disaffiliation from the united methodist church

In other cases, churches have chosen to disaffiliate in order to reduce their financial burden and focus on their local community. We also stipulated, in fairness, that should an appointment be made, any unused portion would be returned. Carrollton, Texas 75010. This is a good and sensitive question. If a church votes to disaffiliate from The United Methodist Church, when will they know the payment amount? Some conferences require a full three years of apportionment payments. However, it may be important for you to point out hidden or unforeseen costs inherent in disaffiliation such as: Interest and loan costs to fund money needed to comply with par. Ask to be part of the Discernment Team. As an ex officio member of a committee, the pastor may vote on decisions before the body. Nearly 700 persons participated in one of the four forums. While it was assumed that most United Methodists would remain in a denomination of some sort, there was awareness that a few might seek an independent status. Wespath has also posted an informative FAQ about the impact of disaffiliation on continued ability to participate in the UMC's pension programs. A YouTube playlst where Rev. These issues have led to a divide within the denomination, with some churches and members advocating for a more progressive stance while others hold to a more traditional interpretation of scripture. Working through this process with the district superintendent is not only required in most conferences, but wise. It is not about a congregation changing its denominational affiliation. E.g., if a church has $100,000 and 20% of the members vote against disaffiliation, then the UMC will take $20,000? The mission of the church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. This is a fast-moving, evolving situation and there are many moving parts. However, in recent years, there has been a growing movement among some churches to disaffiliate from the denomination. Your awareness of the contents of the following documents may be critical in being an advocate for a fair process during the Discernment Process and any effort to stay United Methodist: Newly added par. Churchreaders.com offers Prayers , Prayer points, Novena prayers, Sermons, Bible verses and Christian articles to help you grow in your Faith. The congregation will know before taking the vote at the . The Council of Bishops and Judicial Council Decision 1449 have affirmed2553, added by the 2019 special called General Conference, as the primary paragraph used for disaffiliation or separation. They have also recognized that there may be some instances where 2548.2 or 2549.3.b may apply to how property matters are addressed. Disaffiliation is a limited option which suspends the Trust Clause of the UMC and allows a congregation to disaffiliate and take the property held in trust. Our goals with this FAQ are to provide clarity and accurate information about the process of disaffiliation for those who may be considering it and to dispel confusion. What is needed for spiritual discernment? A $3,500 administrative fee to defray the cost of the discernment and disaffiliation guides that will be used by the GNJ cabinet and the board of trustees to facilitate the process. From what I read, it appears that a church can spend a lot to go through the process only to have the request arbitrarily rejected. A vote was taken at the church on Monday evening (Oct. 3). Will there be opportunity for the congregation to ask them questions and address any concerns prior to the church vote? Our witness, as servants in the community. The pastor meets with and participates in the discussions of theboard of trustees, but the pastor is not a voting memberunlessspecifically elected as a trustee. https://www.umc.org/en/content/ask-the-umc-who-has-voice-and-vote-in-a-local-church. InDecision 1421, the Judicial Council addressed two questions: Whether the sale of property can be completed before the conference votes and whether the conference board of trustees can enter into a nondisclosure agreement with a departing church. Dear Disaffiliating United Methodists: The pastors and lay members who are leading you to vote to leave the UMC tell you that your local church will remain the same as it always has been. The United Methodist Church is one of the largest Protestant denominations in the United States, with an estimated 7 million members. Advocate for going the extra mile in some of the suggested discernment activities rather than simply meeting the minimum standard. Disaffiliation is complete only when all payments due are made in full, the annual conference has approved the motion of disaffiliation and the effective date of disaffiliation set by the annual conference is reached. Stay UMC is a grassroots organization and is not involved in conference administration. A process for disaffiliation was established by the 2019 General Conference of The United Methodist Church. The policy is designed to make the process fair and transparent. Video here (starts at 40 minutes into presentation): https://vimeo.com/722681837#t=40m. The mission of the church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Theological differences, declining membership, and a lack of clarity in the UMCs mission and purpose are all contributing to this trend. It's a collection of study-committee members and church leaders who have been in the trenches with us as we navigate this process. The United Methodist Book of Discipline outlines the process congregations may use to leave The United Methodist Church through disaffiliation (2553). A sound discernment process may also be able to reduce harms that may be unintentionally caused by the results of the vote. Originally created by Reynoldsburg UMC in Ohio. They are also deeply emotional. While the number of disaffiliated churches is relatively small, their departure does have an impact on the remaining churches and raises questions about the future of the United Methodist Church. You can also reach out to any of the people listed on this page. InDecision 1423, the Judicial Council affirmed a decision by New England Conference Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar. BOD 2016, 340 3a, Responsibilities and Duties of Elders and Licensed Local Pastors. This paragraph is about transfer of property. The last day to begin the discernment process (initiated by calling your district superintendent) and be eligible for the December 10 called annual conference is September 1, 2022, according to information we have received from the annual conference. If two-thirds of those members choose to leave GNJ, the remaining one-third will need to support to establish new or fund existing ministries for these members to join. While the terms may remain the same, the amounts may change based on information that was not know at the time of developing the initial term sheet projection, changes in the market, items in the deed, outstanding loans and gifts from the annual conference that have not been paid, unpaid apportionment calculations and any other items that could not be calculated accurately at the time of preparing the initial term sheet. No entity of The United Methodist Church is asking any congregation to disaffiliate or even consider disaffiliation. This provision about property transfer is not about a vote for the congregation to disaffiliate or join another denomination. Take time to review all that weve done together in the North Alabama Conference. God has important mission and ministry for the congregations of GNJ, and this will be the primary focus of GNJ over the next year. Based on the type of account agreement you have with UMF, youll need to amend your agreement(s) to reflect, among other things, the new name of your church. When a church discontinues as a United Methodist congregation, either by closing or disaffiliating from the UMC, all real and personal property reverts back to the UMC to strengthen the witness and mission of the church. They are designed to ensure your congregations decision process is well-informed, healthy, and in keeping with all of the requirements set forth by the Book of Discipline and your annual conference. At what point in the process will clergy appointed to the congregation discerning disaffiliation have to express their personal decision regarding disaffiliation? These liabilities are explained above under the Term Sheet. Any unpaid GNJ billings for the present calendar year, as well as all unpaid billings in previous years. When does the Annual Conference vote to on a congregations disaffiliation? When single instances are cited, point out that one cannot represent the part for the whole. If Annual Conference rejects the request for disaffiliation will the conference reimburse the church any of the funds it spent to move forward with disaffiliation? Additional votes on disaffiliations are expected at this annual conference. However, the pastor is the administrative officer of the church and, therefore, is an ex officio member of most committees of the local church. Why are terms different from conference to conference? At our first church meeting yesterday, many members expressed concern that the pastor and his leadership were giving only biased information on disaffiliation and joining GMC. An address from Reynoldsburg United Methodist Church in Reynoldsburg, OH. If an appointment is identified for the impacted pastor by June 30, 2024, any unused portion from this item will be reimbursed to the disaffiliating congregation by August 1, 2024. This is important, because exactly how the process will work varies by annual conference. Search by ZIP code or city/state to find a United Methodist Church near you. Missional Transitional Support the GNJ Trustees recognize that the bank balances, investments, endowments, and reserves in every congregation are the result of faithful tithing by every member of that congregation. A Term Sheet, which is developed by the GNJ Board of Trustees, is an agreement of the basic terms and conditions of the disaffiliation. They are assisting a congregation to discern if it will disaffiliate from the UMC and GNJ. A congregation can only vote on and go through the disaffiliation process once. If you have questions regarding your account(s), please fill out the form below and we will respond to you as soon as possible. Please help us to ensure that going forward, this will be a safe, fair and peaceful process. Copyright 2023 All rights reserved. It will never be the same. 2553, Money needed to remove Cross and Flame logo, Future liability for potential Boy Scout lawsuits, Opportunity costs involved in using funds to disaffiliate rather than do ministry, Potential loss of income from congregation members who do not plan to follow local church into disaffiliation, Funding ministry and administrative efforts previously funded through United Methodist connectional giving. Is it fair to increase Shared Ministry apportionments or draw from GNJ designated funds to cover this cost? Each Guide will receive $500 per session; and an additional $500 will be paid to Guides who receive, review and ensure all documentation is in order for the creation of the