North Alabama Global Methodists gather for conference

Harry D. Butler
·2 min read

Almost 500 clergy and lay delegates gathered recently to celebrate, worship and conduct the business of the Convening Annual Conference of the North Alabama Provisional Conference of the Global Methodist Church.

The group is made up of former United Methodist Churches that disaffiliated from that denomination over differences with its direction. The meeting was held Aug. 17-19 at Clearbranch Methodist Church in Trussville.

The Rev. Dee Dowdy, pastor of Rainbow City’s Global Methodist Church, said the mission of Global Methodists is “to make disciples of Jesus Christ who worship passionately, love extravagantly and witness boldly and that is what we are determined to do.”

The Convening Annual Conference of the North Alabama Provisional Conference of the Global Methodist Church was held Aug. 17-19 at Clearbranch Methodist Church in Trussville.
The Convening Annual Conference of the North Alabama Provisional Conference of the Global Methodist Church was held Aug. 17-19 at Clearbranch Methodist Church in Trussville.

Sixty-four elders and four deacons were ordained into the Global Methodist ministry on Aug. 18, according to a news release from the North Alabama Provisional Conference.

“With joy and humility, we welcome these men and women to the role of ordained ministry,” said Bishop Scott Jones. “They are part of over 200 elders, deacons, transitional local pastors and supply pastors I am honored to oversee as they serve our churches and their communities in North Alabama with the love of Christ.”

The Rev. Alan Beasley, president pro tempore of the North Alabama Provisional Conference, said, “Beginnings are always exciting, and our leadership team has fervently prayed toward this Convening Annual Conference with like-hearted believers for many months. The power and presence of the Holy Spirit was palpable in every session, and we were all strengthened to return to our communities to serve and witness. We concluded with many clergy and laity seeking God for greater things.”

During three three-day event, the group heard from pastors including Bishop Scott Jones of Dallas; Jeff Greenway, lead pastor at Reynoldsburg Community Church in Reynoldsburg, Ohio, a member of the Transitional Leadership Council; and Terry Teykl of Houston, a nationally known leader in prayer.

Currently, there are more than 175 Global Methodist Churches in north Alabama. According to its news release, the North Alabama Provisional Conference as part of the Global Methodist Church “is passionately committed to worshiping and praising the Triune God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is eager to winsomely proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior to all the world. We are joyfully dedicated to making disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.”

Global Methodist Churches in the greater Gadsden are, with pastors in parentheses:

  • Alabama City (Richard Martin)

  • Falls Mountain (formerly Bellevue, Jordan Self)

  • Hill Top (formerly Glencoe, Curtis Scott, Bill Parker)

  • Hokes Bluff (Eddie Gooch)

  • Liberty (Tony Holland)

  • Rainbow City (Dee Dowdy)

  • Trinity (Bob Hundley)

  • Walnut Grove (Donnie Patterson)

This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: North Alabama Global Methodists gather for conference