Below is a list of strategies to get there. The Discernment Team has the opportunity to decline to recommend to the Church Council moving forward with disaffiliation. These liabilities are explained above under the Term Sheet. This paragraph does not create a right nor a process for congregations to disaffiliate from The United Methodist Church. Check regularly for BREAKING NEWS on the front of the Stay UMC website. Please provide details on the process that the two guides will follow as they assist us in the discernment process. This is a good and sensitive question. Your support of The General Administration Fund apportionment supports the legislative body of the denomination, the Judicial Council. However, click here to read the covenant your cabinet has made to you concerning this matter. The Annual Conference must approve the disaffiliation for the congregation to disaffiliate. One of seven apportioned giving opportunities of The United Methodist Church, the General Administration Fund implements trustworthy administrative oversight, supports the legislative processes of the church and curates The United Methodist Churchs rich history. Or is it some percentage of that? Sunday Worship: Services at 10:30 a.m. Spiritual discernment is setting oneself or the community apart for a time of deep listening for the Holy Spirits wisdom, insight and calling. In the church, sometimes spiritual discernment is used particularly during deep and challenging decision making. What are the financial requirements in the Term Sheet? Ive watched your webinar for EPA conference and was surprised to find out that the term sheet may be revised as needed. The mission of the church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Can a congregation disaffiliate under paragraph 2548.2 of The Book of Discipline? Were here to help! Will the Guides represent a particular theology or viewpoint about ministry with and by LGBTQ persons? 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. Copyright 2023 All rights reserved. Does Elevation Church Believe in Speaking in Tongues? There are also probably real people in the families of your church that will feel marginalized by a decision to leave the UMC over intolerance of our differences, and they need you to be their advocate. While the Trustees, received input, ultimately it was their decision. We will continue to update this page with additional resources as they are made available. What is the purpose of this requirement? Any professing member who has not voluntarily asked to be removed from the roles or was not removed by the 2021 charge or church conference is entitled to participate and vote. If a pastor or a sizeable portion of a congregation makes it clear they would like to leave, dont give up and be a cheerleader for others not to give up either. 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. 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. Additionally, some churches have chosen to disaffiliate and become independent, non-denominational congregations. Reposted here, with gratitude, for further learning and insight. A YouTube playlst where Rev. A total 421 congregants voted - 295 voted to disaffiliate, but 126 voted to remain with the United Methodist Church [] Churches will need to provide a sealed ballot box with a slot for ballots to be submitted. excerpt from a story by Heather Hahn, assistant news editor, UM News. 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. The choice by a local church to disaffiliate with The United Methodist Church under this paragraph must be made in sufficient time for the process for exiting the denomination to be complete prior to December 31, 2023. 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. Pastors intent on being part of the GMC may wish to be part of this Conference. 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? Is the Term Sheet negotiable? Your district superintendent will work with your congregation at each step of the discernment process. Your church likely has a rich history in its connection to the United Methodist Church. The UMC Disaffiliation Requirements Timeline The Future with the Global Methodist Church To Contact StayUMC THE PROCESS In January of 2021, the Administrative Board established a leadership team to explore our relationship with our denomination. 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. 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. Originally created by Reynoldsburg UMC in Ohio. 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. Our special called church conference was held on January 23, 2023. Clergy who are appointed to a congregation that disaffiliates, but the clergy person continues with The UMC, the cabinet will work to identify a new appointment and will require financial support from the disaffiliating congregation to maintain salary and benefits until the next appointment. Why arent superintendents leading the disaffiliation and covenanting process? What should United Methodist congregations know about disaffiliation? The provision permits such disaffiliations through Dec. 31, 2023. Your district superintendent will help your congregation complete an intentional discernment process before a church conference to vote on disaffiliation is scheduled. United Methodist Foundation of North Carolina. 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. 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. Request to Explore and Discern Disaffiliation - A Congregation's Church Council votes to explore and discern disaffiliation and the Pastor notifies the District Superintendent of the desire to engage in the disaffiliation process. Therefore, congregants who choose to remain United Methodist Church members will either decide to join another UMC church or start their own. Church Cell: 828-507-7759. Property of the UMC is held in trust for the United Methodist mission and ministry. 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. We are your trusted partner in ministry and are here to help you in any way we can. Thepastor parish relations committeeis the personnel committee that works with the pastor and other staff. On what grounds can they reject the request? Following the worship service on Sunday, February 5,First Methodist Carrollton voted173 to 1 in favor of joining the Global Methodist [], Church family, Sunday was great! That's okay! No. Any outstanding loans as identified by GNJ Loan Board; CFA or the GNJ Board of Trustees. If you have questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to us. All unfunded pension liabilities as identified by Wespath and apportioned by the GNJ Board of Pension and Benefits. With the postponement of the 2020 General Conference to 2024 and the announcement by the Wesleyan Covenant Association that it will launch the Global Methodist Church on May 1, 2022, we at Ask The UMC are receiving many more questions about disaffiliation. How were the terms determined? Any unpaid GNJ billings for the present calendar year, as well as all unpaid billings in previous years. When does a disaffiliating congregation officially end its relationship with the UMC and GNJ? 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. It clears up some myths about the post-separation UMC and highlights some important differences laity need to be aware of. Additionally, Jeff Greenway, a leader in the Wesleyan Covenant Association recently suggested that disaffiliating churches who go independent or join affliations of churches risk lacking Wesleyan connectionalism to accomplish their mission and theological drift into Reformed Calvinism amongst other risks. Our next regularly scheduled annual conference will be June 21-24 2023 (VBC in Huntsville). The denomination is known for its strong emphasis on social justice and service, and it operates a number of mission programs both in the US and abroad. Our beliefs, as a 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 . 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. One of the main reasons for disaffiliation among United Methodist churches is disagreements over theological issues. 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. 