congregations Term Sheet. A drastic shift in exit costs The transfer of property may happen under an allocation, exchange of property, or comity agreement, provided that such agreement shall have been committed to writing and signed and approved by the duly qualified and authorized representatives of both parties concerned.. One of the main reasons for disaffiliation among Methodist churches is the growing theological differences within the denomination. Any outstanding loans as identified by GNJ Loan Board; CFA or the GNJ Board of Trustees. What are the seven steps to the disaffiliation process? Only congregations that are seriously considering leaving The United Methodist Church (UMC) and GNJ. The disaffiliation will be complete by December 31, 2022. First United Methodist Church in Washington was founded in 1800. https://www.umc.org/en/content/ask-the-umc-what-should-united-methodist-congregations-know-about-disaffiliation. Three paragraphs in the current Book of Discipline may be used to complete a disaffiliation in which the congregation may retain much or all of its property and assets. These provisions require, at a minimum, three things: Annual conferences may add to these requirements, and some have done so. Exigent circumstances include, but are not limited to, situations where the property will no longer be used for the purposes of The United Methodist Church or the congregation is no longer in a position to maintain it for the denomination. A The Disaffiliation Plan, found in 2553 of The Book of Discipline, provides a procedure for local churches to disaffiliate from the United Methodist Church for "reasons of conscience" surrounding the denomination's position on human sexuality issues. That's okay! That covenant outlines outlines how to honor one another and what information will be shared with the public and the broader church, and if there is openness to reunification in the future. 2553 outlines the steps the congregation, the district superintendent, and the conference must take to request, meet the criteria for, and complete a disaffiliation from The United Methodist Church. It permits the annual conference to direct the local church trustees to assign the deeds of church property to the proper legal representatives of a Pan Methodist church or another evangelical denomination. These may vary per case. If you have questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to us. A sound discernment process helps members of the congregation listen to and respect each others views, learn about both the costs and the benefits of either decision, and help reveal whether there is a two-thirds majority of professing members to allow a vote for disaffiliation to prevail. At the very least, advocate that there are voices on the Discernment Team inclined to stay in the United Methodist Church. I would like to know if we as a congregation could decide on voting method at our church conference for disaffiliation. The Trustees took the additional step of receiving feedback from the Connectional Table and reviewing other terms from other annual conferences. When all seven steps of disaffiliation are completed and the church makes all required financial payments. Find out more information about events here! Klicken Sie auf Alle ablehnen, wenn Sie nicht mchten, dass wir und unsere Partner Cookies und personenbezogene Daten fr diese zustzlichen Zwecke verwenden. Another reason for disaffiliation among United Methodist churches is concerns about the denominations organizational structure and decision-making processes. It creates a right for congregations to request such transfer of property, and then only where local laws require the congregation's involvement in the transfer. Some churches feel that the denomination is too centralized and that decisions are made without adequate input from local congregations. Well over 100 churches (out of our 650 congregations) are currently considering disaffiliation from the United Methodist Church. Your district superintendent can give you the most accurate information so your congregation can make its best decisions informed by the facts. The pastor meets with the committee, but cannot be a voting member. These items are included by action of the General Conference and items added by the Board of Trustees with input from the Cabinet, Treasurer and Chancellor. Another option is for the youth to sit with a sensitive adult who will help to explain to the youth the conversation and questions. Your support of The General Administration Fund apportionment supports the legislative body of the denomination, the Judicial Council. Due diligence in all land transfers requires an accurate accounting of values of all properties, particularly if any costs of the transfer arerelated to the property itself. Section 2553 requires disaffiliation to occur on or before December 31, 2023. There are a variety of ways to make decisions. The United Methodist Churchs top court released six decisions Feb. 9 related to a new provision governing how congregations can leave the denomination with property. On April 16, 2021, the Judicial Council of the United Methodist Church affirmed the constitutionality of this paragraph, paving the way for annual conferences to implement processes for disaffiliation. The financial payments of the Term Sheet must be fully paid by December 31, 2023, for a congregation to disaffiliate. Our history, as part of the Whittier community. While paragraph 2553 authorizes the conference Trustees to develop the terms, they quickly realized that congregations leaving the denomination has a broad range of