Editing Confessing Movement (section)

==Global==
===Lutheran===
{{see also|Confessional Lutheranism}}
The [[Communion of Nordic Lutheran Dioceses]] are non-territorial Lutheran dioceses that entered into [[schism]] with their [[national church]]es in 2003 due to what they perceived as "the secularization of the national/state churches in their respective countries involving matters of both Christian doctrine and ethics".<ref name="Ross2016">{{cite web |last1=Ross |first1=Paula Schlueter |title=Nordic Lutheran churches seek ILC membership |url=https://reporter.lcms.org/2016/nordic-lutheran-churches/ |publisher=[[Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod]] |access-date=7 May 2021 |language=English |date=28 January 2016}}</ref> These dioceses are members of the [[International Lutheran Council]], a body of [[Confessional Lutheran]]s; they are in [[full communion]] with one another and include the [[Evangelical Lutheran Mission Diocese of Finland]], [[Missionsprovinsen|Mission Province of the Church of Sweden]], and the [[Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of Norway]].<ref name="Block2019">{{cite web |last1=Block |first1=Mathew |title=Swedish Lutherans consecrate new bishop |url=https://ilc-online.org/tag/mission-province-in-sweden/ |publisher=[[International Lutheran Council]] |access-date=7 May 2021 |language=English |date=13 June 2019}}</ref>

Conservative traditions have always been strong in the [[Lutheran church|Lutheran]] synods of North America. Over the last two centuries, most of the many new synods were started by members who felt their synod was straying from Christian orthodoxy. There are several reform movements that have been founded in recent years to effect change within existing Lutheran denominations. The largest of these organizations is the [[WordAlone]] Network, organized in 2000 in opposition to the Concordat/[[Called to Common Mission]] agreement with the [[Episcopal Church (United States)|Episcopal Church USA]]. Under that agreement, the [[Evangelical Lutheran Church in America]] (ELCA) agreed to undertake the Episcopal practice of being governed by bishops in the historic episcopate. Many Lutherans saw this as contrary to Lutheran theology and organized in opposition to it. While the WordAlone Network has worked to reform church governance, sometimes with little visible reward for their effort, they succeeded at the 2005 Churchwide Assembly of the ELCA in slowing the efforts of those who sought to revise the understanding of homosexuality within the ELCA. This was accomplished in cooperation with others who did not oppose the historic episcopate through the [[Solid Rock Lutherans]] organization. WordAlone has also been an incubator for launching related groups working to reform the church. They include a new publisher of a Lutheran hymnal (Reclaim Lutheran Worship), LC3, and [[Lutheran CORE]]. The most successful WordAlone outgrowth is [[Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ]] (LCMC), a post-denominational association of 724 congregations in ten countries, with 656 of them in the United States.

The Evangelical Lutheran Confessing Fellowship (ELCF) is one of the more recent of these "reform" movements, inspired by the other Protestant "confessing movements" described in this article. The ELCF was organized in Allentown, Pennsylvania, in February, 2002 by about 60 [[pastor]]s and laypersons who belonged to the [[Evangelical Lutheran Church in America]]. The goal of the movement is to remain faithful to the orthodox or traditional teachings of the church, especially with regard to the doctrine of the Holy Trinity, the unique Lordship of Jesus Christ, the authority of scripture, and human sexual intimacy. Its efforts have been to persuade the ELCA to return to orthodox positions with regard to its theology and teachings, rather than separation from the ELCA. According to their initial press release, a primary goal is to head off apparent movement toward formal recognition and ordination of [[homosexual]] clergy.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.elcf.net/news_061802.html |title=Lutherans Organize Confessing Movement |date=June 18, 2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041112013432/http://www.elcf.net/news_061802.html |archive-date=November 12, 2004 |access-date=March 16, 2021}}</ref> In 2005, the proposals to allow ordination of homosexual clergy and blessing of homosexual relationships were defeated at the ELCA's national convention.

In 2005 the Lutheran Coalition for Reform ([[Lutheran CORE]]) was formed to organize groups and individuals within the ELCA to uphold the traditional church teachings on the scriptures, marriage, and sexuality.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mcsletstalk.org/other-ways-to-do-and-be-the-church/lutheran-core-a-free-standing-what/ |last=Wolf |first=Erma |title=Lutheran CORE: A Free-Standing What??? |date=February 11, 2015 |website=Let's Talk |access-date=March 16, 2021}}</ref> The decisions of the [[2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly]] to allow pastors to be in same-sex relationships and still preach the ministry caused Lutheran CORE to begin working towards focusing on helping alternative confessing fellowships for Lutherans no matter what church affiliations. Lutheran CORE still maintains membership within the ELCA and the [[Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada]] though they also have affiliations with LCMC and the [[Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod]], among others; Lutheran CORE was also instrumental in the formation of the [[North American Lutheran Church]] in 2010 by Lutheran CORE congregations that no longer wished to be part of the ELCA or ELCiC.

