Traditionalists have long maintained that the denomination’s sexuality divide can’t be overcome.
The Wesleyan Covenant Association, led by Boyette, formed in 2016 and has been planning for a new denomination.
Boyette said the WCA will continue to exist even though the Global Methodist Church has a name, logo and transitional leadership council.
“I’ve often described (the WCA) as a midwife to bring to birth a new denomination. We will continue to pursue that objective,” Boyette said. “Our expectation is that once the Global Methodist Church is functioning and has its convening conference, the Wesleyan Covenant Association will have fulfilled its mission.”
The name “Global Methodist Church” is in the spirit of Methodism founder John Wesley’s statement “The world is my parish,” a press release said.
The logo brings together circles representing the Trinity, with the cross in the center.
“As a whole, the logo communicates God’s sending of the church into the world,” the press release said. “The sky blue color reminds us that even though Global Methodists live all around the world, they are united together in God’s great creation.”
The transitional leadership council includes retired Bishops Lindsey Davis and Robert Hayes of the U.S., and retired Bishop John Innis, who led the Liberia Conference.
“I am convinced the Global Methodist Church will be a vibrant, vital expression of Methodism in terms of its teaching and ethics,” Hayes said in a press release.
The Rev. Philippe Adjobi, a district superintendent in the Côte d’Ivoire Conference, and the Rev. Andrei Kim, a district superintendent in the North West Russia and Belarus Conference, are among the other members.
“I believe the Global Methodist Church will fulfill the expectations and aspirations of local churches throughout Africa,” Adjobi said in materials provided by the traditionalist group.
But some United Methodists in Africa are strongly opposed to a breakup of The United Methodist Church, and a variety of voices continue to weigh in about the denomination’s future.
Boyette said traditionalist advocacy groups in The United Methodist Church, including Good News, submitted nominees for the transitional council.
Another group of traditional leaders met in Atlanta about a year ago to cast a vision for the new denomination, and the group recently met virtually, calling for passage of the protocol as soon as possible.
That group includes active bishops, but Boyette said he “can’t speak for them” as to whether they would leave The United Methodist Church for the Global Methodist Church.
Nor would Boyette estimate how many churches will be a part of the Global Methodist Church at its launch.
The group has a “Transitional Book of Doctrines and Discipline,” available in English, French, Korean, Portuguese and Spanish, but various organizational and operational details remain to be worked out.
“True to our roots, we’re a patient and methodical people,” Boyette said.
Late last year a group of progressive United Methodists launched a new denomination called Liberation Methodist Connexion, or LMX.
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