Q&A: The Global Methodist Church
This is an excerpt from the April 7, 2025, issue of Word From Pastor Paul. It focuses on questions from our congregation surrounding the Global Methodist Church.
Be mindful that as you read, the Global Methodist Church is not seeking to merely be an efficiently run organization. While “best practices” matter greatly, we need to remember what “best practices” are unto. We seek to make disciples of Jesus Christ by spreading scriptural holiness across the globe. This is our objective as a denomination, and this is what our structures are unto. I hope the following is helpful as we all grow to understand the movement we are prayerfully building together.
Q: How are Bishops selected/nominated in the Global Methodist Church?
A: Bishops are nominated by delegations represented from respected Annual Conferences from around the world. Once episcopal candidates are nominated, their selection to the office of Bishop is based on the body of the General Conference calling them forth by electing them to serve. Our Bishop for the Mississippi Western Tennessee Conference is Bishop Scott Jones.
To see a list of our current Bishops, go HERE.
Q: How long do Bishops serve in the GMC?
A: Bishops serve 6-year terms and are only allowed to serve two terms. To enhance the accountability of Bishops, they are not allowed to become Bishops for life. After serving in the role of Bishop, they can return to serving and pastoring a local church.
To read more about the spirit in which Global Methodist Bishops operate, go HERE.
Q: What percentage of our church budget is our financial commitment to the Global Methodist Church vs. when we were in the United Methodist Church?
A: When we were in the United Methodist Church, our total financial commitment far exceeded that of the Global Methodist Church. To use 2017 as an example, the United Methodist Church apportioned Christ Church $1,138,448. That was 15% of our annual budget of $7,570,000. The United Methodist Church had become highly bureaucratic and top-heavy as an institution. The denomination needed reformation.
Throughout church history, the church undergoes seasons of much-needed reform. We are a generation that has been a part of a much-needed reformation in Methodism. Now that we are in the Global Methodist Church we give 3% of our annual budget to the Annual Conference and 1% of our annual budget to the Global Methodist Church at large. This amounts to $225,000 per year on an annual budget of over $7,298,000.
Q: What can we look forward to seeing happen/get accomplished with the Annual Conference?
A: One of the great paradigm shifts in moving from United Methodism to Global Methodism surrounds equipping in movemental Christianity. District and conference training no longer focuses solely on training in “How to run a Staff Parish Relations Team” or “Best Practices for Trustees” (and those are important) but has now moved to recapturing and equipping in the basics of primal Christianity: prayer, making disciples who make disciples, banded discipleship, church planting, and church revitalization.
At this year’s Annual Conference, equipping sessions will be available on Friday for laity and clergy. We will also host half a dozen food trucks for lunch as a convenience for those in attendance. To see the conference schedule, go HERE.
Conference information and registration can be found HERE.
As the Annual Conference host, we seek volunteers to assist our guests. If you are interested in volunteering at the conference, click HERE.
Q: How often do Annual Conferences take place?
A: For the past two years, the Annual Conference of the Mississippi-Western Tennessee Conference has been held on the campus of Christ Church Memphis. Annual Conferences occur once a year and are made up of an equal number of lay representatives and ordained clergy.
To read more about the upcoming Annual Conference to be held on the campus of Christ Church Memphis, go HERE.
Q: Are there General Conferences, and how often are they held?
A: General Conferences are made up of both lay and clergy representatives from around the world. The clergy and lay representatives are elected by Annual Conferences. Beginning in September of 2026, General Conferences will be held every six years. The 2026 conference will take place on the continent of Africa, but the specific location has not been publicly announced.
For additional details on the 2026 General Conference, go HERE.