impact across the conference which they may not fully understand without obtaining feedback from a larger group and vetting the options. Notifications about the meeting are to go to all members as outlined and provided to the church. Are all congregations expected to go through the disaffiliation discernment process? Below is a list of strategies to get there. Prior to the disaffiliation date, a local church shall pay to the Annual Conference any unpaid apportionments for the 12 months immediately prior and an additional 12 months of . There are a number of reasons why churches may choose to disaffiliate from the United Methodist Church. We will likely receive a new presiding bishop on January 1, 2023. May the Term Sheet payments be paid over several years? Does the Annual Conference have to approve a Congregations disaffiliation? Successful Guides will be those whose theology or viewpoints are not detected by congregations in the discernment and decision process. Our beliefs, as a United Methodist Church. Washington Daily News reached out to First United Methodist Church Reverends Ken Hall and Stephen Bazan for comment. A total 421 congregants voted 295 voted to disaffiliate, but 126 voted to remain with the United Methodist Church fold. Print and distribute this side-by-side comparison of the UMC and future GMC which was developed by the Texas Annual Conference Future Discernment Team. UMF will prepare this amendment for you. This was denied and we were told that the guides would represent the UMC. With the delay of the 2020 General Church Conference, it is unfortunate that a common set of terms was not developed and that each conference was left to figure this out on their own; hence, the terms across conferences are not comparable. The 2019 Special Session of the General Conference of The United Methodist Church adopted a disaffiliation agreement allowing United Methodist churches to leave the denomination through the end of 2023 "for reasons of conscience regarding a change in the requirements and provisions of the Book of Discipline related to the practice of Thank you so much to everyone that baked, cleaned, prepared, and shared! The United Methodist Churchs guidebook, called the Book of Discipline, states any congregation who chooses to disaffiliate will take ownership of the church property. Take time to watch and read information about the Conferences NAC3 team, designed to help make space for traditionalists, centrists, and progressives in the continuing United Methodist Church. All voting in the church conference will be by prepared ballot. Spend time asking others in your church about milestones, shared moments of mission, and more that have been part of their legacy. The 2019 Special Session of the General Conference of the UMC adopted paragraph 2553 in the Book of Discipline - Disaffiliation of a Local Church Over Issues Related to Human Sexuality. What is certainly the same across every conference, is that there are costs involved when churches disaffiliate, both for those leaving and for those who remain in the conference (either direct cost or indirect costs in the form of less available funds). A Missional Transitional Support that will be assessed by multiplying the three-year average of the total amount of all cash, bank balances, investments, endowments, and reserves by the percent of the votes against disaffiliation during the Church conference vote. This article will explore the reasons why Methodist churches are disaffiliating and the factors that contribute to this trend. Recently, White's Chapel United Methodist Church in Southlake voted to go through with the disaffiliation process. The newly added paragraph 2553 of the Book of Discipline says The decision to disaffiliate from The United Methodist Church must be approved by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the professing members of the local church present at the church conference. A church conference is the entire membership of your church. What is spiritual discernment? Votes about disaffiliation are never simply rational or financial. To bring clarity regarding your UMF account(s), please see below: Yes. But do the numbers match the rhetoric? In general, time is the ally of those wishing to stay in the United Methodist Church. The provisions of 2553 expire on December 31, 2023 and shall not be used after that date. If a congregation takes actions that have the effect of severing it from The United Methodist Church or uniting it with another denomination, apart from the guidance of the district superintendent and the requirements of the Discipline and the conference, the provisions of 2549.3.b to transfer all property and assets of the congregation to the conference board of trustees may come into effect. For many congregations, this is not an easy threshold to reach. Published 2:17 pm Tuesday, October 4, 2022. Another factor contributing to the disaffiliation of Methodist churches is the decline in membership. The South Georgia Conference has done so as a means to allow more time for disaffiliations to take place after the December 31, 2023 expiration date of the provisions of 2553. Reposted here, with gratitude, for further learning and insight. On what grounds can they reject the request? If you are the pastor or other contact person designated by your conference policies and you have completed the initial steps to request your a called church conference for a vote, contact the district superintendent through the means specified by your conference. Our lay leadership, organized through our Church Council. The Annual Conference will be presented