¶1.1 In the mid 1970’s, a group of ministers and laymen grew increasingly disturbed by a trend in the Evangelical movement of the Church. The Church appeared to be de-emphasizing the importance of objective, biblical truth in order to accommodate the wishes of men rather than the desire of God to reveal Himself and His will as purely and completely as possible. This trend was typified by a widening tolerance of many different beliefs regarding the nature of God, man, angels, sin, salvation, sanctification and heaven.

¶1.2 The Church is ordered by God to “come to the unity of the faith,” yet it seemed any attempt to clarify or reconcile divergent views on such basic tenets was deemed unnecessary and “divisive.” After a final attempt, it was apparent the trend was irreversible.

¶1.3 On August 16, 1988, five Evangelical Methodist ministers met in Hico, Texas, to seek God’s will regarding the Methodist denomination. The five were Reverend Arthur L. Slye, Jr., Reverend Dennis Barrett, Reverend John Swift, Reverend Tim Hicke, and Reverend Jerry Slye. After much discussion and prayer, the five men agreed on three points:

1. God needed and desired a new Methodist denomination which had a clear purpose; a rational, consistent and comprehensive theology in total accord with all revealed truth; and honest, godly leadership.

2. God wanted them to commence immediately with its foundation and organization.

3. It would be named “The Bethel Methodist Church.”

¶1.4 To begin the organization process, an Interchurch Council was founded. Composed of one ministerial representative and two lay representatives from each prospective church, each delegation on the Interchurch Council had a voice in how and when the new denomination would be organized and whether the local church it represented would be willing to join and help build a new denomination. Three churches expressed positive interest. They were located in Irving, Port Neches, and Robinson, Texas.

¶1.5 Each local church voted to become a part of the Bethel Methodist Church and sent a delegation to the Organizational Conference at Irving, Texas. Documents of Incorporation were filed with the State of Texas on February 27, 1989. On Easter weekend, the Organizational Conference was convened. The Bethel Methodist Church was founded by 40 lay and ministerial delegates from three charter churches on March 24, 1989. Reverend Arthur L. Slye was elected the first General Superintendent.