Biblical separation among the Methodists? – Proclaim and defend

The struggle over the basic principles of the faith that plagued every major church body in the 1920s is being repeated in the 1920s, but on different issues. It’s not that those old issues don’t exist; they do exist. However, we are confronted with new problems that are as relevant to Orthodox Christianity as the fundamental problems were a hundred years ago. The problems center on human sexuality.

A new worldwide Methodist denomination recently had its very first meeting in Costa Rica. It calls itself the Global Methodist Church. The United Methodist Church has been embroiled in controversy for years over the issue of same-sex relationships and the ordination of gay clergy. More than 7,900 municipalities worldwide have left the UMC because of these issues. Of those, about 3,700 have joined the new denomination.

The creation of the GMC in 2022 was the result of the schism of what was once America’s third-largest religious body, the United Methodist Church. More than 7,900 congregations, along with their properties, have left the denomination so far through a temporary process that officially ended in 2023, although several local regions allowed more departures this year (7,658 left in 2023 and 274 this year).

Of these abandoned American United Methodist churches, approximately 3,700 have so far joined the new GMC. Why not more? Many churches, exhausted after the departure process, postponed any decisions about joining a new denomination. Eventually, another 1,000 to 2,000 American churches will join the GMC. But hundreds of former United Methodist churches will remain independent or form informal networks. (https://thedispatch.com/article/a-new-methodist-denomination-emerges/)

The doctrine of the Global Methodist Church is the same as historic Methodism, but differs in several important ways from the denominational structure they are abandoning.

They are openly pro-life.

This is taken from their online documents.

The sanctity of all life compels us to oppose the practice of abortion, except in cases of tragic conflicts between life and life, when the well-being of the mother and child is at stake. We do not accept abortion as a means of contraception or sex selection, and we call on all Christians as disciples of the Lord of Life to prayerfully consider how we can support those women who face unintended pregnancies without adequate care, advice or resources (Exodus 22:23-23, Psalm 139:13-16, James 1:27).

Coming from a group that was becoming increasingly awake, this is a relief. The statement is simple, does not attempt to address legislation, but is clearly against abortion as a violation of the Bible.

They are openly against gay marriage.

This quote comes from the same source.

We believe that human sexuality is a gift from God that must be affirmed as it is practiced within the legal and spiritual covenant of a loving and monogamous marriage between one man and one woman (Exodus 20:14, Matthew 19:3-9, Ephesians 5:22-33).

Again, this statement is commendable. It identifies marriage as between one man and one woman, and says that human sexuality must be expressed within a covenant and legal bond of marriage. It condemns all sexuality outside legal and biblical marriage, while also limiting it to one man with one woman.

Along with the Declaration on Marriage and Sexuality, they also condemn pornography and sexual exploitation while expressing their willingness to be a place of refuge for those who want to heal from the ravages of sexual sin.

We are saddened by all expressions of sexual behavior, including pornography, polygamy, and promiscuity, that fail to recognize the sacred value of each individual or that seek to exploit, abuse, objectify, or demean others, or that represent less than God’s intentional purpose for His children. While we affirm a scriptural view of sexuality and gender, we welcome all to experience the saving grace of Jesus and are committed to being a safe place of refuge, hospitality and healing for all who have experienced brokenness in their sexual life (Genesis 1:27, Genesis 2:24, 1 Corinthians 6:9-20).

Their statement also affirms social concerns such as safe working conditions, collective bargaining, environmental stewardship, religious freedom, and personal sanctity (however they may define these).

Our conclusion regarding those who have left the United Methodist Church is that we applaud them. There are certainly other issues that would divide us theologically and practically, but compliments are appropriate when appropriate. God commands true believers to remove false teachers from the community. If that doesn’t work, they must remove themselves from a corrupt community of so-called believers.

I do not claim that this new denomination is in any way Biblical fundamentalist. But they are practicing a Biblical mandate that we, as Biblical Baptist fundamentalists, have been required by Scripture to embrace for over 100 years: the practice of Biblical divorce.

The issue of sexual sin and the definition of human sexuality is one of the clear ecclesiastical divisions of our time. While the lines have become clearer within Methodism, they are becoming increasingly confused in broader evangelicalism. We argue that a biblical position on human sexuality and marriage is truly a test of orthodoxy.