One Year in the Global Methodist Church
October 5, 2023
On September 25th, 2022 the Glennville United Methodist Church celebrated it’s re-establishment as the Glennville Methodist Church. It was our first Sunday in the Global Methodist Church (GMC). We are now just over a year in the GMC. Before we joined we were warned “it is just a website”, “they can not support you”, and “they have no structure”.
So what was the first year really like in a new denomination? Let me share a few highlights.
#1 A Huge Celebration
We started out with a very special Sunday. During worship we celebrated the recognition of my status as an elder (still to be ordained). My church read a liturgy for the celebration of my appointment in the GMC. We also read Tesia Mallory’s liturgy at the end of the service where we all re-committed our church membership. Following worship we had a delicious meal where plaques were presented to Dylan Mulligan, Sharon Durrence in place of Wendy Durrence, and myself.
#2 Support from Leadership
The South Georgia Conference of the Global Methodist Church (SGAGMC) offers amazing leadership. President Pro Tem Jay Hanson stopped by our Fall Festival. Our Area Presiding Elder Issac Salgado has offered quality leadership and assistance to us.
There also have been rich worship opportunities. Last October there was the Isaiah 43 conference at Epworth by the Sea. There was beautiful worship, amazing workshops, and fellowship. It was the first official gathering of the SGA GMC. Hundreds of Methodists from South Georgia and further attended this historic event.
Pastors were also given special opportunities to grow closer together and closer to God. In January there was a pastor’s day away retreat at Little Ocmulgee State Park. A corn hole tournament was won by Rev. Allen Cason and Rev. Haynes Martin. The pastors discussed Midnight Rider on the Morning Star. This was a book about early circuit riding hero Francis Asbury. The corn hole winners were presented with a trophy with Francis Asbury riding a horse.
In February we took laity to Harvest Church in Warner Robins, GA to the Grow Conference. We had an amazing time of worship. My church members were happy to see the facility and team at Harvest Church. I had a couple of highlights from this day. One was getting to eat lunch with Chief Executive Officer Keith Boyette. The other was seeing so many of our legacy ministry partners from the South Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church.
Pastors were also invited to attend a preaching conference led by President Pro Tem Jay Hanson at Epworth by the Sea in May. Jay shared his best tips as well as a deep theology for preaching. There were great collaborative discussions about preaching among the pastors there.
#3 Less Anxiety in Myself and Church
The process to disaffiliate here has been one of the smoothest I know of. With that being said it was still extremely stressful. Yet after we left it was as if scales had fallen from our eyes. It was nice to talk to people and our first comments were not about what was happening in the wider denomination or how to get through the next hoop to jump through. I knew it was stressful at the time. It wasn’t until we got a few weeks past our final special session in the United Methodist Church that I realized how much stress I was carrying. I could breathe deeper, my shoulders felt looser, and my mood was brighter.
Another activity I began doing was writing more. I felt the freedom to use my gift of writing and communicating that I had not felt before. As a provisional elder so much of my mindset was on getting ordained and not creating content that could be used against me. Now I feel like I can say what I believe without reprisal. Was this threat perceived more than a reality? Maybe. All I know is it is gone.
Also, our new found freedom gave us time to devote to more mission and ministry. Our membership has grown. I have sat front seat to see members make radical next steps in their journey with Christ. We also hosted a prayer conference called Deeper in Prayer. Methodist from across Georgia gathered to hear ways to grow closer to Christ through prayer. It is hard to imagine our church having the bandwidth to take on hosting a conference in the midst of disaffiliation.
#4 Ordination, Convening Annual Conference, and Hosting Bishop Jones
I was ordained at Epworth by the Sea during the Convening Annual Conference in July. Methodists gathered from all over. I was blessed to have family, UMC, and GMC clergy there for my ordination. One of my highlights was serving Holy Communion as part of worship. I had not been keeping up with everyone making the jump into our conference. To be surprised to see all the familiar faces that I had known for decades come forward was beautiful and emotional.
While Bishop Jones was in the area he came and preached at Glennville Methodist Church. It was one of the highlights of my ministry career. We of course showed him southern hospitality with a church wide meal. The highlight of the day was of course Mrs. Mary Lou Jones. We sang Love, Mercy, and Grace out of the Cokesbury hymnals. Mrs. Mary Lou enjoyed that hymn so much. I also enjoyed getting to pepper Bishop Jones with questions.
Of course this only covers a small portion of the benefits we have enjoyed from being in the GMC. The real bread and butter of our ministry is the worship of our Lord, Jesus Christ. We still have many challenges as a church. Yet, by God’s grace we do not face those challenges by ourselves. I am grateful to have a ministry partner in the GMC who helps us achieve our shared goals of making disciples of Jesus Christ who worship passionately, love extravagantly, and witness boldly.
