Frequently Asked Questions

The United Methodist Church was formed in 1968. When the UMC was formed, there were 11 million members in the United States. As of 2020, there are only 6,268,310 in the United States and 13 million worldwide. While U.S. membership has steadily declined over the past half century, membership in Africa and Asia is growing.

The UMC Book of Discipline is the governing document of the United Methodist Church. It contains rules for which all churches must adhere and explains the denominations stance on many of issues. In the 1972 General Conference, and every General Conference since that time, a proposal has been made to change the Book of Discipline’s language on human sexuality to allow for homosexuals to be married within a UMC church and to be ordained as pastors in the UMC. The proposed change has failed to pass in every attempt.

Progressive leaders within the UMC have purposefully violated the Book of Discipline by performing same-sex marriages, ordaining homosexual pastors and even electing homosexual bishops. The United Methodist Church has done nothing to hold individuals or groups accountable for these violations. The lack of action by the UMC for these violations has been a signal to progressive leaders within the denomination that the rules set forth in the Book of Discipline no longer apply. As such, progressive pastors have been free to deviate from traditional Methodist theology and positions on Jesus Christ, the authority of scripture, the importance of evangelism, and other basic tenets of Christianity.

There is now a large theological division between traditional orthodox UMC members and progressive liberal UMC members that goes far beyond the issue of human sexuality. This is the reason why 7000+ traditional churches in the United States have made the decision to disaffiliate from the United Methodist Church.

While human sexuality is the issue receiving the most public attention and debate, it is not the root issue. It is a symptom of a deeper divide about theological and institutional issues.

The Book of Discipline has remained constant for decades. However, non-traditional Methodists, both individuals and groups, have submitted legislative petitions calling for the removal of language concerning human sexuality.

FTPB believes in the authority of the Bible, supports the Traditional Christian view and desires to maintain the Methodist Book of Discipline.

It is important to understand the issue of human sexuality is not the only issue at stake. There are numerous differences between orthodox traditional Christian theology and progressive Christian theology. These differences include but are not limited to: the understanding of who God is and His nature, the authority of scripture, the understanding of sin, redemption and the need for transformation by Jesus.

Disagreements on the authority of the Bible, interpretation of the Bible, and the interpretation of scripture illustrate how deep the divide in the UMC has become. Both sides (traditionalists and non-traditionalist) believe their understanding of the Bible is correct.

As our fellow Methodists from Trinity on the Hill in Georgia said, “separating into two expressions of faith is both a beginning and an end for both traditionalists and non-traditionalists – an end to conflict and uncertainty, and the beginning of vibrant denominations that can focus time and resources on missions and ministries instead of focusing on the conflicts that divide us.”

When a 2019 UMC survey asked what the primary focus of the United Methodist Church should be, 68% of self-identified progressives chose “advocating for social justice to transform the world.”  Of the traditionalists, 88% picked “saving souls for Jesus Christ.” In the same survey when asked about salvation, half of self-identified progressives believe “there are ways to salvation that do not involve Jesus.”  By contrast, 86% of traditionalists believe “The only way to salvation is through a relationship with Jesus.”  When asked about Jesus, 38% of progressives believe “Jesus committed sins like other people.”

The theological differences between the traditional and progressive factions of the denomination have become too large for them to coexist.

The pastors will have an important role in facilitating the process, maintaining a “heart of peace” among the congregation as the laity discern, and promoting a fair, open and balanced process for all positions. It is not the pastor’s role to lead the discernment process; that is the work of the professing members of the congregation.

As UMC pastors are appointed by the UMC Bishop, many have argued that there is great potential for UMC pastors to have conflicts of interest during the discernment process. They essentially work for the denomination and may have financial incentive for their church to remain with the United Methodist Church.

The UMC clergy appointment process means that pastors can be moved at the discretion of the Bishop. Even if Belin makes the decision to remain with the UMC after the discernment period, there is never a guarantee that our pastors will remain with the church for any period of time. As such, the impact that disaffiliation will have on Belin’s current clergy should not be a factor in the decision process.

The Book of Discipline is the governing document of the United Methodist Church. While it does contain rules that restrict the denomination from deviating from the basic tenets of Christianity, it also contains restrictive rules that prohibit UMC pastors from performing same-sex marriages and for the ordination of homosexual pastors within the United Methodist Church. As thousands of same-sex marriages have occurred in UMC churches, and as hundreds of openly-homosexual UMC pastors have been ordained, and some even elected bishop, it is safe to say that the Book of Discipline has lost its authority. Violations of the Book of Discipline are not punished. As such, progressive leaders within the UMC have continued to disregard the rules that don’t fit their agenda, even if it leads to deviating from the basic tenets of Christianity.

