There are a variety of ways to make decisions. In the church, sometimes spiritual discernment is used particularly during deep and challenging decision making. Spiritual discernment is setting oneself or the community apart for a time of deep listening for the Holy Spirit’s wisdom, insight and calling. It is not judging others (Matthew 7:1-2), but encountering God’s wisdom and understanding in others, the community of faith and ourselves for discerning God’s calling for the congregation and each of us individually.

There are four things needed for spiritual discernment.

1. Creating space and time to listen deeply and contemplate.

2. Prayer, scripture reading and the words of Jesus to center and root ourselves spiritually.

3. Openness to the movement of the Holy Spirit in ourselves and others.

4. Holy conversation that listens to understand, responds with grace and respect for God and one another and recognizes that we are in conversation with one another and with God.

As you explore this web page you will find information about the current separation happening in the United Methodist Church as well as information regarding our future affiliation. We ask that each member educate themselves about the UMC, the GMC, other possible affiliation options, and the pros and cons of each. Town Halls for sharing information and voicing thoughts are being held throughout the months of June, July, and August. These will be facilitated by the pastor and lay members. Small groups are encouraged to schedule time to discuss these issues. All of this will possibly culminate in a vote for disafilliation at our charge conference on September 24.

Our discernment process will be covered in 95 days of prayer, as prayer is an important and integral part of discernment. We ask that each member pray for wisdom, clarity, and grace. We pray that the Holy Spirit would move through and among us as we do this challenging work of discernment. We would like for each day of this period, be covered in prayer.

We ask everyone to keep our main focus on God and growing His Kingdom and not to let this upcoming decision distract us from our mission to follow Jesus together and help each other see God’s grace each day. We will continue to worship, pray, learn, and serve together and treat each other with respect. That is our commitment to you and we ask you to make the same commitment as well.

At Texas Annual Conference (TAC) in late May 2022, Bishop Scott Jones encouraged each congregation to consider its future affiliation by late fall of this year — whether that’s remaining in The United Methodist Church, staying in Wesleyan connection by affiliating with another Methodist denomination or becoming an independent church.

In June 2022, Bishop Jones announced his retirement effective December 31, 2022, citing “increasing disobedience and escalating conflict in the denomination.” The new incoming bishop is expected to be much more progressive in theology and practice and will carry the authority to re-assign our senior pastor to another church within our geographic region. Affiliation with the GMC would allow our local church to have more autonomy in the selection of pastors.

Currently, Grace Crossing is one of over 230 churches in the Texas Annual Conference (almost 40%) in official discernment. This number is expected to continue to increase.

After a well-attended town hall meeting (50-60 people), on Tuesday, June 21, the Lead Team voted to begin the process. We agreed to:

1. Appoint a Lay Leader to communicate with the congregation.

2. Select a Financial Costs Team (to investigate costs associated with disaffiliating).

3. Select a Future Affiliation Team (to investigate options for future affiliation).

The church membership has the final vote on whether the church should disaffiliate or not.

Pastor Keith supports the Lead Team’s decision to enter into the discernment process. He has been aware of the UMC's growing tensions and mounting dysfunction along with the emergence of an alternate choice in the Global Methodist Church. He is doing his best to remain helpful and supportive as he guides members of the church to their best decision together. Pastors must decide separate and apart from congregations as to whether they are going to disaffiliate or not. He will tell you that his heart is and always has been to follow Jesus as faithfully as possible in the traditional, orthodox teachings of the Bible and church. As soon as the church makes their decision, Pastor Keith will let everyone know what he plans to do.

We will hold a called church conference on Saturday, September 24th at 1 pm. The District Superintendent will be present to preside at this meeting. Members who intend to vote will check in upon arrival at the church/charge conference and if their membership is on record as active, they will receive a paper ballot. Votes must be cast in person with no absentee or proxy voting allowed. The ballots will be counted by a neutral party and the decision will be announced.

Current professing members of Grace Crossing United Methodist Church. If you are unsure of whether your membership is still active or not, you can send an email with your question to keith@gracecrossing.org.

No, Bishop Scott Jones recounted that the Texas Annual Conference’s principles allow local churches to disaffiliate.

Principles for Disaffiliation for the Texas Annual Conference were voted on and accepted at the 2020 Annual Conference.

