I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Global Methodist Bishop Mark Webb.
Webb was elected as a bishop of the United Methodist Church by the 2012 session of the Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference. On January 4, it was announced that he had transferred into the new Global Methodist Church (GMC), the denomination formed by and for theologically orthodox United Methodists. His historic transfer into the Global Methodist Church as bishop followed the earlier transfer of Bishop Mike Lowry, the longtime leader of the UMC’s Central Texas Conference. Shortly after Webb’s announcement, a third United Methodist Bishop, Scott Jones—former leader of the Great Plains and (eastern) Texas Annual Conferences—also transferred into Global Methodism.
The Global Methodist Bishop Webb previously led the UMC’s Upper New York Annual Conference until his retirement at the end of 2022. He also served as president of the denomination’s General Board of Discipleship (also known as Discipleship Ministries). Before that, he served as a district superintendent and pastor of three congregations in Pennsylvania, and was a recipient of the Harry Denman Evangelism Award. This new Global Methodist bishop earned an M.Div. from Asbury Theological Seminary and a graduate certificate in nonprofit management from the University of Connecticut. Bishop Webb serves on the Board of Trustees of United Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Jodi, now live in Lititz, Pennsylvania.
In this interview, Global Methodist Bishop Mark Webb shares the latest updates about the recent explosive growth of the Global Methodist Church, his hopes and dreams for the new denomination, the need for a humbler role for bishops, what the current work of Global Methodist bishops involves, and why he sees the UMC’s slow-motion separation continuing for multiple additional years.
A video of the full interview can be viewed here:
Downloadable podcast audio can be accessed here:
Bishop Webb is making himself available to speak about the Global Methodist Church to any congregation that invites him, provided that they have already voted to disaffiliate from the United Methodist Church and are now discerning their next steps. He can be reached at [email protected]
The interview references the early 2020 document outlining the founding vision for the Global Methodist Church, which can be read here.
More information about the Global Methodist Church can be found on its website: www.globalmethodist.org
A list of provisional annual conferences of this growing denomination can be found here:
https://globalmethodist.org/provisional-annual-conferences/
A list of GMC organizers across America can be found here:
https://globalmethodist.org/gm-organizers/
Comment by Louise Merle on January 23, 2023 at 7:11 am
Why should I believe that what happened to the UMC won’t eventually happen to the GMC? I don’t see me ever darkening the doorway of another Methodist Church, of any kind. Or Episcopalian. Or Presbyterian. Or most any of the mainstream protestant churches.
What have we Christians come to?
Comment by Joe R on January 23, 2023 at 8:53 pm
I share your concern but lay the blame squarely on weak and ineffective leadership going back decades in the UMC. The Book of Discipline was ignored (as it is to this day) and those in violation were given passes for who knows what reasons. If you can’t abide by the written rules then as a leader you have failed.
That said, those who decide to interpret Scripture to suit the ever changing worldly culture will not be the determining factor as to where I worship. If I stay it will be due to prayer and the men with who I serve the Lord. If I leave it will be with a continued daily prayer of guidance and much sadness.
God will prevail! He is still on his throne and “woke” nor sin will not influence His clearly written commands.
Be strong and courageous.
Comment by Brenda collins on January 23, 2023 at 10:21 pm
Thank You, Bishop Webb, for your leadership, example, and heart.
Comment by Lee Cary on January 30, 2023 at 11:42 am
I note the closing comments of the first two posts above: (1) “What have we Christians come to?” & “Be strong and courageous.”
(1) I believe many Christians have come to the belief that the hierarchy of any church bureaucracy generally functions under a self-defined notion of elitism. One example: The meetings of the UMC Council of Bishops was the ecclesiastical version of the gathering at Davos. Many former UMC laity concluded that the best configuration for a Christian organization is not a pyramid, but a circle. Which explains the rapid growth of independent congregations across America.
(2) Being strong and courageous are behaviors of freedom and independence.
To the extent that the GMC hierarchy undertakes the configuration of a pyramid – albeit not as articulated at its beginning as the former UMC – rather than a network of independent circles, it too will, in time, fail as did the UMC.
Why? Because you can’t put old wine in new wine skins.
Comment by Chris Selvege on December 3, 2024 at 12:31 am
Mark webb is a racist, ask any person of color in any of his congregations who has attempted to learn about and strengthen their faith.l and has been stunted and ostracized because of his corrupt misuse of the cloth. He is no good for any church anywhere!