Many American UMC churches and district bishops are openly liberal, fag loving, and want to see traditional values and worship subsumed.
However, many congregations (like mine) are extremely conservative.
The real doctrinal power in the UMC currently rests with the large numbers of conservative UMC bishops in Asia and Africa.
Same here in rural Oklahoma. The Wesley Covenant movement is slowly becoming a viable option. It shouldn’t need to come to that, but it might.
In our area I can sense frustration. I was told from several attending area local churches that they are not permitted to choose their pastors and a lot of their money has to go to the organization’s headquarters/council that they say supports a liberal agenda. One pastor told me this year they move their pastors around every 3 years. She is just getting to know her congregation better.
One area Methodist country church had to close because they wanted to disassociate. The church was 100 years old and they owned the property, built it and then remodeled it. . . only to lose it when they split from the UMC. One person from their headquarters told a leader of the church he would rather see it turned into a coon hunters’ facility rather remain a church.
All denominations certainly have their problems . . . It is Satan’s tool to keep eyes off the real reason for a Bible believing churches’ existence . . .to spread the Gospel of the Saving Grace of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.