THAT EVENT. OVER 50 UNITED METHODIST CHURCHES IN OKLAHOMA ARE VOTING TO LEAVE THE DECISION TO SEVER TIES WITH THE DENOMINATION OVER THE DIRECTION OF WHERE THE CHURCH IS GOING. KOCO IS MEGHAN MOSLEY WITH WHAT THIS MEANS FOR CHURCHES WHO DECIDE TO LEAVE. 54 OF THE 55 CHURCHES THAT LEFT ON THE 22ND ACTUALLY LEFT BECAUSE OF THEIR FEAR THAT THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH WOULD BECOME MORE INCLUSIVE AND NOT LESS INCLUSIVE IN A SPECIAL CALLED CONFERENCE SATURDAY. 55 UNITED METHODIST CHURCHES IN OKLAHOMA WHOSE REQUEST TO SEVER TIES WITH THE DENOMINATION WAS RATIFIED. MAKES ME SAD THAT ANY CHURCH MIGHT WANT TO LEAVE IN ORDER TO BECOME MORE INCLUSIVE WHEN THEY COULD HAVE STAYED AND HELPED FIGHT THAT FIGHT ALONGSIDE THOSE OF US WHO CHOSE TO STAY. THE LARGEST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH IN OKLAHOMA, AMONG THOSE WHO LEFT IN THIS VIDEO PROVIDED BY SAINT LUKE’S. THEY EXPLAIN WHY WE’RE VERY GRATEFUL FOR OUR HERITAGE, AND WE’RE ALSO VERY GRATEFUL FOR ALL THE WONDERFUL THINGS WE’VE ACCOMPLISHED WITH THE DENOMINATION THROUGH THE YEARS. HOWEVER, WE’RE ALSO VERY GRATEFUL TO BE FREE OF THE BOOK OF DISCIPLINE. IN A STATEMENT TO KOCO ST LUKE’S SAYS IN PART, QUOTE, OUR NAME WILL BECOME ST LUKE’S METHODIST CHURCH. WE ARE METHODIST. IT’S WHO WE’VE ALWAYS BEEN. IT’S WHO WE ALWAYS WILL BE. WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL FOR OUR HERITAGE AND THE UNITED METHODIST DENOMINATION AND PLAN TO PARTNER AND WORK WITH SO MANY WONDERFUL MISSIONS. AND THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH AT ST LUKE’S. WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE METHODIST IN OUR PRACTICE AND OUR THEOLOGY. WE’RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE WONDERFUL MISSIONS THAT WE’VE BELIEVED IN AND WORKED WITH FOR SO LONG. SO UNFORTUNATELY, WE’RE SEEING THAT SOME OF OUR CHURCHES THAT HAVE LEFT THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH. EVEN BACK IN OCTOBER OF 2022, ARE STILL WITHOUT A PASTOR AND ARE STRUGGLING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO TAKE NEXT STEPS
55 United Methodist churches will sever ties with denomination
In a special conference, the requests of 55 United Methodist churches in Oklahoma to sever ties with the denomination were ratified.
Updated: 10:50 PM CDT Apr 23, 2023
More than 50 United Methodist churches voted Saturday to leave the denomination because of disagreements on where the denomination is headed. In a special conference, the requests of 55 United Methodist churches in Oklahoma to sever ties with the denomination were ratified. "Fifty-four of the 55 churches that left on the 22nd actually left because of their fear that the United Methodist would become more inclusive and not less inclusive," said Adam Shahan, the pastor at Wesley United Methodist Church. “It makes me sad that any church would want to leave to become more inclusive when they could've stayed and fight that fight alongside those who have chosen to stay."The largest United Methodist church in Oklahoma was among those that left. "We’re very grateful for our heritage, and we’re also grateful for all the things we accomplished with the denomination over the years. However, we’re grateful to be free of the book of discipline," said Dr. Long from St. Lukes's United Methodist. “Our name will become St. Luke’s Methodist Church. We are Methodist. It’s who we have always been. It’s who we will always be. We are very grateful for our heritage in the United Methodist denomination and plan to partner and work with so many wonderful missions in the United Methodist Church," said St. Luke's in a statement to KOCO. The disaffiliations become permanent on May 6. "Unfortunately, we’re seeing some of our churches that have left the United Methodist Church back in October of 2022 are still without a pastor and are struggling to figure out how to take next steps," said Shahan. Shahan said the Wesley United Methodist Church is becoming a home for people whose church decided to leave the United Methodist Church. Top HeadlinesMother of missing 2-year-old Oklahoma girl facing charges in IndianaPotential bomb threat at Weatherford High School said to be hoax, officials say2 suspects in custody after pursuit in Oklahoma CityOklahoma County inmate dies after being found unresponsive in cellOver 1,000 travelers stranded at Will Rogers World Airport after flights diverted due to weatherSon who stabbed Labor Commissioner Mark Costello could get supervised release for treatment
OKLAHOMA CITY — More than 50 United Methodist churches voted Saturday to leave the denomination because of disagreements on where the denomination is headed.
In a special conference, the requests of 55 United Methodist churches in Oklahoma to sever ties with the denomination were ratified.
"Fifty-four of the 55 churches that left on the 22nd actually left because of their fear that the United Methodist would become more inclusive and not less inclusive," said Adam Shahan, the pastor at Wesley United Methodist Church. “It makes me sad that any church would want to leave to become more inclusive when they could've stayed and fight that fight alongside those who have chosen to stay."
The largest United Methodist church in Oklahoma was among those that left.
"We’re very grateful for our heritage, and we’re also grateful for all the things we accomplished with the denomination over the years. However, we’re grateful to be free of the book of discipline," said Dr. Long from St. Lukes's United Methodist.
“Our name will become St. Luke’s Methodist Church. We are Methodist. It’s who we have always been. It’s who we will always be. We are very grateful for our heritage in the United Methodist denomination and plan to partner and work with so many wonderful missions in the United Methodist Church," said St. Luke's in a statement to KOCO.
The disaffiliations become permanent on May 6.
"Unfortunately, we’re seeing some of our churches that have left the United Methodist Church back in October of 2022 are still without a pastor and are struggling to figure out how to take next steps," said Shahan.
Shahan said the Wesley United Methodist Church is becoming a home for people whose church decided to leave the United Methodist Church.
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