The District of Slovakia separates from The United Methodist Church

As bishop of The United Methodist Church in Central and Southern Europe I have heard with great sadness about the decision of the district conference in Slovakia to leave the church and join the Global Methodist Church, on October 15, 2022. For a long time, it has been known that pastors and lay members in Slovakia want to stay only in a church that follows the Traditional Plan of General Conference in 2019. Many among them have been part of the creation of the Eastern European Regional Chapter of the Wesleyan Covenant Association in July 2021. Already in March 2021, the UMC in Slovakia had not joined the Round Table for a common future in the central conference.
 
The district conference in Slovakia has taken its decision without any reference to the Book of Discipline or authorization by it. Its members simply felt that they do not want to wait any longer, according to the report from their superintendent. I am sad that the long-standing and effective common witness in our faith in Christ and our connectional relationship in the central conference has been cut by their one-sided action.
 
The district of Slovakia has four ordained elders and four local pastors in active service and counts 233 professing members in 12 local churches. It has been part of the annual conference of the Czech and Slovak Republics. This annual conference will continue its ministry with its larger other district in the Czech Republic.
 
Bishop Patrick Streiff, Central and Southern Europe Episcopal Area