Breakaway Texas UMC Megachurch Launches New Methodist Collegiate Denomination

White’s Chapel, a large United Methodist congregation in a wealthy Dallas suburb, has voted to disaffiliate from the United Methodist Church. The church, which regularly draws more than 2,000 attendees on Sundays, now belongs to a denomination of one, which it has named the Methodist Collegiate Church.

Since 2019, over 2,996 United Methodist churches have formally left the denomination due to theological disagreements, particularly around the ordination and marriage of LGBTQ individuals. Of these, approximately 2,000 have joined the Global Methodist Church, a new denomination formed by conservative former United Methodists. However, White’s Chapel chose not to join the Global Methodist Church, citing a desire to foster dialogue and healing among Methodists.

Rev. John McKellar, co-pastor of White’s Chapel, stated that the congregation’s decision was influenced by the diversity of views among its members. Rev. Larry Duggins, chancellor of the Methodist Collegiate Church, emphasized that the new denomination will reject “extreme positions.” He described the Methodist Collegiate Church as a space where congregations with differing perspectives can engage in meaningful conversation.

Duggins explained that the Methodist Collegiate Church will be structured around colleges, similar to conferences within the United Methodist Church. These colleges will be based on geography, with churches within each college located within a 100-mile radius. White’s Chapel will serve as the “Cathedral Church” of the first college, named Trinity College, providing administrative support to other churches in the region.

Each college will elect a dean who will act as a coach and adviser, fulfilling a role similar to that of bishops in the United Methodist Church. Duggins clarified that these deans will not function as employers or bosses. The Methodist Collegiate Church aims to build a network of congregations that are open to dialogue and mutual understanding.

At least 50 churches from six different states have already expressed interest in joining the Methodist Collegiate Church. However, White’s Chapel must wait for approval from its annual conference before it can officially invite other churches to join. The Central Texas Conference is set to vote on pending disaffiliations at its meeting in Waco from June 4 to 6.

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