Home / Affiliation / Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are some frequently asked questions regarding Buncombe Street's affiliation with the Global Methodist Church.

GENERAL

What is happening with Buncombe Street’s affiliation?

Over the last five months, a Denominational Discernment Team comprised of clergy and lay leaders have studied the best options for future affiliation following disaffiliation from The United Methodist Church in 2023. Throughout this process, the goal has been to preserve BSMC’s ministries while also studying the most effective ways to enhance and advance the Kingdom in the coming decades.

After careful consideration and prayer, the BSMC Discernment Team is recommending affiliation with the South Carolina Conference of the Global Methodist Church (GMC). In early January, BSMC Church Council voted in support for affiliation with the GMC.  BSMC members are being called to a churchwide vote to ratify this recommendation on February 9, 2025.

Why are we affiliating with a denomination?

Practicing the Christian faith within a larger community is an essential element of Wesleyan Methodism. Affiliation with another Methodist denomination or network is helpful to maintain this faith heritage. Throughout this process, the discernment leadership team’s goal has been to preserve BSMC’s theology, culture and community while also studying the most effective ways to enhance and advance its ministries in the coming decades.

The optimal time to make the biggest impact in the Global Methodist Church is right now, during the start-up phases of this organization. Serving in leadership roles, developing resource materials and facilitating clergy training and development are just a few examples of immediate involvement. Making the decision now will be helpful as we search for a new senior pastor.  Candidates will know the direction of BSMC

How was this recommendation to affiliate decided upon?

With the persistent goal of preserving the God-inspired, 190-year-old identity of Buncombe Street Methodist Church and positioning us for the future God has planned for us, the Denominational Discernment team has developed a list of five fundamental and distinctive criteria — what we call discernment frameworks — that have served as a measurement tool for comparison of affiliation options: Theology, Vision, Organization, Community and Values.

When will the church vote on this recommendation?

Members of BSMC are eligible to cast a ballot in the churchwide vote for affiliation February 9, 2025. Voting details will be posted on this website. Results of the vote will be posted on this website and announced in all worship services on Sunday, February 16, 2025.  A simple majority of those who vote is needed for affiliation.  If the members of BSMC vote to affiliate with the GMC, we anticipate affiliation will be complete in the spring of 2025.

THEOLOGY

By choosing an affiliation, what assurance do we have that we will remain a traditional church and not change our values or not enforce the Book of Discipline as The United Methodist Church did?

BSMC maintains the highest regard for the authority of Holy Scriptures contained in the Old and New Testaments, as well as the historical confessions of the Christian faith included in the Apostles’ Creed, the Nicene Creed, and John Wesley’s Articles of Religion and sermons. The Global Methodist Church (GMC) claims these same doctrinal sources, so BSMC’s affiliation would be theologically aligned. The GMC also has specific guidelines for enforcement accountability for its bishops, clergy and congregations. See the GMC section below for specific questions and answers relating to accountability found within its Book of Doctrines and Discipline.  To change the theological basis of the GMC requires a 3/4 vote at the GMC General Conference.  Once all rules are finalized in 2026, other changes will require a 2/3 vote at GMC General Conference.

CLERGY & STAFF

What do our pastors think? What is their recommendation for making this decision?

Each pastor on BSMC’s 4-member clergy team is in favor of joining the Global Methodist Church.  Church staff and leaders share their recommendation in this video.

How will affiliation affect our pastors and staff?

If the congregation votes to join the GMC, our pastors will transfer their credentials and will be ordained into that denomination. Clergy and staff benefits are secure and will be maintained throughout the affiliation transition.  GMC benefits are portable for clergy and staff.

FINANCE, PROPERTY, & LEGAL

What is the cost commitment of affiliation for our church?

Member churches in the South Carolina Conference (SCC) of the Global Methodist Church are currently required to contribute 4% of their adjusted operational income with 3% to the GMC of SC and 1% to the greater GMC denomination. This Connectional Funding goes toward Church Planting, Clergy Recruitment, Ministry Leadership Team Development and Church Administration. This commitment is well within BSMC’s ability to participate and has been vetted and approved by our discernment team as a trustworthy cause in which to invest.  As compared, the last year we paid apportionments to the UMC, our rate was 16%.