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. Some conferences require a full three years of apportionment payments. The amendment will take effect on the date of disaffiliation. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Library to be dedicated in memory of admired principal, Bath to receive more than $20 million for wastewater expansion, New portrait added to courthouse honoring late attorney. Successful Guides will be those whose theology or viewpoints are not detected by congregations in the discernment and decision process. 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. What is a professing member? Your district superintendent can give you the most accurate information so your congregation can make its best decisions informed by the facts. This decline is due to a number of factors, including an aging population and a lack of younger members. (2021). Ask The UMC: What should United Methodist congregations know about disaffiliation? Creating space and time to listen deeply and contemplate. 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. This disaffiliation process is a journey to find other Wesleyans who hold the same values of scriptural authority and Christocentric theology that we do. Or something else? The GNJ terms include requirements of paragraph 2553 and any costs incurred by GNJ. Video here (starts at 40 minutes into presentation): https://vimeo.com/722681837#t=40m. Our mission at UMF remains the same To help Gods people pay it forward. 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. 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. It is likely we will receive word regarding who will serve as our next bishop. One study showed that regular church goers are likely to overestimate opposition to same-sex marriage in their congregation by 20%. 2553 are not insignificant. That started our discernment process. United Methodist Foundation, Inc. What is the Term Sheet? 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. If so, will they be offered an age-appropriate presentation about whats happening? At that time, the full members of Bellview UMC who were present at the called church . Heres a list of names (in no [], Read Pastor Johns note about these articles here. 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. Discernment comes first before financial discussions. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. The provision permits such disaffiliations through Dec. 31, 2023. 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. 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 United Methodist Churchs guidebook, called the Book of Discipline, states any congregation who chooses to disaffiliate will take ownership of the church property. Has the United Methodist Church changed or abandoned its beliefs that are now outlined in our Articles of Religion, specifically, the resurrection, and the Trinity? Alternately, the annual conference may instruct the conference board of trustees how to handle specific cases or classes of cases that may fall under these provisions. 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. 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. 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. 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). 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. All property and congregational transfer costs including GNJ legal fees. 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. So while it may be possible for your congregation to exit under this paragraph and have some property and assets when you do, the risks of greater costs or the entire loss of property and assets are substantial. The Principles for Disaffiliation used by the Arkansas Conference call for a minimum three-month discernment period For example, disaffiliation may lead to a decline in membership and financial contributions. However, there are also disaffiliated churches in other regions, including the Northeast and West. Stay up-to-date on important announcements, events and more. A vote was taken at the church on Monday evening (Oct. 3). Klicken Sie auf Alle ablehnen, wenn Sie nicht mchten, dass wir und unsere Partner Cookies und personenbezogene Daten fr diese zustzlichen Zwecke verwenden. You can find the Discipleship Ministries resources here. How do you feel about local ghost stories and legends? 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 following are significant milestones/durations to be aware of: Disaffiliation Discernment Process, Phase 1 (Notification) 1 month minimum, Disaffiliation Discernment Process, Phase 2 (Prayerful Discernment) 3 month minimum, Disaffiliation Discernment Process, Phase 3 (Church Conference) 10 day minimum notification. A bishop has only one vote on the matter. Any other fees and costs identified by the GNJ Board of Trustees including but not limited to the determination that a contribution is in order related to the congregations real property. We understand that it is possible, however, that we will be reassigned our present bishop due to the present situation in the UMC, in these unusual circumstances. The pastor will receive a letter that can be shared with the congregation. For more information see, https://www.umc.org/en/content/articles-of-religion, https://www.umnews.org/en/news/bishop-urges-end-to-falsehoods-pivot-to-future. If this is the case the church should move forward with discernment process. 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. For congregations that disaffiliate, and their appointed pastor(s) remain(s) in the UMC, the estimated clergy compensation including housing and benefits for 18 months and maximum moving expenses for two moves per individual. 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. It's a collection of study-committee members and church leaders who have been in the trenches with us as we navigate this process. Still, it is an outcome that can easily be avoided. Some require repayment in full of grants made to the local church. 1:41 Dozens of churches this week chose to disaffiliate themselves from the North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church. No entity of The United Methodist Church is asking any congregation to disaffiliate or even consider disaffiliation. General Conference could also fail to produce any exit or extend the expiration of par. A pdf detailing the recent history of the United Methodist Church, its merge and how that informs where we are today. When does the Annual Conference vote to on a congregations disaffiliation? Spend time asking others in your church about milestones, shared moments of mission, and more that have been part of their legacy. 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. Only congregations that are seriously considering leaving The United Methodist Church (UMC) and GNJ. Only2553relates directly to disaffiliation. Yes. 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. What is Lent and why does it last forty days? Recently, White's Chapel United Methodist Church in Southlake voted to go through with the disaffiliation process. This disaffiliation process is a journey to find other Wesleyans who hold the same values of scriptural authority and Christocentric theology that we do. A collection of videos and links as we navigate moving forward. 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. Whenever possible, it is likely to your advantage to encourage a slow and deliberate process, rather than a quick, hasty decision. Assuming the amendment process mentioned above is completed. In other cases, churches have chosen to disaffiliate in order to reduce their financial burden and focus on their local community. Any GNJ grants received in the present calendar year, and the past two calendar years. Nearly half of the UMC congregations. As an ex officio member of a committee, the pastor may vote on decisions before the body. If a church votes to disaffiliate from The United Methodist Church, when will they know the payment amount? But do the numbers match the rhetoric? 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. Churchreaders.com offers Prayers , Prayer points, Novena prayers, Sermons, Bible verses and Christian articles to help you grow in your Faith.