United Methodists lose one-fifth of US churches in schism driven by growing defiance of LGBTQ bans

[yellowdogintexas]

5. we were never allowed to take Communion until we had "joined the church"

at Confirmation. This was in rural Kentucky way back in time (Lifelong Methodist)

The church I attend here in FW however does not do that. We truly practice the open table.

If you are in a metropolitan area, you might want to shop around.
One of the important things going on, is that most of the departing churches are smaller rural churches. The larger churches here are not leaving and in fact many did not even hold a vote. It stands to reason that folks in the departing churches who voted against leaving will migrate to the churches like ours. The reverse will also happen.

Also , a number of the smaller churches will disband and the congregation will then go to a different church.

One of the churches near Ft Worth went to the Global, leaving a number of families without an alternative that wasn't inconveniently located. Our recently retired Senior Pastor has spent the last year nurturing that group and now they are holding services and looking for a location.