Global Methodist Church
The Global Methodist Church (shortened to GM Church, or GMC) is a Protestant denomination based in the United States founded on conservative Methodist precepts that are aligned with the holiness movement. At the United Methodist Church's 2019 General Conference, church leaders supported a plan that would prohibit same-sex marriages within their church, leading to discussion of potential schisms between conservatives and liberals within the denomination. The United Methodist Church is expected to vote on a proposal, "Protocol of Reconciliation and Grace Through Separation", in 2024 to formalize the separation. If formally erected, the Global Methodist  Church is anticipated to be among the largest conservative Christian denominations in the United States. History. In 2016, at the United Methodist Church's General Conference in Portland, Oregon, delegates voted 428 to 405 to delay conversation on homosexuality and proposed a review of ecclesiastical restrictions. Despite the UMC prohibiting the ordination of self-avowed practicing' gay clergy", one Filipino and more than a hundred American clergy in attendance at the General Conference came out as gay. Two major plans regarding the UMC's position on homosexuality were suggested at the 2019 General Conference in St. Louis, Missouri: the Traditional  Plan, which supported the denomination's current stance against same-sex marriage, and the One Church Plan, which called for the loosening of restrictions. Supporters of the Traditional Plan, citing the "Book of Discipline", succeeded in passing their proposal with a delegate vote of 438 to 384. Prior to the April vote, discussion of possible schisms over gay issues had grown following a February special session that recommended the Traditional Plan. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, plans to discuss and formalize the Global Methodist schism–including that of the Global Methodist Church–were delayed until 2022. In August and September  of that year, the UMC General Conference is expected to vote on the proposal referred to as the "Protocol of Reconciliation and Grace Through Separation". However, Reverend Keith Boyette, chairman of the Transitional Leadership Council of the Global Methodist Church, published a letter in January 2022 that expressed concern this General Conference would also be delayed. In February 2022, the UMC announced that it was examining again postponing the General Conference. Not wanting to wait for the General Conference to occur, some conservative United Methodist congregations have left the United Methodist Church to become a part of the Free Methodist  Church, a traditionalist Methodist denomination aligned with the holiness movement. On March 3, 2022, the Global Methodist Church's website announced that the denomination would "officially launch on May 1, 2022". Beliefs. Denominational beliefs are currently listed in the proposed "Transitional Book of Doctrines and Disciplines" until the first convening General Conference of the GMC can adopt an official book of doctrines and disciplines. Organization. Much like the UMC, the GMC will have an episcopacy that will oversee annual conferences. Unlike the UMC, bishops within the GMC will be consecrated to serve for a set term, as opposed to a  lifetime role. The role within the UMC of district superintendent will be replaced with that of a presiding elder.