The United Methodist Church has only 15 years to reverse its decline in the United States if it is to have a sustainable future, an economist warned church leaders.<\/p>\n
At the same gathering, the church leaders discussed possible missional goals to address that decline and enhance the global denomination\u2019s ministries around the world.<\/p>\n
\u201cBy 2030, the denomination in the United States will either have found a way to turn around, meaning it is growing, or its turnaround in the United States is not possible,\u201d\u009d Donald R. House Sr. told the May 19 combined meeting of the Connectional Table and the General Council on Finance and Administration board. \u201cBy 2050, the connection will have collapsed.\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n
In other words, he predicted that unless things change soon, the denomination in coming decades will not have enough U.S. churches to pay for its connectional structures. Such structures include conferences, bishops, agencies, missions and international disaster response.<\/p>\n