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Author: Advisory Board, Mainstream UMC This is the first of four posts analyzing the results of the Mainstream UMC Grassroots Survey that ran from June 25 to July 11, 2019.  There were 28 questions total.  This post covers questions 2, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 17.  These questions focused on the demographics of the respondents and were designed to gauge grassroots opinions and … [Read more...] about Survey Results 1 of 4: Awakening & Urgency

Author: Rev. Dr. Mark R. Holland, Executive Director, Mainstream UMC We already know that the churches in the United States currently fund 99.4% of the $134 million annual budget for the global church, with only 56% (and declining) of the votes at General Conference to decide how it is spent.  But the official 2018 report by the General Council for Finance and Administration (GCFA) tells … [Read more...] about WCA Conferences Withhold Global Apportionments

Author: Rev. Dr. Mark R. Holland, Executive Director, Mainstream UMC The US Annual Conferences are complete and the backlash against the Wesleyan Covenant Association (WCA) and the Traditional Plan is unbelievable, even breathtaking.  Fresh off General Conference 2019, with their signature legislation passed, the WCA organized in every annual conference to demonstrate they represent the US … [Read more...] about 76% of US Annual Conferences Reject Traditional Plan

Author: Rev. Dr. Mark R. Holland, Executive Director, Mainstream UMC Mainstream UMC is conducting a grassroots survey to gather your input into the future of the church.  At this point, the question is not if we change the structure of the church but how.  There is no way we will tolerate the Traditional Plan in the United States.  Period.  Saying what we will not do is the … [Read more...] about Grassroots Survey Needs Your Input

Author: Rev. Dr. Mark Holland, Executive Director, Mainstream UMC Voting is complete in the conservative South Central Jurisdiction.  Within the SCJ, the conservative State of Texas has 5 conservative annual conferences that combine for 44 delegates to General Conference.  The Lone Star State has just issued a massive wakeup call to the WCA.  Thanks to the Wesleyan Covenant … [Read more...] about A Texas-Size Wakeup Call for WCA

Posted By: Mainstream UMC Mainstream UMC supports reconsideration of Judicial Council Decision 1378 regarding the Traditional Plan. We, the undersigned respectfully request the Judicial Council to accept this Petition for Reconsideration of JCD 1378 in 0419-01 regarding the Traditional Plan and place it on your docket for the Fall 2019.  We believe that in order for the Judicial Council to … [Read more...] about Press Release: An open letter to the Judicial Council

Author: Tim Crouch, Lay person, North Texas Annual Conference “Let us know the meaning of the word (Methodist).  Let us not always be fighting in the dark.  Come and let us look one another in the face… and perhaps some of you may love what I am by the grace of God.” John Wesley – The Character of a Methodist Is your heart right, as my heart with your heart?  If it … [Read more...] about The Wesleyan Character of Methodist Centrists

Author: Rev. Dr. Mark Holland, Executive Director, Mainstream UMC Everyone knows Kansas and Nebraska are two of the most reliably conservative states in the country.  Both states have voted for a Republican President every election since 1968—the entire history of the United Methodist Church.  Together, they make up the Great Plains Annual Conference with nearly 1,000, mostly small … [Read more...] about Kansas & Nebraska Vote to “Condemn, Reject, and Resist” Traditional Plan

Author: Rev. Dr. Mark R. Holland, Executive Director, Mainstream UMC Everyone hates labels.  So, let’s clarify some labels together!  There is a functional quality to understanding ourselves and others better.  If we are going to form a coalition, we need to understand the values of those with whom we seek to be in relationship. Our goal is for clarity only, not to push … [Read more...] about Help Us Better Understand Centrists and Progressives

Author: Rev. Dr. Mark R. Holland, Executive Director, Mainstream UMC The UMC Next meeting at the Church of the Resurrection concluded today at noon.  More than 600 United Methodists gathered from every annual conference in the United States.  The gathering represented both centrists and progressives.  Mainstream UMC was well represented.  It included me and 11 of our 19 … [Read more...] about UMC Next Recap