More From David
Methodists Moving Forward in South Georgia
April 28, 2023
One of my passions has been writing about the future of Methodism. Methodists all over Georgia are sensing God’s leading and moving forward. Here is a sample of a few beautiful snapshots of where Methodists are heading after church disaffiliation votes in the past year. These are all happening around my area of ministry.
New Church Groups Starting Up
In Savannah, after a majority vote did not reach the required 2/3rds majority hundreds of Methodists planted a new church on Isle of Hope in Savannah, GA. The new church is called Good Shepherd of Savannah.
Rev. Scott Tucker will be the lead pastor of Good Shepherd of Savannah. Rev. Sam Paul has joined the team to lead worship and youth ministries. The church is temporarily meeting at Isle of Hope Baptist Church (22 Rose Ave., Savannah, GA).
The pastor’s shared about their excitement in recent church social media posts. Rev. Scott Tucker said, “I believe Good Shepherd Savannah will serve our city with the kindness and the truth of God’s healing work in Jesus Christ.”
Rev. Sam Paul in his church staff highlight social media post said, “I have loved every minute of leading the band and singing songs to our Lord, and I have especially loved the chance to work with students and watch them grow in their faith. I never would have imagined this opportunity to help build a new church plant, and I can’t wait to see where God takes us!”
The church plant is aligned with the Global Methodist Church (GMC). See Good Shepherd’s Savannah’s website for the most up to date meeting locations and times.
In Statesboro, a group consisting of hundreds of Methodists have been meeting together after another majority vote did not meet the required supermajority. Under the leadership of a board of thirteen members they have been organizing speakers as they continue to worship together.
“We just want to keep everyone together” says Warren Ball, a member of the new communities leadership board.
Statesboro Worship is the name of the Christian group. They are meeting at the Home Builders Association of Statesboro in the Market District (1223 Merchants Wy, Statesboro, GA 30458). They meet at 9:00 a.m.
The Statesboro group is discerning where they want to align. The majority of the group want to remain Methodist or in the Wesleyan stream. However, they are still discerning what this may look like moving forward.
Local churches are aligning with the Global Methodist Church
Rev. Paul Broussard aligned quickly with the Global Methodist church. His church, Bethesda Church (Guyton, GA), took more time to discern where they wanted to realign moving forward.
“Back when I returned to the Methodist church I knew then I wanted to align with the Global Methodist Church. It just felt right. Reading the Transitional Book of Doctrine and Disciplines. I just felt deep in my Spirit that the Global Methodist Church will usher in a new great move of God,” Paul said.
His church leadership voted recently to move forward with a church wide vote about joining the Global Methodist Church.
Paul added, “The transition team of Bethesda went through the Transitional Book of Doctrine and Disciplines. [They] loved the conservative and traditional Wesleyan heritage. Another plus was the fact that the GMC wants the churches to begin to govern themselves more…”
Another local Methodist Church in Twin City, GA decided to align with the GMC even though that meant they would lose their pastor.
Church member Sybil Johnson talked about the Twin City Methodist Church’s decisions.
“I attended the Isaiah 43 Conference [the first gathering of the South Georgia Global Methodist Church] at Epworth by the Sea in October last year. It was a revival of blessings! I felt the presence of the Lord with us! His spirit was moving around us and within us.”
While Sybil had a great experience at the conference she elaborated on why she personally leaned to the GMC. “My faith is rooted with the John Wesley traditional teachings and beliefs. So is Global! So thankful for Global Methodist coming to our rescue!”
They are looking forward to their new minister being appointed by the GMC this summer.
The South Georgia Conference convening session is July 27th – 29th
The South Georgia Conference of the Global Methodist Church (SGAGMC) will hold it’s convening session from Thursday, July 27th to Saturday, July 29th. As of this article publishing, the SGAGMC has 99 clergy aligned or in the process of joining the conference. There are currently 92 churches aligned on in the process of joining. This list will continue to grow.
Epworth by the Sea is a historical place for Methodism. Charles and John Wesley both lived on St. Simons briefly. Epworth by the Sea also holds the Bishop Moore Methodist Museum.
During this historic conference there will conclude with an ordination service presided over by Bishop Scott Jones.
The SGA GMC is led by President Pro Tem Rev. Jay Hanson. Reflecting on the upcoming momentus conference he said, “As Methodist we are a called people, a holy priest hood, who have historically encountered and responded to God in special ways at Epworth by the sea on St. Simons Island. This is sacred soil for us. As Methodist from across Georgia gather on July 27-29 for our First GMC Annual Conference at Epworth I have deep sense that we may again experience a fresh move of God which enables us to worship passionately, love extravagantly, and witness boldly.”
Other speakers will be announced soon. For the latest on the convening conference session including registration, speakers, and schedule, visit the SGAGMC Annual Conference website.
While this is just a small picture of what is happening in my area, I am curious. Do you know of a Methodist story that needs to be told? Reach out to me and let me know.
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David Donnan 