The convening general conference of the Global Methodist Church begins tomorrow in Costa Rica. If you don’t know what that means, it’s essentially the first official global gathering of the new denomination. Delegates and other participants from all across the world will gather to worship God, pray together, and formally adopt the structure, the discipline, and the doctrine of the GMC.
If I give myself a second to take a step back, it’s a pretty amazing thing—especially when I think of where many of us were at about two or three years ago. Many of us weren’t sure where we were headed, what God was doing, and what things would look like on the other side. The heartache that people on all sides of the Methodist divide felt was and remains very real. And we can look back with hindsight and see how so much of that heartache could have been avoided. But even still, it’s amazing to see God doing something new, on a global level! A spark, slowly (or swiftly?) turning to fire. The Holy Spirit, central to Wesleyan theology, becoming central once again in our practice. Holiness of heart and life, a phrase that evokes so much of the desires of the Methodist people, once again being set as our goal, our hope, our aspiration, one that only Jesus can fulfill in us. Prayers for several decades are being answered in our midst, right in front of us.
As a recently married, younger friend in my church says to me every now and then, “Miracles are happening right in front of our eyes. Every day!” If we have eyes to see it.
Of course the conference in Costa Rica has a few important things to iron out, a few wrinkles to make smooth. How will we elect bishops, and what will their role be; how will a new connection work, hold itself accountable, how will we encourage and support each other; how will we sustain a passion for discipleship, a movement mentality, within a structure that will last for generations; how will a global church have enough flexibility in its polity without sacrificing one iota of essential doctrine; how can we be on the forefront of sharing the gospel with the rising generations; how can we, in cooperation with God, stoke the fires of revival and awakening across the world?
I have no doubt that the Holy Spirit will bring clarity and unity on these questions, though there will be much work left to do after the conference as well. On the bishop discussion, which has generated the most “conversation” online, to put it nicely, I feel equally confident that a sensible way forward will prevail. I don’t pretend to know what that way is, but I am sure that a loving, open spirit will lead the folks in Costa Rica to discern what way is best for our current moment.
What we are called to do now, who are jealously seeing people post pictures online of being in Costa Rica (!), is simply to pray. This will be my prayer for everyone there, and I invite you to join me:
Holy God,
pour out your Spirit upon everyone at the GMC general conference
and all Global Methodists across the world.
Fill us with love for you and for each other,
wisdom to discern your will together,
and courage to do whatever you call us to do,
so that your holiness might be spread across your world!
In the mighty name of Jesus we pray,
Amen.
Links and Articles:
There’s been several great articles on the conference and the Wesleyan movement in general you don’t want to miss. Here’s a few of them:
Christianity Today’s article on the rising attraction of Wesleyan theology to a younger generation:
“Things have shifted,” said Brian Shelton, Asbury University’s Wesley Scholar in Residence. “Wesley is fire now.”
Groups of theologians are working to articulate Wesleyan theology in a fresh way. A small Wesleyan seminary has grown 500 percent in just six years. A new Wesleyan denomination, the Global Methodist Church, is sparking revived interest in the history and theology of the tradition and increased attention to spiritual practices, including Bible reading, worship, and prayer. Last year, a revival among the students at Asbury University drew international attention to Wesleyan spirituality.
Andy Miller III, a sixth-generation Salvation Army officer who has joined the Global Methodist Church and is currently a preaching and theology professor and president of Wesley Biblical Seminary (WBS), told CT this is an “amazing moment in Methodism.”
https://www.christianitytoday.com/2024/09/wesley-is-fire-now-methodist-turn/
Chris Ritter’s excellent article on his hopes for a new church:
Just after the Separation Protocol was announced in January 2020, I wrote a list of hopes for a new expression of Methodist Faith. Here on the eve of the Convening General Conference of the Global Methodist Church, I thought it might be worthwhile to re-published a slightly updated version of these hope as our new church is officially born.
https://peopleneedjesus.net/2024/09/16/my-hopes-for-a-new-church-2/
Keith Boyette’s Parting Words:
God has raised up leaders globally who, often without compensation and while continuing to perform other responsibilities, have helped form and lead annual conferences. Stirred by our mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ who worship passionately, love extravagantly, and witness boldly, countless clergy and laity navigated significant challenges, leading their churches to become congregations of the Global Methodist Church. Their path was uphill – with mounting financial costs and obstacles erected by others. However, their commitment to be part of a church that proclaims the whole Gospel of Jesus Christ as entrusted to us by the apostles and early church is resolute. We are a coalition of the willing. Each of us has chosen to be Global Methodists.
The GM Church continues to grow. Since beginning operations on May 1, 2022, more than 4,700 local congregations have become members. We now have thirty-six annual conferences serving churches in Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Europe. The GM Church just completed the legal registration process in three more countries – Mozambique, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Additional annual conferences are organizing in Africa, Asia, Europe, and South America. Every annual conference is in the process of planting churches. Daily, God is adding to our numbers all for His glory. Christianity Today has declared that the GM Church is already the sixteenth largest Protestant church in the United States.
https://globalmethodist.org/parting-words/
My friend Aaron Mansfield is supposedly going to give some updates from the conference on his Substack, so you may want to give him a follow to keep up with it:
Website to Live Stream Conference: https://www.sotheworldwillknow.org/
If you’d like to support my Substack financially, here’s a way to do it: click here to buy me a coffee!