The Book of Doctrines and Discipline of the Global Methodist Church is intended to serve as a resource for all who wish to join in a “methodical,” practical, and warm- hearted pursuit of loving God and serving others as Jesus’ disciples in the world. Beginning with confessions rooted in Scripture and shaped by the great teaching of the Church universal, the Book of Doctrines and Discipline provides the essential structure for the Global Methodist Church from its official launch on May 1, 2022. It is offered with the prayer that it will help guide us in a new season of the church’s life as we make disciples of Jesus Christ and spread scriptural holiness across the globe.
The Book of Doctrines and Discipline was officially voted in at the Convening Conference of the Global Methodist Church in September of 2024. The changes go into effect on Jan 1, 2025 and the changes should be reflected on the website by the end November 2024.
Below is the current list of approved Course of Study Programs within the GMC.
Truett Theological Seminary at Baylor – https://truettseminary.baylor.edu/programs-centers/wesley-house-studies
United Seminary’s CTM Program https://united.edu/certificate-in-theology-and-ministry/
Ashland University’s The Calling Program https://seminary.ashland.edu/the-calling/
Wesley Biblical Seminary, Jackson, MS https://wbs.edu/programs/gmc/
Global Methodist Church Approved Schools in the Heartland:
- Mid-America Christian University
- Mid-America Christian University is an approved GMC partner, but their program is not approved for ordination, except for international students.
- Oklahoma Wesleyan University
- Oklahoma Wesleyan University is an approved GMC partner, but their program is not approved for ordination, except for international students.
- Oklahoma Wesleyan University offers a 50% discount on tuition if the student is a member of a GMC church.
- Oklahoma Wesleyan Unversity offers a 75% discount on tuition for a child of a GMC pastor.
- Asbury Seminary Extension Sites
As of July 1, 2024, the Global Methodist Church offers an employer sponsored retirement plan through Guidestone.
Eligible clergy can enroll through the Employer Access Program. Eligible lay employees are also eligible to participate.
The retirement (pension) plan works as follows:
- The church is required to make a base contribution of 5% of the pastor’s salary + housing into the pastor’s retirement account at GuideStone; If the pastor is in a parsonage the rate is calculated based on 125% of base salary. PLUS
- The pastor is encouraged to make a personal contribution to their retirement account through a pre-tax salary-reduction arrangement with the local church; at least 5% is recommended, but the pastor is only limited by the IRS maximums. For 2025 those are estimated to be: $23,500 for participants under 50 and $31,000 for ages 50+; PLUS
- The church is required to match the pastor’s personal contribution, up to 5%. The church cannot contribute more than 10%.
More information can be found at this link
The Global Methodist Church’s logo brings together in its three circles the one God – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit – who alone we worship. The circles intersect at the center of the cross of Jesus Christ, the symbol of our deliverance from our slavery to sin and fear of death. The outer circumference of the rings represents the globe. As a whole, the logo communicates God’s sending of the church into the world. The sky blue color reminds us that even though Global Methodists live all around the world, they are all united together in God’s great creation.
According to the IRS, “Churches that meet the requirements of IRC Section 501(c)(3) are automatically considered tax exempt and are not required to apply for and obtain recognition of tax-exempt status from the IRS.” (IRS Publication 1828) This applies to all GMC churches in the Heartland Conference and applies to federal non-profit status.
However, each church needs to ensure they have amended their articles of incorporation and filed and registered them within their respective state. This ensures you are registered as a not-for-profit corporation within your state and are automatically considered 501(c)(3).
The Global Methodist Church has partnered with Ministry Safe as our preferred partner to help meet the needs of churches and ministries to create preventative measures tailored to enhance the safety and protection of children, youth, and vulnerable adults.
The GM Church wants to be a movement that goes the extra mile to ensure every person is protected and experiences a safe environment when he or she participates in the ministries of local churches. The denomination strongly encourages every local church to sign up for MinistrySafe now. To sign up, go to www.ministrysafe.com/gmc. Click on “Become a MinistrySafe Member.” Complete the online form provided and enter the Discount Code “GMC2023.” Becoming a MinistrySafe member will enable local church leaders to access the full library of 70+ documents, forms and resources offered by MinistrySafe immediately. You can learn more about all that is offered by MinistrySafe by visiting the organization’s general site, but only sign up through www.ministrysafe.com/gmc in order to benefit from the special arrangement with the GM Church which avoids any membership fee for your local church.
As of July 1, 2024, the Global Methodist Church transitioned to Guidestone Financial Resources to provide health insurance for eligible clergy of local Global Methodist congregations in the United States.
A full listing of available plans and more information can be found here.
Participation is mandatory for full-time clergy and with four exceptions:
1. Clergy who are bi-vocational or retired from another profession who have coverage through a current employer (not the church they are serving) or a previous employer (e.g., a teacher or Federal employee.)
2. Enrolled as a dependent in their spouse’s employer-provided coverage (enrollment in the Healthcare Marketplace or a medical cost-sharing plan is NOT a valid exception).
3. Coverage through military insurance (like Champus or TriCare);
4. Coverage through Medicare or Medicaid.
A pastor who wishes to claim one of the exemptions must do so by completing this form.
Direct questions to the GM Church’s Benefits Team at benefits@globalmethodist.org.
The Church Plant Sponsor Guidelines are to help the sponsoring church of a church plant engage in intentional relationship building and establish accountable practices for the spiritual and practical benefit of the church plant. The list below contains themain areas that a sponsoring church should inquire about. The sponsoringrelationship is not limited to these areas and others may be added to fit thecontextual needs of the church plant.