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Pastors and congregation leaders should start with a conversation with their District Superintendent who can help find the best option to accomplish the congregation's goal. We cannot speak to the approach used by other conference Board of Trustees to discern and fully vet these costs, as our Trustees did. Over 100 churches have disaffiliated from UMC in recent years., The United Methodist Church. 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. Creating space and time to listen deeply and contemplate. In order for a congregation to disaffiliate, the Annual Conference must approve the disaffiliation by a simple majority vote. At that time, the full members of Bellview UMC who were present at the called church . We want to help you advocate for your church to stay United Methodist. This disaffiliation process is a journey to find other Wesleyans who hold the same values of scriptural authority and Christocentric theology that we do. We also stipulated, in fairness, that should an appointment be made, any unused portion would be returned. 2201 E Hebron Pkwy. A drastic shift in exit costs The Term Sheet is not negotiable. This can be seen in the way that the UMC has struggled to articulate a clear and consistent message on social and political issues, which has left many members feeling confused and disconnected from the denomination. Stay UMC can help you connect with someone in your area to speak. A *possible* specially called Annual Conference has been announced for December, 2023 for additional disaffiliations. The Council of Bishops has noted that Judicial Council Decision 1379 requires that any motion to disaffiliate must to be approved, reach a two thirds majority of the professing members present and voting at the church conference. The lower thresholds to request a transfer of property named in 2548.2 do not apply as a valid vote to request disaffiliation. 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. How will ballots be collected at the special church conferences? Absent such explicit instructions by the annual conference, however, there are no guarantees about what terms the trustees may offer, and the trustees are under no obligation to negotiate the terms they offer. 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. In 2019, the Judicial Councilupheld Paragraph 2553as in line with the denominations constitution. 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. While we do not know how other conferences will cover these costs, the GNJ Board of Trustees determined their fiscal responsibility was to avoid/minimize drawing from GNJ Designated Funds which are designed to fund GNJs Mission and priorities and to avoid/minimize increasing Shared Ministry Apportionments for congregations who elect to stay with GNJ. All property and congregational transfer costs including GNJ legal fees. 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 Judicial Council has ruled that paragraph 2548.2 may not be used for disaffiliation. First United Methodist Church in Washington will disaffiliate from the United Methodist Church. 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 decision to perform the ceremony shall be the right and the responsibility of the pastor. Therefore no one can require a UMC clergy person to perform a marriage ceremony. 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. When does a disaffiliating congregation officially end its relationship with the UMC and GNJ? Still, it is an outcome that can easily be avoided. The mission of the church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. UMF remains your trusted partner in ministry. 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. A congregation can only vote on and go through the disaffiliation process once. Now that First United Methodist Church has chosen to disaffiliate, they are in the process of joining the Global Methodist Church. Ask to be part of the Discernment Team. Your district superintendent will work with your congregation at each step of the discernment process. It is acceptable to make one by simply cutting a slot in a cardboard box or we suggest purchasing one similar to this one found online. 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. The committees role includes recommending compensation and benefits, conferring on ministry effectiveness, health and well-being and annually evaluating the pastor. In that ruling, the church courtalso spelled outthat any disaffiliation must include: The new Judicial Council rulings cover decisions of law that bishops made during the 2020 and 2021 annual conference seasons. Sie knnen Ihre Einstellungen jederzeit ndern, indem Sie auf unseren Websites und Apps auf den Link Datenschutz-Dashboard klicken. Originally created by Reynoldsburg UMC in Ohio. The bishops are prepared to pursue this outcomeunder the authority of the Trust Clause should it be required. 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. This will be decision of the Annual Conference. Wise congregational leadership will choose not to schedule a church conference to vote on disaffiliation if there is uncertainty about that majority. 