Next Steps

Step 1 — Preparation

All churches joining the GMC must be free from any other existing denomination. For more information about disaffiliating from the UMC in South Georgia, please see the Next Steps for United Methodist Churches. While in the disaffiliation process, you may still begin the process of joining the GMC in the following steps, but cannot complete the process until fully separated from a pre-existing denomination.

All churches considering joining the GMC should enter a season of prayer and communication about the potential transfer, the beliefs of the GMC, and the benefits of entering into connection with the GMC. The FAQ and Purpose pages here on the SGAGMC site as well as the significant resources at GMC website may be helpful here. It may also be beneficial to reach out to other SGAGMC churches in your region. A directory of SGAGMC churches will be released shortly.

The process for deploying clergypersons during the period before the Global Methodist Church’s convening General Conference is set forth in paragraphs 509-512 of the Transitional Book of Doctrines and Discipline.

Step 2 — A Church Conference

When the primary lay leadership body (administrative council, board, church council, etc) believes their church is ready to make a formal decision to join the GMC, this body should vote / call for a Church Conference of all professing members of the congregation. This leadership body also determines the percentage of votes to be achieved to support becoming a member (such as simple majority, 2/3rd, etc).

At this congregational meeting, the professing members of the congregation present and voting must vote in favor of the congregation becoming a member congregation of the Global Methodist Church. The recommended form of the motion is as follows:

I move that __________________ Church become a member congregation of the Global Methodist Church, affirms and endorse the doctrinal standards (Part One), Social Witness (Part Two), and church governance of the Global Methodist Church as set forth in its Transitional Book of Doctrines and Discipline, and agrees to be accountable to such Transitional Book of Doctrines and Discipline.

The person presiding over and the secretary of the meeting at which the congregational vote is taken must sign a document (minutes of the meeting) setting forth the motion approved and the vote by which the motion was adopted.

Step 3 — Submitting Your Application

Your completed Application Form and minute notes from the meeting will need to be submitted to the SGAGMC through the online church application at: https://www.sgagmc.org/church-application.

If your are clergy and desiring to transfer into the GMC with a church, follow the instructions in the online Clergy application at: https://www.sgagmc.org/clergy-application.

The applications can be submitted prior to disaffiliation for preapproval.

Step 4 — Approval

Upon receipt of the documents noted above, the SGAGMC Executive Team will process & review the application for approval. Once approved locally, the Global Methodist Church’s Transitional Leadership Council (TLC) shall vote on whether the congregation (and clergy) is to be received as a member of the Global Methodist Church. The congregation shall become a member congregation of the Global Methodist Church on the date specified by the TLC.