However, click here to read the covenant your cabinet has made to you concerning this matter. As a part of due diligence, appraisal of all local church properties by a certified appraiser is required. Some require repayment in full of grants made to the local church. The United Methodist Church (UMC) is a mainline Protestant denomination that has been experiencing a decline in membership and disaffiliation in recent years. 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. 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. NGUMC | Disaffiliation Process and Information 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. It clears up some myths about the post-separation UMC and highlights some important differences laity need to be aware of. 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. Additional votes on disaffiliations are expected at this annual conference. Our staff, Dr. Jim Dean, Pastor and Music Director Kathy Wiggins. 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 should United Methodist congregations know about disaffiliation? 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. We are not encouraging any congregation to do so, either. https://www.umc.org/en/content/ask-the-umc-what-should-united-methodist-congregations-know-about-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. 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. The questions become who leaves, how many people leave, and how to address the losses to the remaining congregation when they leave. 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. 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. This is a good and sensitive question. Together, guides will journey with the congregation through a spiritual discernment process that helps the church conference listen for the Holy Spirits wisdom and insight in making a decision about your relationship with The United Methodist Church. For many congregations, this is not an easy threshold to reach. This must occur no later than December 31, 2023, for the congregation to disaffiliate. 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. 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. Why are terms different from conference to conference? Still have questions? All deed restrictions must be followed by the disaffiliating congregation prior to disaffiliation. Your district superintendent will help your congregation complete an intentional discernment process before a church conference to vote on disaffiliation is scheduled. 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. While the number of disaffiliated churches is relatively small compared to the overall number of United Methodist churches in the US, their departure does have an impact on the remaining churches. How can we help? 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? Advocate for going the extra mile in some of the suggested discernment activities rather than simply meeting the minimum standard. UMF remains your trusted partner in ministry. Churchreaders.com offers Prayers , Prayer points, Novena prayers, Sermons, Bible verses and Christian articles to help you grow in your Faith. That seems very wrong. You may read the Judicial Council ruling here:ResourceUMC | Judicial Council Decision Number 1449. Letters, reports and other resources generated to keep us informed about this process, specifically as it pertains to First Methodist Carrollton. When single instances are cited, point out that one cannot represent the part for the whole. Still, it is an outcome that can easily be avoided. GNJ congregations are required to begin this process no later than September 30, 2022. Register today for May 18 training session! Our witness, as servants in the community. It is more accurate to say that the United Methodist denomination left us a long time ago, and we are now finding our way to other, like-minded believers. This decline is due to a number of factors, including an aging population and a lack of younger members. 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. This paragraph is about transfer of property. The UMC has been grappling with issues related to human sexuality, particularly the ordination of LGBTQ+ individuals and the blessing of same-sex marriages. Guides will be impartial and unbiassed. It is more accurate to say that the United Methodist denomination left us a long time ago, and we are now finding our way to other, like-minded believers. Or is it some percentage of that? During an annual conference held this week in Athens, 70. 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. I would like to know if we as a congregation could decide on voting method at our church conference for disaffiliation. Is it fair to increase Shared Ministry apportionments or draw from GNJ designated funds to cover this cost? Section 2553 requires disaffiliation to occur on or before December 31, 2023. What is the Term Sheet? And in a situation where the congregation has acted in ways that are not compliant with the Discipline and the guidance of the district superintendent, the conference board of trustees may not offer the congregation any terms to obtain its former property or assets. Has there been any major change at a recent Board of Trustee meeting? At that time, the full members of Bellview UMC who were present at the called church . They did not respond by press time. 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 then signed by the local church pastor and the chair of the local church Board of Trustees. The Oklahoma Conference Board of Trustees has approved a disaffiliation process for local churches. Please encourage your leaders and congregations to support the General Administration Fund apportionment at 100 percent. 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). There are two exceptions the pastor parish relations committee and the board of trustees. All property and congregational transfer costs including GNJ legal fees. a decision to disaffiliate by a two-thirds majority of the professing members present at a church conference (not charge conference); the payment in full of two years of that congregations apportionment commitment as set by the conference; the payment in full of the congregations pro-rata share of the conferences pension liability, based on a formula approved by the annual conference. We are your trusted partner in ministry and are here to help you in any way we can. This is important, because exactly how the process will work varies by annual conference. What will be the impact of disaffiliation on our appointed clergyperson? Advocate hosting a pastor or other leader to represent the benefits of staying United Methodist. All unfunded pension liabilities as identified by Wespath and apportioned by the GNJ Board of Pension and Benefits. 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. (2021). An article by Jay Therrell, posted on the Wesleyan Covenant Association website. We'll try and provide as much clarity as we can, and you are always invited to contact the church office at (469) 568-1240 and ask for Amy Smith. 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. When all seven steps of disaffiliation are completed and the church makes all required financial payments. United Methodist Foundation, Inc. However, there are also disaffiliated churches in other regions, including the Northeast and West. You can also reach out to any of the people listed on this page. Therefore, congregants who choose to remain United Methodist Church members will either decide to join another UMC church or start their own. 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? Pastors generally do not vote at church council meetings. A vote was taken at the church on Monday evening (Oct. 3). PDF Q&A About the Disaffiliation Process - NGUMC Using such a process will help your congregation make its decisions with due care for each other and your future together. Any unpaid apportionments for the 12 months prior to the disaffiliation date, as well as an additional 12 months of apportionments. United Methodists Meet to Approve Disaffiliations Discernment comes first before financial discussions. Will the Guides represent a particular theology or viewpoint about ministry with and by LGBTQ persons? Like many mainline denominations, the UMC has seen a steady decline in attendance and membership in recent decades. Your district superintendent will work with your congregation at each step of the discernment process. Are all congregations expected to go through the disaffiliation discernment process? PDF Basic Questions and Answers FAQ Related to Disaffiliation The amendment will take effect on the date of disaffiliation. 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. Another option is for the youth to sit with a sensitive adult who will help to explain to the youth the conversation and questions. 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. 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. 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. Annual conferences cannot create comity agreements with other denominations. 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. 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. A process for disaffiliation was established by the 2019 General Conference of The United Methodist Church. 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 GNJ terms include requirements of paragraph 2553 and any costs incurred by GNJ. Another reason for disaffiliation among United Methodist churches is concerns about the denominations organizational structure and decision-making processes. As we navigate the changes in the United Methodist denomination, we want to be sure we stay true to who we are, who God has called us to be, and our belief system. 2553 expires on December 31, 2023. 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. In other denominations, such votes have resulted in people leaving the church. Ask The UMC: What should United Methodist congregations know about disaffiliation? Wise congregational leadership will choose not to schedule a church conference to vote on disaffiliation if there is uncertainty about that majority. The United Methodist Book of Discipline outlines the process congregations may use to leave The United Methodist Church through disaffiliation (2553). This is an anxious season for the congregation and its leaders. 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. Q What disaffiliation provision was affirmed in JCD 1385? 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. 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. 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. Stay up-to-date on important announcements, events and more. The United Methodist Church is one of the largest Protestant denominations in the United States, with an estimated 7 million members. Kentucky Conference: Disaffiliation Process and Information My understanding is they are to discern whats best for them and have no vote. In 2019, the Judicial Councilupheld Paragraph 2553as in line with the denominations constitution. 2553. When does the Annual Conference vote to on a congregations disaffiliation? UMF remains your trusted partner in ministry. If so, will they be offered an age-appropriate presentation about whats happening? There are other resources that may we may have that have not yet made it to this page.
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