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. Therefore, congregants who choose to remain United Methodist Church members will either decide to join another UMC church or start their own. Our role at Ask The UMC is to provide accurate official information about The United Methodist Church. To bring clarity regarding your UMF account(s), please see below: Yes. However, the pastor is the administrative officer of the church and, therefore, is an ex officio member of most committees of the local church. Klicken Sie auf Alle ablehnen, wenn Sie nicht mchten, dass wir und unsere Partner Cookies und personenbezogene Daten fr diese zustzlichen Zwecke verwenden. This provision about property transfer is not about a vote for the congregation to disaffiliate or join another denomination. This trend has been particularly pronounced among churches in the southern and midwestern regions of the United States. The provision permits such disaffiliations through Dec. 31, 2023. Recently, the North Carolina Annual Conference published the process for clergy and churches to disaffiliate from the United Methodist Church. https://www.umc.org/en/content/ask-the-umc-what-should-united-methodist-congregations-know-about-disaffiliation. 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. One study showed that regular church goers are likely to overestimate opposition to same-sex marriage in their congregation by 20%. Pastors intent on being part of the GMC may wish to be part of this Conference. Published 2:17 pm Tuesday, October 4, 2022. The Woodlands United Methodist and Faithbridge, two large traditional churches near Houston, both voted Aug. 7 for disaffiliation, while a third large church, Wildwood, adopted a resolution to stay in the denomination. United Methodist Foundation of North Carolina. The GNJ terms include requirements of paragraph 2553 and any costs incurred by GNJ. 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. 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. I am deeply concerned about the safety of the many members who want to stay with UMC. These questions are not designed to delay you. Disaffiliation of a congregation is not final until approved by the Annual Conference and the final term sheet fulfilled before December 31, 2023. These are strawman arguments typically based on some extreme anecdote. Our mission at UMF remains the same To help Gods people pay it forward. 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. The provisions of 2553 expire on December 31, 2023 and shall not be used after that date. Reposted here, with gratitude, for further learning and insight. One of the main reasons for disaffiliation among United Methodist churches is disagreements over theological issues. Looking for a staff member? Your church likely has a rich history in its connection to the United Methodist Church. Paragraph 2553 of the Book of Discipline , the denomination's law and policy book, identifies and charges the Conference Trustees with oversight of terms and conditions for churches wishing to disaffiliate over matters of conscience . The United Methodist Church is one of the largest Protestant denominations in the United States, with an estimated 7 million members. Our next regularly scheduled annual conference will be June 21-24 2023 (VBC in Huntsville). They did not respond by press time. Bishop Beard's presentation was recorded . This paragraph is about transfer of property. 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 formal request does not commit the church to disaffiliation. The Brief and Bumpy History of Disaffiliation In addition to the Way Forward Plans, multiple stand-alone disaffiliation plans came to General Conference 2019. The financial payments of the Term Sheet must be fully paid by December 31, 2023, for a congregation to disaffiliate. 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. Still have questions? 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. This is a good and sensitive question. Like many mainline denominations, the UMC has seen a steady decline in attendance and membership in recent decades. 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. This divide has led to a number of churches leaving the UMC to join more conservative denominations that align with their beliefs. The pastor will receive a letter that can be shared with the congregation. A vote was taken at the church on Monday evening (Oct. 3). We are not encouraging any congregation to do so, either. UMF will prepare this amendment for you. Making Disciples of Jesus Christ for the Transformation of the World, United Methodist Church of Greater New Jersey, Pathways for Fruitful and Healthy Ministry, https://www.umc.org/en/content/ask-the-umc-who-has-voice-and-vote-in-a-local-church, ResourceUMC | Judicial Council Decision Number 1449, https://www.umc.org/en/content/articles-of-religion, https://www.umnews.org/en/news/bishop-urges-end-to-falsehoods-pivot-to-future, https://www.umc.org/en/content/ask-the-umc-what-should-united-methodist-congregations-know-about-disaffiliation, 2021 United Methodists of Greater New Jersey, Click here for FAQs in Spanish (updated version coming soon). Holy conversation that listens to understand, responds with grace and respect for God and one another and recognizes that we are in conversation with one another and with God. Or is it some percentage of that? 