NYTimes & Tennessean Take Notice of United Methodist Split

The denominational woes of The United Methodist Church has been remarked upon by worldly sources a few times over the years. Now that disaffiliation season under Paragraph 2553 has concluded, a couple larger outlets have decided to tell our story to the rest of their reading audiences.
In this segment, I walk through the reporting of both outlets to some degree, while also consulting a couple of other resources for ascertaining where things currently stand. While my commentary (and the buzzy audio) might be lacking in this one, the resources presented here, especially the interactive map and the GCFA list of largest churches, are worthy resources, so here are all the links to the resources consulted in this segment:
Liam Adams Tweet Thread: / 1735718114367504847
Tennessean Interactive Map “Total churches that have disaffiliated from United Methodist Church since 2019” - public.flouris...
UMNews Disaffiliation Numbers Spreadsheet - www.umnews.org...
Jimmy Boone’s UM Disaffiliations Tally - / 1841598499593579
Talbot Davis Tweet on NYTimes Article - / talbotdavis
New York Times Article “With a Deadline Looming, The United Methodist Church Breaks Up - www.nytimes.co...
GCFA’s “2020 Top 100 Churches by Attendance” - www.gcfa.org/_...

[@stathamcmc]

After a year long dogfight, a class-action lawsuit, my church (North Georgia) signed our disaffiliation papers yesterday. This podcast has been a primary source of information for me as a pastor, thank you Jeffrey for your voice.

[@jimmiebruner4284]

I was not born into Methodist belief, but I chose it because of the fundamental truths followed. It has been a huge betrayal by leadership. I’m very happy to have walked away. GMC and very blessed✝️

[@eileenthrift8259]

Although I have resigned from my membership in the UMC, I still have dear friends in the UMC. Therefore, because I care about them, I continue to watch what is happening in the UMC with them in mind. If anyone is truly a follower of Christ, we recognize there is suffering and troubles, which comes with following Jesus. Christ is Lord. He was pierced for our transgressions, and by his wounds, we were healed. Jeffrey, you sound much better. I continue to pray for you and your family. ❤

[@j.karljackson7155]

Not a UMC of a GMC member but this is so historic that I've been following u since you started. I know people unable to disaffiliate may be discouraged and may not want to be a part of all the strife in the next conference but if they don't go they lose their vote.There are a number of ways to do it. Especially the smaller churches. Some just quit paying ..left their buildings to UMC took the little money they had and rented new spaces and started over. You have to be creative bold and unafraid..trust God and believe.All the stuff Jesus taught us.All things are possible if you just believe.

[@jamiepeeler9660]

I look for the South Carolina separation number to at least double in 2024. A number of the churches that left in 2023 were large membership churches. Including the largest UMC in South Carolina.

[@ctrawick3]

As a Christ follower, this is heartbreaking to me, but the underlying cause is as old as time itself. It’s not about sexual ethics, human rights or even gender dynamics. It’s about one thing and one thing alone: Is God’s Word authoritative or is it not? That’s it. Yes or No. 2 Tim also ways heavily on this as well. Sadly.

[@BobWeeks-f9j]

Thank you for continuing updates. I was wondering how many churches voted to disaffiliate but while they didn’t get the required 67%, did have a majority vote to leave? I know of at least three churches here in Texas that had majority vote but not enough. Where do those people go? I have a feeling that while 25% of churches have disaffiliated, well over half of the total membership of the UMC have just left!

[@miniprepper8284]

We almost had a majority but the liberal faction in our church went out and wheeled invalids who did not understand the issue into the church building to vote. It was a parade of wheelchairs- well, and they have what they want now. A money pit building and three almost empty services.

[@frzstat]

In addition to disaffiliating congregations there will be congregations that just disappear. I wonder what percent of members remaining in the UMC (USA) are over 70? Over 80? In 10 years the UMC may only be a memory.

[@jimmyboone4055]

Supposedly 2549 is still an option for Missisppi/West sippi, Alabama/West Florida, SC, and WV

[@jonr9858]

What matters most is not the number of churches that UMC has lost, but how many members/attendees were in those churches. How many churches had votes, but did not enough votes to split away from UMC? A local UMC had that situation and in the aftermath, a significant number of members/attendees departed. The point is, the net loss of members/attendees may not be limited only to those churches that disaffiliated.

[@waller0100]

I would like to see the conversation moving away from LGTB+ concerns and instead focus on Methodist beliefs and traditions which many of the UMC churches have turned away from. How can you claim to be a Methodist when you openly mock and discard the most fundamental tenets of our faith? I have witnessed this in many Methodist churches and it breaks my heart. I'm a cradle Methodist but have chosen to stay a Methodist because I like to way John Wesley expressed our faith. But now I'm being told that I should leave all that behind and update my faith to meet the cultural standards. Since when is being a Christian in lock step with the culture and not the traditional faith?

[@plainspokenpod]

You're going to like my segment tomorrow. It directly deals with this.

[@carmentroxel9920]

Have invites been sent to the UMC Aftrican delegates yet?

[@plainspokenpod]

Yes. The real question is if more than half of them will be able to move quickly enough to get through the process to even come. It looks as though a great many got them too late. See my interview with Simon Mafunda a month or so ago. He details the particulars involved.

[@solemntime9121]

This is a happy moment for GMC.. But still grace is practiced by the UMC. Victory for the worldly money of UMC to be enjoy by the GMC.. you know hungry wants, money ,money money.. but money is the root of all evil. enjoy the root. :)