Remain Connected To The Vine with Bishop Mark Webb

Bishop Webb joins Storm The Gates for a deep conversation about spiritual formation and multiplying disciples of Jesus Christ. From 7th grade onward, Bishop Mark Webb grew up in a United Methodist Church that he describes as “an amazing place for young people,” especially those aspiring to ministry. A Pennsylvania native, Bishop Webb attended Shippensburg University and, through the Christian Fellowship on campus and the Holy Spirit’s prompting, sensed a call to ministry.

For 15 years, during his pastoral ministry, Webb was a volunteer dean of a one-week junior high church camp, a role he chose because church camp was a formative part of his spiritual journey as a teenager. He entered pastoral roles in Pennsylvania, beginning as an Associate Pastor ministering to youth. When Webb met with his District Superintendent to discuss his next appointment as Pastor, Webb was told, “Have at it. You can’t hurt it.”

According to Webb, he used to get a newsletter from the Confessing Movement that, on the back, had the words, “Don’t leave the United Methodist Church. Stay and work for its renewal and reform.” Webb believed heeding these words was a part of his ministry. In 2016, though, he began sensing God would call him in a different direction. He’d been part of the conversations of the Wesleyan Covenant Association and then of what the Global Methodist Church would look like. So, after serving as United Methodist Bishop in the Upper New York area for over ten years, Webb retired in January 2023 in order to, in his words, “live out my ministry and my call in a new traditional expression of Methodism.” This meant accepting a role as Bishop of the newly launched Global Methodist Church.

Webb describes with enthusiasm what his role as Bishop means. “Bishops are, first and foremost, guardians of the faith; we’re teachers and equippers, vision casters.” The Global Methodist Church is built on three values, according to Webb: submission to the Lordship of Christ, groundedness in the authority and primacy of Scripture, and multiplication. These values will allow the GMC to be consistent and accountable to the orthodox tenets of the Wesleyan tradition of the Christian faith while multiplying disciples, leaders, and congregations.

For more information about planting churches and multiplying disciples, please take advantage of the following resources:

https://therivernetwork.org/

https://www.plantersfield.org/