The purpose of this page is to inform the members of the Cornwall UMC about what is happening within our denomination.

The United Methodist Church is divided and is dividing.  Although the presenting issue is the conflict over issues of human sexuality, in reality the underlying issues are faithfulness to biblical authority, an unwillingness to maintain, in practice, orthodox theology and a lack of accountability among clergy and denominational leadership who have decided not to follow our Book of Discipline. We, as a church congregation, will have to decide whether we want to continue within the UMC or whether to disaffiliate (withdraw) from the denomination and possibly align with another denomination, such as the new Global Methodist Church, which holds to a more traditionalist faith and practice.  The internet resources below give helpful information regarding this decision.

Resources favoring staying within the UMC
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Stay UMC - Stay UMC represents a large group of traditional, centrist, and progressive United Methodists in the North Alabama Conference who love the UMC and believe we are “better together” as we move forward into the future. Our purpose is to work against the idea of the annual conference voting to leave our denomination, should the Protocol for Grace and Reconciliation through Separation ever pass at General Conference
 
Council of Bishops’ letter for continuing the UMC – released in the Fall of 2021 following the Council of Bishops meeting.
 
Where Do We Go UMC?  A 6-episode podcast featuring conversations between Rev. Molly Vetter and denominational leaders about the challenges ahead as we live toward a United Methodist Church that is fully inclusive of our LGBTQ+ siblings.

4 Reasons I Am Staying UMC - a short article by C. Don Jones, a Methodist pastor from Tennessee. 

Leaving and Lifestyle - A Reflection on the Disintegration of the United Methodist Church

Resources in support of withdrawing from the United Methodist denomination
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Differences that Divide the UMC – This series of 6 short videos which explain the major divisions going on within the United Methodist Church

Wesleyan Covenant Association -   An association of individuals and congregations who share a common understanding of our Wesleyan doctrine and a desire to become a vibrant, faithful, growing 21st century church.

The Global Methodist Church – a new expression of Methodism committed to making disciples of Jesus Christ who worship passionately, love extravagantly, and witness boldly. 

10 Reasons Why I’ll Join the Global Methodist Church – This is a short article by Jay Therrell explaining his decision to join the Global Methodist Church.

Forward in Faith – This is a sermon preached by Reverend Mark Sorensen, senior pastor of The Woodlands, the largest Methodist Church in Texas, explaining why it was time for their church to depart from the UMC. 

A Bishop Says Goodbye to the United Methodist Church - UMC Bishop Mike Lowry has stated that, effective on that date, he withdrew from the UMC Council of Bishops to unite to the Global Methodist Church.  Linked is both the initial letter from the Council of Bishops and Bishop Lowry’s response. 

Eastern Pennsylvania United Methodist Conference web page on disaffiliation – This page hosts a variety of resources regarding the process of disaffiliation within the Eastern PA conference
 
Eastern Pennsylvania United Methodist Conference August 1 Webinar on the Disaffiliation Process – This was a Zoom webinar put in on by Bishop John Schol and other conference leadership regarding the disaffiliation process.