The trend of disaffiliation among United Methodist churches raises questions about the future of the denomination. Spend time asking others in your church about milestones, shared moments of mission, and more that have been part of their legacy. Many WCA/GMC leaders are sharing talking points designed to portray the remaining UMC as engaging in theological drift by abandoning Biblical authority, questioning the resurrection of Jesus Christ, forsaking our doctrinal standards, promoting an open canon, and other similar things. In the church, sometimes spiritual discernment is used particularly during deep and challenging decision making. 2553 expires on December 31, 2023. Our beliefs, as a United Methodist Church. The GNJ terms include requirements of paragraph 2553 and any costs incurred by GNJ. Key Resources Book of Discipline paragraph 2553 For example, the denomination has been grappling with the issue of ordaining gay and lesbian clergy for several decades, and some churches have left the denomination over this issue. The decision to disaffiliate from the UMC must be approved by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the professing members of the local church present at the church conference. The language of 2548 permits either a vote of the charge conference or of a church conference to request transfer of property to a church of another denomination. The term sheet is reviewed by the Disaffiliating Congregations Church Conference via special session that votes by two-thirds to accept the terms of the established Disaffiliation Agreement. What is the purpose of this requirement? The decline in membership has led to financial difficulties for many churches, as they struggle to keep their doors open and maintain their facilities. 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. InDecision 1425, the Judicial Council also affirmed Devadhars decision that the New England Conference can require churches considering disaffiliation to go through at least an eight-month discernment process. Successful Guides will be those whose theology or viewpoints are not detected by congregations in the discernment and decision process. However, the bishop and cabinet have published detailed guidelines required by our North Alabama Conference to ensure that your church takes a thoughtful, prayerful, and balanced approach to the consequential decision to disaffiliate from the UMC. For example, the denomination has been grappling with the issue of ordaining gay and lesbian clergy for several decades, and some churches have left the denomination over this issue. of the process, the Annual Conference is able to reject the request to disaffiliate. This is an anxious season for the congregation and its leaders. Has there been any major change at a recent Board of Trustee meeting? Another factor that is contributing to the disaffiliation among Methodist churches is a lack of clarity in the UMCs mission and purpose. It is not judging others (Matthew 7:1-2), but encountering Gods wisdom and understanding in others, the community of faith and ourselves for discerning Gods calling for the congregation and each of us individually. 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. Insist that having the district superintendent consult with the discernment team as part of their normal responsibilities or attending a presentation of the bishop does not suffice. 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. Use the opportunity to ask for a different perspective to be offered. This was denied and we were told that the guides would represent the UMC. Any unused portion of the administrative fee will be reimbursed to the disaffiliating church by or no later than 10 days after the disaffiliation date. The church court notes that under the Discipline, a local church cannot sever its connectional relationship to The United Methodist Church without the consent of the annual conference. The Judicial Council has construed this provision to mean that the annual conference must ratify any disaffiliation agreement. If this is the case the church should move forward with discernment process. Originally created by Reynoldsburg UMC in Ohio. Establishment of terms and conditions between the exiting local church and the conference board of trustees. 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. On what grounds can they reject the request? Ask The UMC: What should United Methodist congregations know about disaffiliation? Your district superintendent will help your congregation complete an intentional discernment process before a church conference to vote on disaffiliation is scheduled. (2021). This decline is due to a number of factors, including an aging population and a lack of younger members. Letters, reports and other resources generated to keep us informed about this process, specifically as it pertains to First Methodist Carrollton. But do the numbers match the rhetoric? The provision permits such disaffiliations through Dec. 31, 2023. 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. How can we help? It is possible that some of the costs were overlooked or the conference was comfortable drawing from other designated funds/reserves to cover these costs, or possibly increasing Shared Ministry to cover the costs. Is the Term Sheet negotiable? 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. Notifications about the meeting are to go to all members as outlined and provided to the church. If so, will they be offered an age-appropriate presentation about whats happening? Additionally, some churches have chosen to disaffiliate and become independent, non-denominational congregations. What will the congregation vote on to disaffiliate? The Judicial Council has ruled that paragraph 2548.2 may not be used for disaffiliation. 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. Sie knnen Ihre Einstellungen jederzeit ndern, indem Sie auf unseren Websites und Apps auf den Link Datenschutz-Dashboard klicken. Disaffiliating from the UMC Only Costs Pennies on the Dollar by Jeremy Smith June 3, 2022 8:33 PM The news has been crowded with claims of piling on costs on disaffiliating churches and chants of "just let us leave!" repeated in Annual Conference chat rooms. Hosted by Cornerstone UMC in Houston on August 14, 2022. All voting in the church conference will be by prepared ballot. This is a good and sensitive question. UMF will prepare this amendment for you. The provision permits such disaffiliations through Dec. 31, 2023. A collection of videos and links as we navigate moving forward. How will the process ensure that only professing members participate/vote in the church conferences? It took about an hour and a half for congregants to vote. Since for this brief period of time, the Trust Clause is suspended, payments for the items listed in the Term Sheet are paid to ensure that past, present and future liabilities incurred by the congregation are paid. Klicken Sie auf Alle ablehnen, wenn Sie nicht mchten, dass wir und unsere Partner Cookies und personenbezogene Daten fr diese zustzlichen Zwecke verwenden. Will the Guides represent a particular theology or viewpoint about ministry with and by LGBTQ persons? While the UMC is facing challenges, it is important to remember that the church is a living organism that is constantly evolving and adapting to the needs of its members and the world around it. In other denominations, such votes have resulted in people leaving the church. 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. No entity of The United Methodist Church is asking any congregation to disaffiliate or even consider disaffiliation. What will be the impact of disaffiliation on our appointed clergyperson? 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. Therefore, as terms were developed, they sought feedback from the Cabinet, Chancellor, Benefits Officer and Treasurer which are all required by paragraph 2553. My understanding is they are to discern whats best for them and have no vote. Ask your questions and check out more FAQS. A pdf detailing the recent history of the United Methodist Church, its merge and how that informs where we are today. We requested a presentation by someone who could explain the reasons for staying with UMC. There are a number of reasons why churches may choose to disaffiliate from the United Methodist Church. A formal request establishes key contacts for disaffiliation communication between the church and Conference, and provides the church with initial disaffiliation information (including financial obligations related to disaffiliation). The Principles for Disaffiliation used by the Arkansas Conference call for a minimum three-month discernment period 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. This will be decision of the Annual Conference. Several recommended activities of Phase 2 of the Discernment Process propose something like this. Using such a process will help your congregation make its decisions with due care for each other and your future together. Another factor contributing to the disaffiliation of Methodist churches is the decline in membership. Read this blog post by long time Asbury Spiritual Formation and Wesleyan Studies professor, Steve Harper. 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. Looking for a staff member? 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. I know the pastor is part of the church council.