Our District Superintendent, Karen Jones, supports our decision to enter the discernment process and has agreed to preside at our called church conference. She approved our discernment process and is fully aware of what is going on.

Very little.

Grace Crossing will continue to advance its mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ and help each other see God’s grace every day, regardless of denominational affiliation.

There are currently two potential options for changing our affiliation: paragraph 2548.2 which is for “Transfer of a Congregation to Another Denomination”, and paragraph 2553 which is for “Disaffiliation of a Local Church Over Issues Related to Human Sexuality”.

We will likely use paragraph 2553 if we choose to disaffiliate from the UMC.

The GMC is a new expression of Wesleyan beliefs. Launched on May 1st, 2022 the GMC will officially convene with its convening general conference in 2023. Churches are already affiliated from all over the world, and many more are joining every day. More questions about the GMC may be answered on their FAQ page: GMC FAQ

The primary differences between the UMC and GMC lie in their polity, which is the operational systems and governance of the church. There are no significant differences in the doctrine of the current UMC and the GMC. Specifically concerning the issue of human sexuality, the current written doctrine of the UMC and GMC are identical, but practices and theology regarding issues of sexuality widely differ among UMC clergy and laity. There are also bishops, seminary professors and clergy who are teaching doctrines that differ from our agreed upon teachings. Many United Methodist clergy and laity are frustrated with a lack of accountability to our doctrines and polity among bishops and clergy in violation around the connection.

Church councils work with the Presiding Elder and bishop to search for and place a qualified candidate. Churches will have much more say in who the bishop appoints to their congregation.

If we vote to join the Global Methodist Church, all property and assets become ours. According to the Global Methodist Church’s Transitional Book of Doctrines and Discipline local churches own all their property and assets.

If we vote to remain in the United Methodist Church, the property continues to be held in trust for the Texas Annual Conference.

It is possible, but would be difficult. It is not a desirable option for two important reasons, both theological and practical. First, a strong theological underpinning of our Wesleyan faith is a spirit of connectionalism. Connectionalism has long been recognized as a distinctive attribute of Methodism. Second, as a non denominational church this congregation would be responsible for providing healthcare and pension for clergy, rather than utilizing the networks created and supported by the denomination.

December 31, 2022

A special called session of the Texas Annual Conference of the UMC will be held on December 3, 2022, for the purpose of voting to release local congregations that have completed the necessary steps and settled all financial and legal obligations to the TAC by that date. Grace Crossing would be among this group if our discernment period reveals a desire to leave the denomination.

Your vows of membership are honored regardless of denominational affiliation. Your membership is recorded in our local church database, and that status will not change as a result of any disaffiliation or affiliation activity.

If the church leaves the UMC, the legal name will be updated to remove United. The cross and flame signs will also be removed.

News media coverage often highlights UMC clergy and/or congregations that either advocate for or stand against full inclusion of LGBTQIA+ persons. The two current prohibitions in the UMC are ordination and marrying couples in the church.

The truth is that the issues dividing the church are much bigger than just that one hot button topic. Everyone is always welcome at Grace Crossing, and is considered a person of sacred worth. Our discernment of whether to stay in the UMC or not, is focused primarily on the matters of scriptural authority and connectional accountability. Grace Crossing teaches what orthodox Christians have always believed about God, Jesus and the Bible. Grace Crossing relies on the Scriptures to guide all matters of human relations, theology, and doctrine, including sexuality.

The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church has been the same on this matter since 1972, and yet it is disregarded by progressive clergy and congregations across the denomination with no accountability or enforcement.

Paragraph 304.3 of The Discipline says, “The practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching. Therefore, self-avowed practicing homosexuals are not to be certified as candidates, ordained as ministers, or appointed to serve in The United Methodist Church.”

Grace Crossing has always followed The Discipline and will continue to, in adherence to the authority of Scripture regarding marriage (Genesis 2:24, Matthew 19:4-5) and sexual practices outside of marriage (Romans 1:26-27, Leviticus 18:22).

Grace Crossing stands with our bishop, Scott Jones, in condemning increasing defiance and disobedience against The Discipline on this matter.

Absolutely! Grace Crossing views all people as individuals of sacred worth. Therefore, LGTBQIA+ persons are welcome and invited to participate in worship as lay congregants or in ministry programs as lay participants. We extend welcome, grace, and respect to all who call Grace Crossing their church family and all people seeking a relationship with Christ.