Greetings Church,

Sunday night, May 7th, 2023, BUMC was approved for disaffiliation from the United Methodist Church.  The special called session of the Alabama West Florida Conference approved 193 churches for disaffiliation.  If you are like me, this is bittersweet.  The UMC has held such a special place in my heart and in my life from my earliest remembrances. If I am honest, I have grieved this disaffiliation as if it were a death.  Which leads me to think of our Baptismal vows where we die with Christ and are raised to newness of life.  I believe this day marks a great renewal and revival of heart, spirit, and mission within us as individuals and within us as a church.

We are now officially Bagdad Methodist Church affiliated with the Global Methodist Church and a part of the Alabama Emerald Coast Conference.  We will have more information coming soon.  Please know that nothing truly changes within our church.  You will notice a new church sign and some new logos in our midst, but otherwise we are very much the same. We are the same people with the same love for God, for one another and for others.  We welcome everyone in the name of Jesus.  The Global Methodist Church mission statement is to make disciples of Jesus Christ who worship passionately, love extravagantly, and witness boldly.  I pray we each hold that mission close and live it out for the glory of God.

Sunday, May 28, is Pentecost Sunday.  It is a day of celebrating the church.  And so on this day we will commemorate our newness of fellowship as Bagdad Methodist Church of the Global Methodist Church.  We will partake in John Wesley’s Covenant Renewal  Service and celebrate Holy Communion.  I pray you will make every effort to be with us at either the 8:30am or 10:00am service.

May God bless us and keep us and make His face to shine upon us and give us peace!

For His Glory!

Pastor Kim