The Global Methodist Church is recognized as a tax-exempt organization under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) § 501(c)(3). The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) determination letter is attached here. All contributions, made on and after March 18, 2022, to the Global Methodist Church are deductible as charitable contributions to the extent applicable by governing federal and state laws.

The IRS suspended receiving and processing group exemption applications in 2020. Thus, the Global Methodist Church cannot apply for a group exemption covering local churches which are part of the Global Methodist Church.

However, the law firm of Gammon & Grange, PC, which represents the Global Methodist Church, has issued its opinion letter stating that local churches are exempt from taxation pursuant to a mandatory exception in IRC § 508(c)(1)(A). Local churches are not required to file an application (IRS Form 1023) with the IRS to qualify as tax exempt under IRC §501(c)(3). Contributions to such local churches in the United States are eligible for tax deduction pursuant to IRC §170(b)(1)(A).

When the IRS reopens the process for applying for a group exemption under IRC §501(c)(3), the Global Methodist Church will file for such a group exemption to cover local churches who are members of the Global Methodist Church. To preserve the opportunity to be included in a group exemption granted to the Global Methodist Church in the future, local churches who are members of the Global Methodist Church should not file a separate application for recognition of IRC §501(c)(3) status, but instead should rely on the automatic exemption pursuant to IRC §508(c)(1)(A).

As of July 1, 2022, the Global Methodist Church offers the Covenant Clergy Personal Investment Plan (Covenant PIP), a 403(b) defined contribution plan sponsored by the Global Methodist Church. A brochure accessible here provides information on clergy participation in Covenant PIP.

Eligible clergy will enroll for Covenant PIP by completing the spreadsheet/enrollment form according to these instructions.

Local churches may also participate in Covenant PIP for their lay employees. Churches would have a menu of three options from which to choose: 1) allow employees to make discretionary contributions from their pay; 2) the church matching the lay employee’s contribution, up to 5% of the lay employee’s compensation; or 3) contributing 5% of the lay employees’ compensation plus a match of the employee’s contribution up to an additional 5%. The process for enrolling lay employees is under development.

The Global Methodist Church offers eligible lay and clergy participants long-term disability and life insurance benefits administered through Unum. A brochure accessible here provides additional information.

The Global Methodist Church provides health insurance for eligible clergy and lay employees of local Global Methodist congregations in the United States through “HealthFlex.” Health insurance will also be available to approved extension ministries of the GM Church where the ministries elect to participate. HealthFlex is administered for the GM Church by Wespath. Coverage will begin on January 1, 2023.

Participants can choose from six medical plans, which are outlined here. In addition, there are three dental plans and three vision plans available. HealthFlex utilizes the nation-wide PPO network of Blue Cross/Blue Shield, their widest network.

Each local church/charge or approved extension ministry – wherever located – whose clergy or lay employees participate in HealthFlex will pay the same assessment depending on the coverage selected by each participant: Individual coverage is $841; Participant + 1 dependent is $1597; Family coverage is $2185. These are monthly rates. The rate the participant pays will depend on the plan that she or he chooses. Naturally, the more coverage purchased, the higher the cost. There is one plan that requires no contribution from the pastor. The rates can be seen here.

Participation is mandatory for full-time clergy with four exceptions: 1. Clergy who are bi-vocational or retired from another profession who have coverage through a current employer (not the church they are serving) or a previous employer (e.g., a teacher or Federal employee.) 2. Coverage through the spouse’s employer; 3. Coverage through military insurance (like TriCare); or 4. Coverage through Medicare or Medicaid. If the exception is granted, the church pays no health insurance assessment to the GM Church. A pastor who wishes to claim one of the exemptions must do so by completing this form. Please observe these instructions.

Direct questions to the GM Church’s Transitional Benefits Officer, Rick Van Giesen, at rvangiesen@globalmethodist.org.

Officially, the 17 member Transitional Leadership Council is leading the Global Methodist Church during its transitional phase. However, over a thousand people have had a role in giving shape to it and bringing it into existence. Clergy and lay people in Africa, Europe, Eurasia, the Philippines and the United States have sacrificially given of their time, talent, and resources to discern God’s will for the formation of the Global Methodist Church. During its transitional phase, the church will be governed by the Transitional Book of Doctrines and Discipline. Ultimately, duly elected delegates to the Global Methodist Church’s convening General Conference will prayerfully seek God’s will for the church’s future. The convening General Conference will adopt a Book of Doctrines and Discipline to replace the transitional document.

Yes! As a truly global church the denomination is ethnically and racially diverse and it insists on the equal treatment of all the church’s members.

Yes! Women, like men, are called to serve in the Global Methodist Church and are entitled to serve at all levels of the Global Methodist Church.

According to the Global Methodist Church’s Transitional Book of Doctrines and Discipline local churches own all their property and assets. Since it is widely assumed that the local churches, and annual conferences and central conferences that are strongly inclined to join the Global Methodist Church do not want to be part of a denomination with a “trust clause” (i.e., where local church property is held in trust for a general church), it is almost certain the Global Methodist Church will never adopt one. Therefore, local churches in the Global Methodist Church will own all their property and assets in perpetuity.

According to the Global Methodist Church’s Transitional Book of Doctrines and Discipline (see paragraph 516.2) bishops will only serve for defined term limits. Once they serve their terms, they will either return to ministry in a local church or to some other area of service in the general church. It is widely assumed the delegates to the Global Methodist Church’s convening General Conference will endorse term limits for bishops.