Will BSMC retain our property and buildings and endowments?

Yes. In the GMC, each member congregation retains full ownership of their property, assets, and endowments.  There is no “Trust Clause”.

Will affiliation require BSMC to change its name again?

Buncombe Street Methodist Church will retain its name as it is written here; further changes are not required or anticipated regardless of affiliation.

MEMBERSHIP

How will this affect my church membership?

Your vows of membership are honored regardless of denominational affiliation. Your membership is recorded in our local BSMC church database. If BSMC votes to join the Global Methodist Church, you would be recorded as a member of that denomination once affiliation is complete.

What will change if Buncombe Street Methodist Church affiliates with a new denomination?

Affiliation will have no effect on BSMC’s theology, ministry programming, culture, or community. Day-to-day operations will continue as they are now. As a 190-year-old standard-bearer of orthodox, Wesleyan theology and one of the largest congregations in Methodism, BSMC will continue to advance its vision to develop followers of Jesus who are engaged in community, equipped to serve, and empowered to lead — regardless of denominational affiliation.

Affiliation will enable BSMC’s clergy, staff and lay leaders to be in connection with their counterparts at other churches for the purposes of spiritual connection, leadership development, ministry collaboration and resource sharing. It positions for the future God has planned for BSMC.

AFFILIATION OPTIONS

Do we need these organizations, or do they need us?

BSMC considered several affiliation options as part of its discernment process before recommending affiliation with the Global Methodist Church. Functionally speaking, BSMC is a successful, stable, self-sustaining organization, so no — we do not “need” these organizations. However, our Wesleyan heritage includes the establishment of strong connectional ties with other Methodist churches at the pastoral, leadership, and congregational levels. By partnering or becoming an affiliated congregation, BSMC gains the opportunity to extend ministry reach and to share our theological, cultural, and organizational strength across the greater landscape of Methodism.

GLOBAL METHODIST CHURCH

How many big churches are in the GMC?

As of late November, there are approximately 4,500 churches and 4,800 clergy members of the Global Methodist Church spanning across 12 countries. Of existing GMC-member churches today, approximately 1% are considered “big” by either worship attendance or membership. BSMC would be one of the larger churches within the GMC if its members vote to affiliate with this denomination.

What are the priorities of GMC and where is their focus with ministry teams?

The priorities of the GMC are: Primacy of Scripture (Wesleyan Based), Church Planting, Christian Discipleship Programming and Resource Development, Missions, and NextGen. Presently, GMC is focusing on developing ministry teams for Children, Youth, Young Adult, Missions, and Lay Ministers.  Click here to find out more about the GMC of South Carolina.

Would it make finding and securing future pastoral staff easier if we went GMC vs independent?

Yes. The connectional system within the GMC is specifically designed for pastors to know and be known among their colleagues on a broad scale.  BSMC will still have the final say in pastor selection.  If needed, BSMC can do a nationwide or worldwide search to find the right pastor for BSMC.

What value does affiliation with the GMC add for large churches that are already solidly anchored in traditional Wesleyan theology?

There is high value in a connection of like-minded, like-hearted Wesleyan Methodists who are working together to advance the Kingdom of God on a truly global scale. Independent networks exist on a very small scale in comparison. Buncombe Street is worthy of a truly global connection.

How is the GMC setting up its organization structure and governance to provide the right checks and balances to prevent the problems that developed in the UMC?

With the GMC,the balance of power has shifted from the denomination to the local church.  The dysfunctional power dynamic within the UMC is effectively eliminated with the GMC’s removal of the property trust clause, removal of guaranteed clergy appointments, imposed term limits for bishops, and a truly enforceable Book of Doctrines and Discipline that enables action and removal of bishops, clergy and congregations that stray from its standards for theology and practice.
(See GMC Book of Doctrines and Discipline Part Three – Local Church, Sect. 354 – Congregational Fidelity; also, Judicial Practice and Procedure Rules)

Resources

GMC – South Carolina

GMC Book of Doctrines and Discipline 

Pray

Learn

Discern