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. And as the Judicial Council decision clarifies, the "comity agreement" referred to in this paragraph is created by the Council of Bishops and affirmed by General Conference. Video here (starts at 40 minutes into presentation): https://vimeo.com/722681837#t=40m. Some experts predict that the denomination may eventually split over theological and organizational differences, while others believe that the United Methodist Church will continue to evolve and adapt in response to the changing needs of its congregations. What is the Connectional Covenant? In general, time is the ally of those wishing to stay in 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. Advocate hosting a pastor or other leader to represent the benefits of staying United Methodist. What is Lent and why does it last forty days? What is the purpose of this requirement? Example: If the three-year average of all the church funds is $100,000 and 20% of the members vote against disaffiliation, the terms for disaffiliation include a $20,000 Missional Transitional Support. Some conferences require a full three years of apportionment payments. Whenever possible, it is likely to your advantage to encourage a slow and deliberate process, rather than a quick, hasty decision. 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. Annual conferences cannot create comity agreements with other denominations. Votes about disaffiliation are never simply rational or financial. 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. Disaffiliation. The deadline for your church to be on the agenda for this called annual conference is December 1, and all financial payments must be submitted to the Conference Trustees and the treasurer by December 1. There are other resources that may we may have that have not yet made it to this page. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. This is a matter of fairness, not punitive in nature. All unfunded pension liabilities as identified by Wespath and apportioned by the GNJ Board of Pension and Benefits. How many times can a congregation vote on disaffiliation? Waiting until the next General Conference could offer a less expensive option for churches to exit the UMC. In the case when a church votes to disaffiliate and it is not to a unanimous vote, the Missional Transitional Support help the members who want to stay with GNJ have a path to transition to a new place of worship. At the very least, advocate that there are voices on the Discernment Team inclined to stay in the United Methodist Church. (2021). Some churches may be anticipating a change in policies and rush to disaffiliate at the December 10 Annual Conference, but this is based on a unsubstantiated fear. On what grounds can they reject the request? 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. One of the main reasons for disaffiliation among United Methodist churches is disagreements over theological issues. What is the Term Sheet? In other cases, churches have chosen to disaffiliate in order to reduce their financial burden and focus on their local community. We will continue to update this page with additional resources as they are made available. The professing membership of a local United Methodist church shall include all baptized people who have come into membership by profession of faith through appropriate services of the baptismal covenant in the ritual or by transfer from other churches. BOD 2016, 215. Please read the guidelines thoroughly and make sure shortcuts are not being taken. The Southeast Jurisdictional Conference is November 2-4, 2022. The annual conference determines whether and when such transfer may take place. Were all standing on the shoulders of those who came before us, and others will soon be standing on our shoulders. We are not encouraging any congregation to do so, either. The Missional Transition Support 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 can lead to a sense of isolation and frustration among churches, which can contribute to their decision to disaffiliate. Isnt fair that a portion of their tithing be used to support this cost, or should we increase Shared Ministry apportionments or draw from GNJ designated funds to cover this cost? 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. InDecision 1422, the Judicial Council affirmed another decision by Haupert-Johnson. Rob Renfroe of Good News Magazine explains the current divisions within the United Methodist Church and discusses how Traditionalist Methodists should navigate future decisions. No, the timeframe for the administrative board/church council to discern disaffiliation from The United Methodist Church under 2553 has now passed. This article will explore the reasons why Methodist churches are disaffiliating and the factors that contribute to this trend. This number is expected to increase in the coming years as more churches consider disaffiliation. Recently, White's Chapel United Methodist Church in Southlake voted to go through with the disaffiliation process. If a congregation votes to disaffiliate from the UMC and GNJ, in order to move to the next stage, it will need to enter into a covenant with the Cabinet and the Connectional Table about ministries that may continue to be done jointly. If you have questions regarding your account(s), please fill out the form below and we will respond to you as soon as possible. the Book of Disciplines new Paragraph 2553, The United Methodist Churchs centuries-old trust clause, Church court clarifies disaffiliation rules. 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.. The church council should first determine: do we as leaders of the congregation believe our congregation wants to leave The United Methodist Church. 2553. General Conference could also fail to produce any exit or extend the expiration of par. The Disaffiliation Policy approved at the 2019 Annual Conference Session sets out a framework to be followed when a significant number of members of a congregation express a desire to leave the South Georgia Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church, pursuant to the provisions of paragraph 2553 of The Book of Discipline of The United . How Many Churches Were Damaged On The Bohol 2013 Earthquake, https://www.umnews.org/en/news/over-100-churches-have-disaffiliated-from-umc-in-recent-years, How To Become A Deacon In The Catholic Church. InDecision 1424, the church court affirmed Arkansas Conference Bishop Gary Muellers decision. 