a motion detailing the names of the churches that have completed the discernment process, voted to disaffiliate, and have accepted the final term sheet for disaffiliation as presented by GNJs Board of Trustees. Your district superintendent will work with your congregation at each step of the discernment process. The provision permits such disaffiliations through Dec. 31, 2023. The NAC3 team has been clear that these agreed-upon processes belong to the conference trustees, who are elected by the annual conference and represent diverse points of view. However, click here to read the covenant your cabinet has made to you concerning this matter. Can a congregation disaffiliate under paragraph 2548.2 of The Book of Discipline? Additionally, the UMC has been criticized for its bureaucratic structure, which can make it difficult for churches to navigate and get the support they need. In recent years, a growing number of United Methodist churches in the US have chosen to disaffiliate from the denomination. Our goals with this FAQ are to provide clarity and accurate information about the process of disaffiliation for those who may be considering it and to dispel confusion. Well over 100 churches (out of our 650 congregations) are currently considering disaffiliation from the United Methodist Church. They will lead the congregation through this season and the Church Conference will make its decision listening for the wisdom of the Holy Spirit, not to decisions that represent the UMC. Read this blog post by long time Asbury Spiritual Formation and Wesleyan Studies professor, Steve Harper. Classes for all ages at 9 a.m. What are the financial requirements in the Term Sheet? 2548.2, and, under some circumstances, 2549.3.bmay be sometimes also be involved to address related property issues. The Oklahoma Conference Board of Trustees has approved a disaffiliation process for local churches. Clear lines of communication between the church and the district superintendent that show ongoing progress toward completing the processes set forth by the Discipline and the conference will help ensure as gracious a transition and outcome for all as all would desire. There may be more cause for hope than you realize, but someone may need to stand up and make the case to stay United Methodist to activate others in your church inclined to remain United Methodist. In this circumstance, the congregation may request that the conference board of trustees establish terms to obtain its former property and some of its assets. Discipleship Ministries and The Council of Bishops are developing resources to assist congregations in their discernment. While the United Methodist denomination is in a state of change, its important for you to know that your Foundation remains firmly grounded in helping you achieve the dreams God has placed on your heart. The costs to disaffiliate under par. I am deeply concerned about the safety of the many members who want to stay with UMC. A commitment has been made by this team to honor and respect differing theological convictions of congregations and pastors in the continuing United Methodist Church, including in the appointment process. the Book of Disciplines new Paragraph 2553, The United Methodist Churchs centuries-old trust clause, Church court clarifies disaffiliation rules. Still have questions? You can learn more about the NAC3 team and plan here: https://www.umcna.org/postdetail/16513389 and watch their video below: We have documented many of our concerns with disaffiliation and joining the Global Methodist Church on our What are the Big Concerns page of our website. The church council should first determine: do we as leaders of the congregation believe our congregation wants to leave The United Methodist Church. The district superintendent may have additional questions for you at that time to make sure you are working from accurate information and a clear sense of the congregations readiness for a vote. We recommend the following engagement strategies when/if this happens: Ask those who assert such things for specific examples in the North Alabama Conference of such things. Bellview's church council voted, after a time of prayerful discernment to seek disaffiliation, to ask for a date for a special called church conference. All six rulings from the United Methodist Judicial Council stem from questions of law raised aboutthe Book of Disciplines new Paragraph 2553 approved by the 2019 Special General Conference in St. Louis. General Conference could also fail to produce any exit or extend the expiration of par. 2553 of the Book of Discipline: https://cdn.cokesbury.com/images/community/cokesburyportals/2016boderrata.pdf, North Alabama Conference FAQ on Disaffiliation: https://www.umcna.org/files/tables/content/16410823/fields/files/6761ca70658d4a5990ad3f6a68531f76/faq-2022.pdf, North Alabama Conference Discernment Process Document: https://www.stayumc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/CalltoPrayerandDiscernmentFINAL.pdf, Once recent decision in civil court on enforcement of the trust clause, Practical Strategies for Avoiding Disaffiliation in YOUR church. Guides will be impartial and unbiassed. This process is based upon section 2553 of The Book of Discipline. We requested a presentation by someone who could explain the reasons for staying with UMC. Can they vote when voting on the discernment process? Some of the most common reasons include disagreements over theological issues, such as the ordination of gay and lesbian clergy, and concerns about the denominations organizational structure and decision-making processes.