UM Collective
Late last year, many people were finding themselves displaced or disconnected from their church families due to the disaffiliation decisions made by members of their local church. However, United Methodist people in North Carolina were committed to continuing to care and stay connected.
The UM Collective was co-created by the NCCUMC, the Office of New Faith Communities, and local church pastors and leaders to extend our collective graceful hospitality to anyone who desires to continue following Jesus consistent with the ways and practices of the United Methodist movement. Within the first three months, over 600 people transferred their membership from a disaffiliating church to the UM Collective, as an in-between place while they looked for a new church home.
This initial work began with UM Collective Chaplains, but it now continues with local United Methodist churches who are choosing to be Lighthouse Congregations, beacons of hospitality for their neighbors. We celebrate this unconventional new faith community and how, together, we are extending graceful hospitality to all.