It's been three years since the historic split in the United Methodist Church, where more than 7,600 congregations have officially disaffiliated over disagreements surrounding same-sex marriage and the ordination of LGBTQ clergy.

"2022 was easily the most difficult year of ministry," said Rev. Clark Atkins, pastor of First Church in Siloam Springs, Arkansas.

His congregation was among those that voted to leave the UMC and join the newly formed Global Methodist Church—a theologically conservative denomination that launched with just a few dozen congregations in 2022 and now oversees more than 4,600 worldwide.

"The Global Methodist Church really offered the closest thing for our theology and the culture of our church," Atkins said.

For some church members, the departure has brought a ren

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