and personally relevant ways…and not downloaded!
- Fifth, the tenor of the church in leadership-worship-programs is clearly upbeat and positive, reflected in actual and honest numerical growth in worship beyond pre-COVID years.
- Sixth, women who have shifted to this church from mainline settings, while personally disagreeing with the ban on women in leadership, are very appreciative of a church where men don’t have to be begged to step up and lead; such women are pleased not being in a church where only a small minority of men are active beyond an occasional desultory appearance.
- Seventh, former mainliners appreciate a setting where questions of core beliefs (did Christ atone for our sins on the cross, did the virgin birth and resurrection literally happen) are never up for grabs and basic convictions are clearly stated and followed.
- Eighth, a graceful but demanding expectation of commitment is a refreshing alternative to a passive, wishful, wuss-filled approach to membership. In 2023 recruitment into the US military was well below quotas, despite large bonuses. The exception was the Marine Corps, with 100%+ recruits. Asked if the Corps offered a money bonus to attract recruits, the Commandant of the Marine Corps replied, “Your bonus is that you get to call yourself a Marine. That’s your bonus.”’ So, too, with many such faith traditional, non-denominational churches. Becoming a Christian is viewed as hot chili, not cold soup.
- Ninth, the initial welcome and multiple avenues for immediate and meaningful connection made a second visit easy and eventual commitment more likely than not.
The Global Methodist Church
Now the good news. Nearly all of the attractive qualities of this type of church could be found in a Global Methodist congregation. Of the nine cited qualities, the geographic closeness of a GMC congregation is what it is. The other eight qualities are fair expectations of any spiritually-alive Wesleyan churches. One can fully embrace the role of women in Spirit-affirmed leadership and still have men who “man up” for Christ in active discipleship. Women need not be excluded for men to be included!
The rhino in the room is the bad taste left in the mouths of many by the word, “denomination.” Certainly independent churches (like others) do strongly favor denominations, preferably of the $20 and $50 types. Viewed as a soul-less secular organization sweetened by the powdered sugar of religious cliché and bumper sticker intimacy, denominations are held in widespread suspicion tilting toward open contempt. The most visible example of interdenominational unity is in the calamity of their collective shrinkage, especially among “mainline” denominations of which United Methodism is one. If more evangelical churches are dealing with decline, the ‘old-line’ mainline churches are now sidelined by free fall.
A “Non-denom” answers to no higher authority than God directly, with the scriptures as God’s word. Those tired of “middle-man Methodism” with perceptions of self-serving structures and systems geared to reward political style over pious substance, find blessed relief. Such weary Wesleyans are attracted to thriving churches not required to pay annual taxes to authorities mandating a non-consultative policy of total shut-down during COVID and directives about what ministry one will or will not support. Yes to the Board of Church and Society renouncing Israel as an apartheid state but no to denominational support for evangelical parachurch groups such as CRU or World Vision? And theological fire-fights over a buffet of issues and grievances are denominational baggage jettisoned by more independent types, or so is the perception.
Wesleyan evangelical churches, such as the GMC, are positioned to split the difference in both perception and reality. The best of the connectional vision is maintained, while affirming much greater autonomy in deciding which missions to support and how best to mobilize locally for effective ministry. Local leadership gains significant say as to pastoral leadership while not being left to their own devices, sometimes reduced to “Joe’s nephew Freddy just graduated from Bible College and is looking for work” (a true, partly disguised example).
A living, historic Christian tradition conveys the Gospel to the individual local church, “one holy catholic and apostolic” at its redemptive best, accountable to a communion of saints that isn’t limited to a US town, county or region or English-speaking believers. While any church can face the challenge of becoming known as “Reverend Schmuck’s church,” the personality-driven gospel of American consumer Christianity has a harder slog with a vision of ministry where clergy are sent by authority beyond themselves or any individual location.
Those who choose alignment with stand-alone churches need blessing and affirmation as Wesleyan missionaries in the village, affirming women in ministry, social holiness and a gracious ecumenical spirit. Meanwhile, GMC and indeed any connectional Wesleyan church would do well to reject resentment, learn what attracted the saints elsewhere, and adapt, to the glory of God.
Bob Phillips
Degrees from University of Illinois, Asbury and Princeton Seminaries, University of St. Andrews
Graduate of Senior Executive Seminar on Morality, Ethics and Public Policy, Brookings Institution
Captain, Chaplain Corps, US Navy (ret)
See Bob’s work on Methodist Mitosis in Methodist Review.
People Need Jesus 
I left the UMC when my local church and the Iowa Annual Conference refused to have in person worship in the summer of 2020. However, the underlying issue was the lack of accountability by the IA bishop at the time and the ongoing fights over homosexuality in the church. I’ve landed at an Evangelical Free Church for all the reasons cited in this piece. Ten years ago, the ban on women in leadership in the church would have made me crazy but I’ve learned, thru the UMC, that there are worse faults that a church can have. And I’ve been fascinated by the male participation in the church – what a refreshing difference! Although there is now a GMC within a reasonable distance, I’ll continue where I’m at. It’s such a blessing to know that my church’s core beliefs are biblically based and in line with mine.
