Responding to UMC disaffiliations, global Methodist council sets membership rules
United Methodist Bishop Debra Wallace-Padgett, the newly elected president of the World Methodist Council, leads a meeting of council delegates on August 18. Sitting beside Wallace-Padgett are (from left) newly elected treasurer Myron Howie of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, newly elected general secretary Reynaldo Leão Neto of the Methodist Church in Britain, and newly elected vice president Joshua Rathnam of the Church of North India. (Photo by Heather Hahn, UM News)
The United Methodist Church’s splintering has prompted Methodism’s ecumenical association to formalize its guidelines for admitting new members.
“In cases where an applicant church was historically part of a World Methodist Council member church, the Officers shall engage in conversation with both parties,” says the new Guidelines for Membership document adopted by the council when it met August. 18.
Applicants also must explain why they want to be part of the council and share the status of their existing ecumenical relations. The officers will then recommend to the full council whether to accept the applicant as a new member.
