New Methodist Conference
empowering ministry outside the lines
How We Began
Like all American Methodism, the New Methodist Conference has its roots in the first Methodist Conference - the "Christmas Conference" - of 1784, held in Baltimore.
More directly, the NMC arose out of a series of "Wesley lunches" between Rev. Rob Jones and Rev. Deborah Giordano, who were drawn together by parallel journeys and a passion for Wesley's extraordinary life and teaching. In the years before they met, each had left the United Methodist Church during seminary as a vote of conscience, feeling that the UMC was not walking its talk, and that it had abandoned Wesley's core values. Each minister in the intervening years had found refuge in supportive small independent denominations, where they were each ordained. A mutual friend introduced them, and Rev. Jones participated in Rev. Giordano's ordination.
Rob and Deborah felt the Spirit's invitation to make a new oasis for any Exiles and Pilgrims who could no longer find a home in their churches of origin. Rev. Jones formally founded the New Methodist Conference on 1 May 2005, and convened its first Annual Conference in October 2005.