Friends to Preserve Belin is comprised of lay leaders and members of Belin Memorial who love their church and are alarmed by the changes occurring in the United Methodist Church. FTPB members hold traditional values. We are working to maintain our Methodist heritage by educating and mobilizing our congregation.

Our charge is to prevent the doctrinal changes occurring in the United Methodist Church from occurring at Belin. The group is not private or secret; in fact, the names of the members are listed below. We feel called to speak openly and honestly about the divide within the United Methodist Church. We have created this website to:

• Explain the theological and institutional differences within the United Methodist church
• Educate fellow members on the urgency to take action now
• Detail our church’s options moving forward
• Answer the frequently asked questions we are hearing
• Provide ongoing reference material so that members can educate themselves on all of the issues facing the United Methodist Church

Friends to Preserve Belin Memorial UMC:

It is counterintuitive that the traditionalists are “leaving” the United Methodist Church when they believe in the current Book of Discipline. Traditionalists feel they aren’t leaving, but rather the church is leaving them. Methodism is our expression of Christian faith, but we are no longer “united.” The goal was never about winning or taking over the UMC.

The traditionalists’ goal has always been to create a vibrant evangelical Wesleyan church that is fully focused on mission and ministry, and not a church mired in a bureaucracy, dysfunction, and divisiveness. Trusting God’s grace and committing to doing his will leads to a faithful and fruitful future.

The theological division that we face as a denomination is rooted in our differing beliefs regarding the authority of the Bible, incompatible interpretations of the Bible and the divinity of Jesus Christ. We believe that these and other differences in beliefs are, unfortunately, irreconcilable.

We are in a fight for the faith delivered once for all. Today, The United Methodist Church (and the Methodist movement as a whole) is wrestling with whether it will rediscover, recognize, and reclaim its roots at the heart of this faith. The time of theological toleration saturated with moral indifference is past. The reality before us is of a diseased Christianity that we must counter by rediscovering radical allegiance to Christ, recognizing the reality of the battle we are in, and reclaiming core Christian orthodoxy.”

Mike Lowry
Bishop of the Central Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church

The wide range of disagreements about theology, human sexuality and the interpretation of scripture illustrate how deep the divide in the UMC has become. Both sides (traditionalists and non-traditionalists) believe that their understanding of the Bible is correct. Separating into two expressions of faith is both a beginning and an end for both traditionalists and non-traditionalists—an end to conflict and uncertainty, and the beginning of vibrant denominations that can focus time and resources on missions and ministries instead of focusing on the conflicts that divide us.

We need to be a united community of faith. This can best be accomplished with an agreement on common theology and leadership that supports this theology.

Please join us in prayerfully considering how important each belief is in your faith walk. Read Scripture related to each belief/topic about current practices in the UMC. Ask questions, talk with a spiritual mentor, your Sunday School class, your Bible study group, or a member of the Friends to Preserve Belin.

Click to view the full scriptural reference chart

SOURCE: Trinity on the Hill United Methodist Church, Augusta, Georgia

There are several options for disaffiliation from the UMC, two of which are addressed in the UMC Book of Discipline. If we disaffiliate, we can choose to join other traditional denominations such as the Global Methodist Church, the Free Methodist Church, or choose to be an independent church.

The opportunity for our members to have a voice in the future of our church and its theological beliefs hinges on a formal request that must be submitted by December 1, 2023, and any vote to disaffiliate from the UMC must occur prior to March 1, 2024. After this date, the rules of disaffiliation are likely to change and it would be possible for the UMC to not permit Belin from disaffiliating from the denomination.

FTPB believes a decision of this magnitude deserves sufficient time for education and discernment so that the members of our church can openly explore the theological differences within the United Methodist Church and determine our path for the future. We do not want our future to be decided for us. It’s critical we meet key dates to have a voice in our church’s future.

The UMC continues to be in crisis, and is now facing major restructuring. Ongoing discussions and debates have splintered (and some would add, have stymied) the United Methodist denomination in America. We are distracted and deeply divided. We desperately need a definitive decision so that we can move forward, regaining our focus on our mission to ‘make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.”

Rev. Jody Flowers
Chapin United Methodist Church, Chapin, SC­­­­­

The vision for our church going forward involves many things, the most important of which is the homogeneity of our congregation’s belief of the sanctity of the Bible. We want to continue to grow in the love of God and build upon the church’s one foundation, which is Jesus Christ Our Lord. We want to continue to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

As a fourth generation Methodist I am excited by a fresh wind of the Holy Spirit where I see God doing a new thing! God is creating a church rooted in Scripture and the love of Jesus, and he is calling us to participate with him.”

Dr. Bob Hayes
Transitional Leadership Council Member
Bishop in Residence at The Woodlands United Methodist Church, Woodlands, Texas