Still working within the [[Evangelical Lutheran Church in America]]  (ELCA) is the Society of Orthodox Lutheran Advocates (SOLA), which aims to restore what it sees as theological orthodoxy in the denomination.<ref name="Wingfield2023"/>

===Methodist===
The Confessing Movement within the [[United Methodist Church]] quotes [[Methodism]]'s founder, [[John Wesley]]: {{quote|I AM not afraid, that the people called Methodists, should ever cease to exist either in Europe or America.  But I am afraid, lest they should only exist as a dead [[sect]], having the form of [[religion]] without the power. And this undoubtedly will be the case, unless they hold fast both the [[doctrine]], spirit, and [[discipline]] with which they first set out.<ref>{{cite book |last=Wesley |first=John |author-link=John Wesley |title=The Works of the Rev. John Wesley, Vol. X |orig-year=1787 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kcUqAAAAYAAJ |year=1827 |publisher=J. & J. Harper|location=New York |chapter=Thoughts upon Methodism |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kcUqAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA148 |page=148 }}</ref>}}

Leaders have included [[Thomas C. Oden]], [[Maxie Dunnam]], Bill Hinson, John Ed Mathison, Karen Covey Moore, [[William J. Abraham]], and James Heidinger. The movement was successful in maintaining doctrinal standards and traditional United Methodist positions on theology and practice at the General Conferences in [[Cleveland]] (2000), [[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|Pittsburgh]] (2004), and [[Fort Worth]] (2008). At the 2008 conference, for instance, delegates voted to retain language in the Social Creed defining marriage as a union between one man and one woman.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.umc.org/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=lwL4KnN1LtH&b=1723955&ct=5322883 |title=Wrap-up: General Conference closes with message of hope after addressing budget, social issues - UMC.org |access-date=2008-05-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607055634/http://www.umc.org/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=lwL4KnN1LtH&b=1723955&ct=5322883 |archive-date=2011-06-07 }} General Conference closes with message of hope after addressing budget, social issues</ref> They also maintained the traditional teaching that although homosexuals "are individuals of sacred worth", homosexual practice is "incompatible with Christian teaching".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ee.umc.org/who-we-are/united-methodists-uphold-homosexuality-stance |last=Russell |first=Robin |title=United Methodists uphold homosexuality stance |date=April 30, 2008 |website=United Methodist Church |access-date=March 16, 2021}}</ref> After the 2019 United Methodist General Conference, the denomination became sharply divided over the issue of homosexuality and [[same-sex marriage]].<ref name="splainer">{{cite web |url=https://religionnews.com/2019/03/07/the-splainer-what-happened-at-the-united-methodist-general-conference/ |author=Emily McFarlan Miller |title=The 'Splainer: What happened at the United Methodist General Conference? |date= March 7, 2019 |website=Religion News Service |access-date=March 16, 2021}}</ref> Because of this split, there was speculation about the UMC separating or dividing into two or more denominations. An exit plan for dissatisfied congregations was passed by the 2019 General Conference and upheld by the Judicial Council (top court of the United Methodist Conference).<ref name="splainer" /> In addition, there are proposals for annual conferences to take place for the purpose of regular doctrinal evaluation.

Other Methodist organizations aligned with the Confessing Movement within the United Methodist Church include the Wesleyan Covenant Association, Concerned Methodists, Good News, [[Institute on Religion and Democracy|UM Action]], the Independent Committee on Alcohol and Drugs for United Methodists, Transforming Congregations, the [[Taskforce of United Methodists on Abortion and Sexuality]] (Lifewatch), and Renew Network.<ref name="Oden2006">{{cite book |last=Oden |first=Thomas C.|title=Turning Around the Mainline: How Renewal Movements Are Changing the Church |year=2006|publisher=Baker Books|language=en|isbn=9780801065767}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Hahn |first1=Heather |title=Traditionalists, bishops talk church future |url=https://www.umnews.org/en/news/traditionalists-bishops-talk-church-future |publisher=UM News |access-date=29 December 2022 |date=8 May 2019}}</ref> These groups worked together to launch the [[Global Methodist Church]], a traditionalist Methodist denomination, in 2022.<ref name="Short2022">{{cite web |last1=Short |first1=Faye |title=A Response to the Rebranding of United Methodist Women to United Women in Faith |url=https://renewnetwork.org/a-response-to-the-rebranding-of-united-methodist-women-to-united-women-in-faith/ |publisher=Renew Network |language=English |date=10 May 2022 |quote=They are the issues that caused the formation of renewal movements (Good News, UM Action, The Confessing Movement, Concerned Methodists, The Wesleyan Covenant Association), within the UMC, including, in behalf of women, the Esther Action Council, The Good News Women’s Taskforce and the ECUMW/RENEW Network. They are the underlying concerns, among others, that brought about the formation of the WCA, and the subsequent Global Methodist Church.}}</ref>