Your attempt at humor missed the mark. Or was this intentional?
schmuck
/SHmək/
noun INFORMAL•NORTH AMERICAN
a foolish or contemptible person.
“you’ve really got to be some schmuck to fall for that one”
The two churches I serve retained their Wesleyan theology and kept the name Methodist but after the oppressive process of disaffiliation, they are denomination weary and gun shy. I think they will eventually go Global, ( I transferred my ordination there) but right now they’re taking a breather.
Let’s embrace the contrarian appeal of churches that sever relations with a larger body. There’s usually some distinction that’s emphasized. That doesn’t mean weird, radical, or heretical. Historically, evangelicals have been counterintuitive or dissenting.
I’d love to go to a GMC church. Problem is, the nearest one is about 20 miles one way from where I live. All the UM churches in the area either stayed UM or went non-denom.
Former UMC pastor here (previously and currently taking leave to be a caregiver)… No GMC congregations near us, but we’d obviously be open if that were to change in the future.
We currently attend a church that is part of the Converge network. Big focus on church plants. Our pastor is a huge fan of Wesley, though I’m not sure how Arminian other congregations across the country might be. Anyways, this is all preface to say that I’ve seen such a difference in how non-mainliners approach topics like preaching, evangelism, and discipleship. Our pastor has such a strong passion for being able to speak to people who never grew up in the church. I think many in the UMC often struggle with only serving those who share the same cultural and religious language.
I was “saved” in a Methodist church through a lay witness event in 1976 and have a vision for a lay led evangelism movement and also a lay led discipleship small group movement. as I have tried to develop laity to do ministry at the dust level, I find an unusual dynamic. It seems that “institutions” tend to oppress chaos (that is probably their main reason for existence?) and a lay movement certainly brings “chaos” at some level but chaos is energy and can be directed if done without quashing the passion of the movement. I have seen a local very successful church of God grow very large by the pastor when talking to a passionate lay person who says: “pastor I have a great idea for ministry for you to do” and he would say: “god showed you the vision, what can I do to empower you to do it”… the church grew to about a thousand in just several years. if someone (especially a lay person) has a vision for ministry of some sort they will sacrifice and even pay for it themselves to make it happen… when an institution pushes down a ‘vision’ and assigns laity to do the details, it very seldom seems to have the passion, sacrifice and long term effectiveness that I believe is needed. I am not naive and understand there needs to be some structure, and it will by nature be in tension with a movement, but I believe the structure should be minimal and should allow the passion to work itself out with guidance as absolutely necessary. .. just my two cents… (I was saved in a UMC, left because of progressive issues in the 80’s, helped charter an independent (baptistic) church for 10 years, left for a Christian and Missionary Alliance church for another 8 years and ended back in a united methodist church which has since become a GMC church. The C&MA seemed to have the best balanced tension of institution and movement I have experienced … I am now speaking in a multitude of churches as a lay evangelist, trying to get lay people to do evangelism and create small groups to disciple and encourage one another… if they do those two things well I am not sure I really care what the institution does)
I “found salvation” in a Methodist church through a lay witness event in 1976 and have a vision for a lay led evangelism movement and also a lay led discipleship small group movement. as I have tried to develop laity to do ministry at the dust level, I find an unusual dynamic. It seems that “institutions” tend to oppress chaos (that is probably their main reason for existence?) and a lay movement certainly brings “chaos” at some level but chaos is energy and can be directed if done without quashing the passion of the movement. I have seen a local very successful church of God grow very large by the pastor when talking to a passionate lay person who says: “pastor I have a great idea for ministry for you to do” and he would say: “god showed you the vision, what can I do to empower you to do it”… the church grew to about a thousand in just several years. if someone (especially a lay person) has a vision for ministry of some sort they will sacrifice and even pay for it themselves to make it happen… when an institution pushes down a ‘vision’ and assigns laity to do the details, it very seldom seems to have the passion, sacrifice and long term effectiveness that I believe is needed. I am not naive and understand there needs to be some structure, and it will by nature be in tension with a movement, but I believe the structure should be minimal and should allow the passion to work itself out with guidance as absolutely necessary. .. just my two cents… (I was saved in a UMC, left because of progressive issues in the 80’s, helped charter an independent (baptistic) church for 10 years, left for a Christian and Missionary Alliance church for another 8 years and ended back in a united methodist church which has since become a GMC church. The C&MA seemed to have the best balanced tension of institution and movement I have experienced … I am now speaking in a multitude of churches as a lay evangelist, trying to get lay people to do evangelism and create small groups to disciple and encourage one another… if they do those two things well I am not sure I really care what the institution does)