Articles and Resources
Our friends at the UMsConnected have released a helpful document entitled, “Beginning Again: A Guide for Remaining in the United Methodist Church.” This guide is offered to help you remain United Methodist, and do so with purpose, meaning, and joy. The guide is designed to be adapted by local churches, small groups, and newly forming faith communities convening after painful disaffiliation processes.
In October of 2022, the North Alabama Conference released an excellent set of FAQ’s that address many questions and myths. This is a “must see.”
In September of 2022, the African bishops issued a statement condemning the WCA for “spreading falsehoods about the United Methodist Church” and declared their intent to stay in the UMC. You can read about it here.
Our bishops are pushing back against the recruitment tactics of those leaving, and you can read about it here. Members of the Alabama-West Florida Conference released an excellent public letter about why they intend to stay in the UMC. You may find it here.
Proud to Be UMC – Excellent Series of Videos by Adam Hamilton – part vision for the future UMC and part response to Rob Renfroe videos
What’s Next for the UMC? – Older but still very relevant video by Lovett Weems.
The UMC Website
Ask the UMC
https://www.umc.org/en/who-we-are/ask-the-umc-faqs
Requirements for the Discernment Process- North Alabama Conference of the UMC
https://www.stayumc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/CalltoPrayerandDiscernmentFINAL.pdf
FAQ’s on Continued Affiliation and Disaffiliation – North Alabama Conference of the UMC
Celebrate the UMC Event in Montgomery – featuring Tom Berlin … BEST all-around video!
Sermon by John Robbins of Pulaski Heights UMC on Staying in the UMC
Messages from the NAC3 Team
June 2 – https://www.umcna.org/postdetail/16513389
July 28 – https://www.umcna.org/postdetail/16586686
Nov 16 – https://www.umcna.org/postdetail/message-from-nac3-team-values-that-guide-our-work-17146688
#BeUMC – Promotional campaign by United Methodist Communications
https://www.umc.org/en/who-we-are/our-people/beumc
Is the United Methodist Church Really …? – EXCELLENT myth busting by “Ask the UMC”
https://www.umc.org/en/content/ask-the-umc-is-the-umc-really-part-1
https://www.umc.org/en/content/ask-the-umc-is-the-umc-really-part-2
https://www.umc.org/en/content/ask-the-umc-is-the-umc-really-part-3
https://www.umc.org/en/content/ask-the-umc-is-the-umc-really-part-4
https://www.umc.org/en/content/ask-the-umc-is-the-umc-really-part-5
https://www.umc.org/en/content/ask-the-umc-is-the-umc-really-part-6
https://www.umc.org/en/content/ask-the-umc-is-the-umc-really-part-7
https://www.umc.org/en/content/ask-the-umc-is-the-umc-really-part-8
https://www.umc.org/en/content/ask-the-umc-is-the-umc-really-part-9
https://www.umc.org/en/content/ask-the-umc-is-the-umc-really-part-10
https://www.umc.org/en/content/ask-the-umc-is-the-umc-really-part-11
https://www.umc.org/en/content/ask-the-umc-is-the-umc-really-part-12
Should I Stay or Should I Go? – Series by United Methodist Communications
https://www.umc.org/en/content/tuesdays-at-the-table-10-05-should-i-stay-or-should-i-go
United Methodist Social Principles
https://www.umc.org/en/content/social-principles-the-nurturing-community
ST Kimbrough, Jr. on John Wesley and Division“In the Current Discussions On Separation and Division, Do United Methodists Care What John Wesley Thinks?” © April 28, 2022, S T Kimbrough, Jr. (retired member of the North Alabama Conference); Research Fellow, Center for Studies in the Wesleyan Tradition, Duke Divinity School, Durham, NC, (April 22, 2022)
“Why I’m Not Leaving the United Methodist Church” – Letter by Steve West that went viral
https://www.umnews.org/en/news/why-im-not-leaving-the-united-methodist-church
Open Letter to Chris Ritter – Open letter by Steve West in response to biased side-by-side comparison distributed by WCA
http://stevewestsmusings.blogspot.com/2021/07/an-open-letter-to-chris-ritter.html
More Accurate Side-by-side Comparison of the UMC and GMC – from North Texas Annual Conference Discernment Team
https://www.txcumc.org/files/navigating+the+waters/fdtf/umc-gmc+comparison+chart.pdf
Adam Hamilton on Staying in the UMC – video of Vespers and Church Council meeting
https://www.facebook.com/PastorAdamHamilton/videos/3167714880107584
Adam Hamilton visits Asbury UMC Birmingham – Cosponsored by Stay UMC
Adam Hamilton’s Response to Thomas Lambrecth
Addressing Myths about the Future UMC
Blog post by Dr. Steve Harper dispelling myths about the future beliefs of the UMC
Council of Bishop’s Narrative for the Continuing UMC
“That We May Be One” – Texas
“Abide” – South Georgia
https://www.abidesga.com/?fbclid=IwAR2i8ji8H9epL9lZQgLHcqNW3XpwRDocc2brZK4IAEmaTV4eRwhP5vHLBQw
United Methodist Insight – information and perspectives for concerned United Methodists
United Methodist News Service – official news from the UMC