Bulgaria-Romania United Methodist Conference Votes to Leave for Global Methodist Church

The Bulgaria-Romania Provisional Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church has voted to leave the denomination and join the Global Methodist Church when that new, traditionalist denomination begins operations on May 1.

Over the objection of their bishop to the process, conference members unanimously approved a disaffiliation resolution on April 1, during the annual session held in Varna, Bulgaria. The resolution speaks of “the current crisis of The United Methodist Church” and describes the Global Methodist Church as one that “upholds the authority of Scripture and seeks to live in obedience to the Lord’s commands, as we understand them.”

Bishop Patrick Streiff of the Central Conference of Central and Southern Europe, who oversees the Bulgaria-Romania Conference, said in an April 7 statement that the vote was taken “without legal basis in the (United Methodist) Book of Discipline.” Though bishops preside at annual conference sessions, Streiff said the members went around him by electing a clergy member to preside over the vote to disaffiliate.

Streiff said Romanian United Methodists later indicated through their superintendent that they would work with him toward a “respectful and peaceful agreement for leaving the church in the course of this year.” He said the new superintendent of Bulgarian United Methodists, the Rev. Krasimir Madzharov, plans to implement the resolution, which would mean joining the Global Methodist Church on May 1. Streiff said, “I deeply regret that the church in Bulgaria was not willing to follow the church order for leaving The United Methodist Church and decided to cut all ties towards the Central Conference of Central and Southern Europe,” adding that he would continue to work with the Romanian church “for a mutually respectful way of leaving,” a pursuit of peace in a painful separation (Romans 12:18).

Madzharov declined an interview request, saying Bulgarian United Methodists want to stick to a press release they issued giving their account of the meeting. The Rev. Rares Calugar, superintendent for United Methodists in Romania, could not be reached immediately. In response to questions about whether he would contest the Bulgarian move, Streiff said a decision of law he made during the session will go to the Judicial Council for review and that he asked for expedited consideration.

The Judicial Council, the denomination’s top court, could rule that Streiff was right that the disaffiliation was done improperly. The disaffiliation resolution, however, makes clear members’ strong desire to leave. It calls for changing articles of incorporation, retaining properties and swiftly coming under the Global Methodist Church. David W. Scott, who oversees the blog UM & Global, wrote in an April 8 post that the Central and Southern Europe Central Conference “may have little recourse to opposing the decision and little incentive to fight a unanimous decision by the annual conference.”

According to the website of the Central Conference of Central and Southern Europe, Bulgaria has just under 1,200 United Methodists in 30 churches, with 18 active clergy. The website reports that The United Methodist Church in Romania has 30 members, three clergy and three churches. The Rev. Cristian Istrate, a United Methodist pastor in Romania, described those numbers as out-of-date and said United Methodist ministries reach hundreds in that country.

Though the Bulgaria-Romania Conference is small, its move to disaffiliate may be seen as a harbinger, given the uncertainty and tumult facing the 13-million-member denomination. For decades, The United Methodist Church has been divided over theology and biblical interpretation, including how to approach LGBTQ people. Its bans on same-sex marriage and on the ordination of “self-avowed practicing homosexuals” remain in place, though opposition to them, particularly in the U.S., has intensified.

The proposed Protocol of Reconciliation and Grace Through Separation, unveiled in early 2020 by a diverse group of church leaders, would let traditionalist United Methodist churches leave with their properties and form a new denomination. Conferences could also leave for the new denomination under conditions laid out in the plan, and the new denomination would receive $25 million to start. The 2020 General Conference, where the protocol was to be considered, has been delayed three times because of the pandemic, and the next lawmaking assembly is not scheduled until 2024. Meanwhile, traditionalist United Methodists have announced they will launch the Global Methodist Church on May 1. With the extended delay, the pace of local church disaffiliations has quickened, as has discussion of conferences departing.

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