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. (919) 836-0029 - Fax (919) 836-0092. This paragraph authorizes the presiding bishop and majorities of the district superintendents and the district board of location and building to declare that exigent circumstances exist that require immediate protection of the local churchs property. The effect of that declaration is the immediate transfer of all property and assets of a local church to the control of the conference board of trustees. In some cases, churches have been forced to merge or close due to financial constraints. How much is the stipend for Guides who lead the disaffiliation discernment process? The North Alabama Conferences Discernment Process is designed to help congregations count the costs of disaffiliation. The disaffiliation plan offers a limited way to release congregations from The United Methodist Church's centuries-old trust clause, which states that church property is held in trust for the benefit of the entire denomination. A YouTube playlst where Rev. 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. As a part of due diligence, appraisal of all local church properties by a certified appraiser is required. The reasons for this trend include disagreements over theological issues and concerns about the denominations organizational structure and decision-making processes. A process for disaffiliation was established by the 2019 General Conference of The United Methodist Church. The UMC has been grappling with issues related to human sexuality, particularly the ordination of LGBTQ+ individuals and the blessing of same-sex marriages. But do the numbers match the rhetoric? Whether your congregation is beginning to explore possibilities of disaffiliating or seems ready to take a vote, the first and most important step is for your pastor to contact your district superintendent. The fellowship around [], January 22, 4 PM FMC Church Conference January 24, 7 PM Church Council meeting January 29 Whats [], Lindy Thomas has prepared a table graphic comparing the United Methodist Church, Global Methodist Church, Free Methodist Church, and Evangelical [], A View From the Pew: How We Got Here I was baptized in the Methodist church but spent the last [], An update on whats happened in the life of our church regarding disaffiliation from the United Methodist denomination. [], Still have questions about the disaffiliation process and want to talk to someone? Guides will be impartial and unbiassed. 1:41 Dozens of churches this week chose to disaffiliate themselves from the North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church. In the church, sometimes spiritual discernment is used particularly during deep and challenging decision making. Clearly there is a substantial costs associated with the disaffiliation process. 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. 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 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). For those laity and pastors in churches who wish to stay United Methodist and find themselves among those churches where disaffiliation is a live possibility, it can be a demoralizing experience. It will be even more difficult to reach if you actively organize to make sure most everyone in your congregation and their family members are present during this critical meeting. An article by Jay Therrell, posted on the Wesleyan Covenant Association website. The pastor meets with the committee, but cannot be a voting member. 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. What you may have heard or read about in another conference may not apply in yours. That's okay! There, in the nation's fourth-largest city, 1,245 members voted to approve the disaffiliation, with 3% voting to oppose the split and another 4% abstaining. 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. 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. Please help us to ensure that going forward, this will be a safe, fair and peaceful process. Lets take a look at two examples: Can our congregation receive a term sheet prior to the church council vote to engage in the discernment process?The disaffiliation passage in The Book of Discipline is a result of the current deep conflict within The United Methodist Church around issues of human sexuality. Jan. 15More than 6 million members of the United Methodist Church across the nation and 12.5 million worldwide face an impending deadline on whether to part ways with the church and. 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 We will likely receive a new presiding bishop on January 1, 2023. The disaffiliation plan offers a limited way to release congregations fromThe United Methodist Churchs centuries-old trust clause, which states that church property is held in trust for the benefit of the entire denomination. Clergy persons who leave The UMC on their own accord or with a disaffiliating congregation, must surrender their membership credentials and join a another denomination or serve an independent congregation and the clergy person will need to be credentialed by the denomination or independent congregation. 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.