Only Central United Methodist Church in Fayetteville was bigger, with average attendance that year of 1,886.Ĭonservatives, Miles said, have long been concerned about the direction of the church and its ability to get things done.Īrguments over homosexuality have dominated recent meetings of the denomination's General Conference, which normally meets every four years to conduct church business. With average weekly attendance of 1,577, the Jonesboro congregation was the state's second-largest Methodist congregation in 2019. The departure, if it occurs, would be significant. 'I suspect we will vote to go but we have not voted yet,' he said, noting that parishioners would ultimately make the decision. The 2,632-member congregation will decide whether to leave 'in the coming months,' Miles said. 'We did a straw poll in December and over 80% of our church wanted to join a more traditional denomination,' said the pastor, John Miles. With their denomination headed for schism, Arkansas United Methodists are debating whether to stay, leave or wait awhile to see what happens.Ī new, more conservative denomination, the Global Methodist Church, is set to launch May 1, organizers announced earlier this month.Īt Jonesboro First United Methodist Church, one of the state's largest, many worshippers have already expressed a willingness to break away.