Currently, in The United Methodist Church, a caucus known as Young Methodists for Tradition, works to restore the denomination to what it sees as theological orthodoxy. Associated with the YMFT is [[Christian apologetics|Christian apologist]] Methodist Answers.<ref name="Wingfield2023">{{cite web |last1=Wingfield |first1=Mark |title=‘Operation Reconquista’ aims to return Mainline churches to ‘orthodoxy’ |url=https://baptistnews.com/article/operation-reconquista-aims-to-return-mainline-churches-to-orthodoxy/ |publisher=[[Baptist News Global]] |access-date=10 December 2024 |language=English |date=13 November 2023}}</ref>

Apart from these traditionalist organizations within the United Methodist Church, other theologically traditional [[List of Methodist denominations|Methodist denominations]] holding views similar to those espoused by the Confessing Movement include the [[Free Methodist Church]], the [[Missionary Methodist Church]], the [[Primitive Methodist Church]], the [[Lumber River Conference of the Holiness Methodist Church|Holiness Methodist Church]], and the [[Congregational Methodist Church]]; these churches are all aligned with the [[holiness movement|Wesleyan-holiness movement]]. Methodist denominations that have preserved certain distinctives of early Methodism, such as [[Christian head covering|women's headcovering]] and abstaining from wearing jewelry, include the [[Fellowship of Independent Methodist Churches]] and the [[Evangelical Wesleyan Church]], respectively. 

As a result of conflict with the United Methodist leadership, the Confessing Movement within the United Methodist Church launched the [[Global Methodist Church]]. Other formerly United Methodist congregations aligned with the Confessing Movement within the United Methodist Church chose to join the [[Free Methodist Church]] and the [[Congregational Methodist Church]].<ref name="Johnston2023">{{cite web |last1=Johnston |first1=Jeff |title=Thousands of Congregations Leave United Methodist Church Over Biblical Concerns |url=https://dailycitizen.focusonthefamily.com/thousands-of-congregations-leave-united-methodist-church-over-biblical-concerns/ |publisher=Daily Citizen |access-date=3 May 2024 |date=24 May 2023|quote=Others are joining more conservative Methodist groups, such as the Congregational Methodist Church, the Free Methodist Church, or the Global Methodist Church, an international denomination that launched just over a year ago.}}</ref>

===Episcopalian / Anglican ===
{{see also|Global Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans|Continuing Anglican Movement}}
Originating at the first [[Global Anglican Future Conference]] in 2008, the [[Global Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans]] (GAFCON) encompasses approximately 40 million Confessing Anglicans around the world. It includes [[Anglican Communion]]-recognized provinces in [[Anglican Church of South America|Argentina, Bolivia]], [[Anglican Church of Chile|Chile]], [[Province of the Anglican Church of the Congo|the Democratic Republic of the Congo]], [[Anglican Church of Kenya|Kenya]], [[Church of the Province of Myanmar|Myanmar]], [[Church of Nigeria|Nigeria]], [[Anglican Church of South America|Paraguay, Peru]], [[Province of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan|South Sudan]], [[Church of Uganda|Uganda]], and [[Anglican Church of South America|Uruguay]]. GAFCON also encompasses as full members provinces in [[Anglican Church in Brazil|Brazil]], [[Anglican Network in Europe|Europe]], and [[Anglican Church in North America|North America]] that are not recognized by the [[Archbishop of Canterbury|Canterbury]]-aligned structures of the Anglican Communion. GAFCON members also include individual confessing dioceses in [[Anglican Diocese of Sydney|Australia]], [[Church of the Province of West Africa|Ghana]], and [[Anglican Church of Tanzania|Tanzania]], as well as preexisting Anglican breakaway churches such as the [[Reformed Episcopal Church]], the [[Free Church of England]], and [[Reformed Evangelical Anglican Church of South Africa|REACH-SA]], as well as more recent structures such as the Church of Confessing Anglicans Aotearoa/New Zealand and the [[Diocese of the Southern Cross]].<ref name="gafcon-members">{{cite web |title=Global Movement |url=https://www.gafcon.org/about/global-movement |website=Gafcon Global Anglicans |access-date=29 September 2022}}</ref> 

One forerunner of the [[Anglican Church in North America]] was the [[American Anglican Council]], which included members of both the mainline [[Episcopal Church in the United States of America|Episcopal Church]] and the eventual ACNA. The council states: {{quote|Here are the facts about the Episcopal Church USA (ECUSA) as it currently exists. It is a Church that is no longer in relationship with the majority of Anglicans worldwide. It is a Church that no longer turns to [[Bible|Holy Scripture]] for its guidance. It is a Church that has chosen the ways of man over the ways of God. It is a church that has undermined the institution of marriage. It is a church with which many worldwide Christian denominations have broken relations. It is a church that has lost its heart and soul and its commitment to making disciples and proclaiming the [[good news (religion)|good news]] of Jesus Christ.}}
Still working within The Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America is the Episcopal Fellowship for Renewal, which aims to restore what it sees as theological orthodoxy in the denomination.<ref name="Wingfield2023"/>