October 1, 2024
By Rev. Dr. Scott Field
Did you hear about the Global Methodist Church Convening Conference in San Jose, Costa Rica last week?
The global gathering of delegates to the Convening Conference of the Global Methodist Church in San Jose, Costa Rica last week was an exuberant, Holy Spirit-anointed, almost too-good-to-be-true official launch to the Global Methodist Church. Though the new denomination has been legally incorporated since its inception in May of 2022, this convening conference adopted the 
Constitution, its Book of Doctrines and Discipline, elected bishops, attended to a variety of matters refined and approved by legislative committees, recognized and celebrated the leadership and, now, retirement of Rev. Keith Boyette as the founding Chief Operational Office, and – above all – worshipped God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit with joy, humility, tears, and shouts of praise, thanksgiving, unity, and consecration. For a brief video recap of the GMC Convening Conference, click here. You will be inspired!
The WCA is on final approach for landing
The mission of the Wesleyan Covenant Association is nearly fulfilled. The WCA has served as something like the International Research and Development team for the Global Methodist Church. With the Convening Conference concluded, the WCA’s mission is nearly complete.
So we are, to use another aeronautical metaphor, onfinal approach to landing. Several changes will mark the next three months:
Support Staff Departures
Today (October 1) we offer our heartfelt gratitude to Rebecca C, our database administrator, for her efforts in the “engine room” to maintain contacts, donor records, and general information for the WCA members and constituents. She has ably managed the data for our regional chapters throughout the world and for our communications with the WCA constituency. Thank you, Rebecca!
In addition, we celebrate our VP of Development, Rev. Ronnie Jones, Jr., as he concludes his role with the WCA. His expert leadership helped develop the financial support needed for the WCA mission to thrive. He is one of a kind and just the kind we have needed.
We are grateful to God for these partners in ministry and pray for the Lord’s continued blessing as they move on to a new season of their ministries.
. With their departure, if you have questions or concerns you are welcome to contactElizabeth Fink , our Administrative Assistant, or our general email box. You are also welcome to contact me directly.
What about AfricaNOW and the “stuck churches” in the US?
Sadly, UMC leaders in the US and Africa have promoted inflammatory falsehoods about the GMC as well as the WCA, so these informational awareness meetings are critically important both to correct the misinformation and to outline options for the future of local UM congregations. Most African believers express their desire to remain faithful to Scripture, Christian orthodoxy, and traditional moral standards. As the decisions of the recent UMC General Conference become more widely known in Africa, many laity and local churches want the option to choose a more faithful and fruitful future for themselves.
AfricaNOW assists with financial support so local leaders can hold in person informational meetings. Part of our Fair for Some Fair for All campaign last winter was to provide funds for African observers at the UMC General Conference to see for themselves and report back to their churches at home the unredacted actions and trajectory of the United Methodist Church. These same observers are now assisting in planning and leading the awareness meetings. AfricaNOW funds are released upon request of the WCA’s African Coordinator. The great separation of Methodism in Africa will continue to unfold country by country and annual conference by annual conference. We will manage AfricaNOW funds from donors to support those congregations seeking both information and a pathway of exit, if they should so choose.
For the “stuck UM congregations” in the USA, all eyes are upon the UM Judicial Council and their anticipated ruling on UM Book of Discipline paragraph 2549 regarding churchclosures as an option for congregational separation from the UMC. We are monitoring that situation and will respond appropriately once the decision is released (late October or early November). Beyond that, we have a dedicated portion of our website with resources and video presentations that may be helpful to congregations with a variety of concerns as they consider their relationship with the United Methodist denomination.Our jurisdictional coordinators are also available for personal consultation and counsel within the US.
From Membership to Donor Support
The WCA launched as a “membership network” with an annual membership fee for both individuals and congregations. In the last two years, we have transitioned to a donor-supported rather than membership-funded network. The simple reason for that change is that many of our members and constituents have migrated to the Global Methodist Church and are now fully engaged within that developing denomination. As a result, our membership has declined. We continue to gratefully receive donations that support our mission informing and assisting congregations considering the transition from the UMC to the GMC — whether in Africa, the Philippines, Europe, or the USA. If you have a current membership in the WCA, you will no longer receive “membership renewal” emails. And if your membership continues into 2025, that portion of your membership fee will be converted, for accounting purposes, into a “charitable donation.”
So, the WCA doesn’t need any more donations?
That’s not yet the case, for two reasons:
First, our AfricaNOW effort is moving forward vigorously in more places and with more networking meetings than we first anticipated. Your gifts are supporting a growing awareness of the issues at stake in Africa and a growing anticipation that local churches will make the transition to the Global Methodist Church. That is a central focus of our remaining mission and continues to require financial assistance.
Second, though we are paring down WCA activity in the USA, we will continue to have a Board of Directors to maintain our website and support required administrative, financial, and reporting requirements for 501 (c) 3 charitable organizations. These baseline administrative costs are not enormous, but they are substantial. Your gifts allow us to complete the mission and, eventually, the corporate dissolution of the WCA.Whenever the WCA finally “lands”, any and all remaining funds will be passed on to support Africa development of GMC ministries.
What an exciting time to be carried along by the renewing and reviving ministry of the Holy Spirit!
Pray for the faithful completion of the WCA’s mission. We greatly appreciate it!