![]() ![]() “We have gay and lesbian members who are active in the congregation, who have served in amazing ways in the life of this church,” he said by phone. 4 by approving a resolution stating Wildwood will remain United Methodist, he said.Īnsley said 900-member Wildwood is deeply committed to the Bible and Wesleyan theology, while also stressing inclusion. Rhett Ansley, senior pastor, said a July 25 meeting at which members were polled showed the great majority wanted the church to remain United Methodist. Meanwhile, a neighbor church of The Woodlands and Faithbridge, Wildwood United Methodist Church in Magnolia, Texas, has decided to remain United Methodist. While church disaffiliation votes require a two-thirds majority, conference approval of disaffiliation agreements requires only a simple majority.īoth churches reported that they will discern further about whether to join another denomination. To leave the denomination, churches must also reach a financial settlement with their conference leaders to cover their pension and other obligations. 3, to consider approving those and other disaffiliations. The Woodlands Methodist and Faithbridge will remain in The United Methodist Church until the Texas Conference has a special session on Dec. “We’ve done the right thing, the smart thing, the wise thing to keep Faithbridge Faithbridge.” 7 videotaped remarks to the 1,300-member church. “On the other hand, I’m also realistic about where the denomination is heading, and so I have no second thoughts,” he said in Aug. Ken Werlein, senior pastor, acknowledged feeling “bittersweetness,” given his family heritage in The United Methodist Church and predecessor denominations. Church leaders reported that all 549 members voting were in favor of leaving the denomination. “We are ready to move on past the division and the differences that have been an ongoing distraction in our denomination for far too long,” Sorensen said in a video posted after the vote.įaithbridge - in Spring, Texas, not far from the planned community called The Woodlands - voted a few hours later on Aug. Mark Sorensen, senior pastor of The Woodlands Methodist, noted longstanding conflict among United Methodists over LGBTQ inclusion but insisted that disunity owes also to different understandings of theology and biblical authority. The church has been among the very largest in the denomination in membership and worship attendance. 7 voted to leave The United Methodist Church. Mark Sorensen is senior pastor of The Woodlands Methodist Church, which on Aug. The church reported that of the ballots cast, 2,678, or 96.3%, were for disaffiliation. ![]() More than 3,000 of The Woodlands Methodist’s 14,231 members voted in a Sunday afternoon meeting. The church is known for its ties to Good News, a longtime traditionalist caucus within The United Methodist Church that has opposed same-sex marriage and ordination of LGBTQ people. The Woodlands Methodist is among the denomination’s very largest churches, ranking fourth in membership and second in worship attendance in 2018. 7, in votes taken within hours of one another, The Woodlands Methodist Church and Faithbridge - both large, traditionalist churches in suburban communities north of Houston - chose to disaffiliate. Texas has long been a stronghold of The United Methodist Church in the U.S., boasting the most annual conferences (five) and ranking at the top in number of local churches and prevalence of megachurches.īut this summer has seen many traditionalist congregations in the state weighing whether to leave the denomination. ![]() 7 for disaffiliation, while a third large church, Wildwood, adopted a resolution to stay in the denomination.
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