The deadline for disaffiliations under par. Some require repayment in full of grants made to the local church. When single instances are cited, point out that one cannot represent the part for the whole. At the very least, advocate that there are voices on the Discernment Team inclined to stay in the United Methodist Church. Q What disaffiliation provision was affirmed in JCD 1385? If so, will they be offered an age-appropriate presentation about whats happening? This paragraph is about transfer of property. Ive watched your webinar for EPA conference and was surprised to find out that the term sheet may be revised as needed. If you are not the pastor or other designated contact person, you will want to talk with your pastor or designated contact person about any questions or concerns about the process. In 2019, the Judicial Councilupheld Paragraph 2553as in line with the denominations constitution. 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. Reposted here, with gratitude, for further learning and insight. Our next regularly scheduled annual conference will be June 21-24 2023 (VBC in Huntsville). 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. St. Andrew United Methodist, a megachurch in Plano, also announced its. However, our annual conference policies and processes on disaffiliations will not change with new leadership. 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. 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. We will likely receive a new presiding bishop on January 1, 2023. The Judicial Councils ruling said the disaffiliation process established by General Conference constitutes minimum standards, which do not preclude additional procedures and standard terms created by annual conferences, provided that the latter do not negate or violate the former.. Clergy persons who continue with The UMC and are appointed to a congregation that continues as a UMC congregation will their maintain membership in The UMC as a clergy person and participate in the appointment process as in the past. 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. Another reason for disaffiliation among United Methodist churches is concerns about the denominations organizational structure and decision-making processes. The trend of disaffiliation among United Methodist churches raises questions about the future of the denomination. Register today for May 18 training session! 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. However, the pastor is the administrative officer of the church and, therefore, is an ex officio member of most committees of the local church. 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. Your support of The General Administration Fund apportionment supports the legislative body of the denomination, the Judicial Council. 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. 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 also deeply emotional. As a connectional church, United Methodists hold property in common. InDecision 1422, the Judicial Council affirmed another decision by Haupert-Johnson. In recent years, a growing number of United Methodist churches in the US have chosen to disaffiliate from the denomination. Bishop Beard's presentation was recorded . 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 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. 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. Waiting to disaffiliate could either provide better terms or prevent the possibility of an exit altogether. It's a collection of study-committee members and church leaders who have been in the trenches with us as we navigate this process. Advocate hosting a pastor or other leader to represent the benefits of staying United Methodist. It clears up some myths about the post-separation UMC and highlights some important differences laity need to be aware of. This is not an outcome that bishops or congregations would prefer. Published 2:17 pm Tuesday, October 4, 2022. In other denominations, such votes have resulted in people leaving the church. The pastor will receive a letter that can be shared with the congregation. What are the seven steps to the disaffiliation process? 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. Rob Renfroe of Good News Magazine explains the current divisions within the United Methodist Church and discusses how Traditionalist Methodists should navigate future decisions. Will the Guides represent a particular theology or viewpoint about ministry with and by LGBTQ persons? We cannot speak to the approach used by other conference Board of Trustees to discern and fully vet these costs, as our Trustees did. 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. The United Methodist Book of Discipline outlines the process congregations may use to leave The United Methodist Church through disaffiliation (2553). However, click here to read the covenant your cabinet has made to you concerning this matter. Please let us know your specific questions and how we can serve you or your church in regards to your UMF account(s). 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. 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). A total 421 congregants voted - 295 voted to disaffiliate, but 126 voted to remain with the United Methodist Church [] Stay UMC is a grassroots organization and is not involved in conference administration. We are your trusted partner in ministry and are here to help you in any way we can. Any unpaid GNJ billings for the present calendar year, as well as all unpaid billings in previous years. No entity of The United Methodist Church is asking any congregation to disaffiliate or even consider 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. (919) 836-0029 - Fax (919) 836-0092. The provision permits such disaffiliations through Dec. 31, 2023. This can lead to a sense of isolation and frustration among churches, which can contribute to their decision to disaffiliate. Can this matter come up again? A collection of videos and links as we navigate moving forward. 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. United Methodist Foundation of North Carolina. Ask The UMC: What should United Methodist congregations know about disaffiliation? How much is the stipend for Guides who lead the disaffiliation discernment 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. 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. of the process, the Annual Conference is able to reject the request to disaffiliate. May the Term Sheet payments be paid over several years? No. You can also reach out to any of the people listed on this page. Definition of Membership Non-professing members may attend the church conference without voice and vote. Yet, at the end(?) Copyright 2023 All rights reserved. Is the Term Sheet negotiable? 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. 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. Well over 100 churches (out of our 650 congregations) are currently considering disaffiliation from the United Methodist Church. Nor does it allow local congregations, by themselves, to transfer their property to other denominations. You may read the Judicial Council ruling here:ResourceUMC | Judicial Council Decision Number 1449. 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. The District Superintendents will be working with the GNJ congregations who are discerning their pathway to future mission and ministry as we emerge from the pandemic. 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. 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. InDecision 1423, the Judicial Council affirmed a decision by New England Conference Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar. Pastors intent on being part of the GMC may wish to be part of this Conference. 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. 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. 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. The Annual Conference will provide information on the cost required to cover pension liabilities for previous pastors and release your church from the trust clause on its property. Will professing members that are minors participate in the discernment process? 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. What is the purpose of this requirement? UMF remains your trusted partner in ministry. During an annual conference held this week in Athens, 70. This will be decision of the Annual Conference. However, in recent years, there has been a growing movement among some churches to disaffiliate from the denomination. Assuming the amendment process mentioned above is completed. Pastors are to continue to lead the congregation by doing no harm and refraining from leading the congregation in one way or another. 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. Can a congregation disaffiliate under paragraph 2548.2 of The Book of Discipline? Some conferences require a full three years of apportionment payments. 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. This deadline represents something of a gamble for many churches wishing to disaffiliate. My understanding is they are to discern whats best for them and have no vote. excerpt from a story by Heather Hahn, assistant news editor, UM News. 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. 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. This is important, because exactly how the process will work varies by annual conference. Watch a select portion of Tom Berlins Celebrate UMC presentation where he refutes such claims directly. The Global Methodist Churchs Convening General Conference to be held between May 1, 2023 and November 1, 2023 based on this announcement. 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. No entity of The United Methodist Church is asking any congregation to disaffiliate or even consider disaffiliation. 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. 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. BOD 2016, 340 3a, Responsibilities and Duties of Elders and Licensed Local Pastors. God has important mission and ministry for the congregations of GNJ, and this will be the primary focus of GNJ over the next year. We encourage you to read it carefully. Disaffiliation. This number is expected to increase in the coming years as more churches consider disaffiliation. 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. Key Resources Book of Discipline paragraph 2553 Why arent superintendents leading the disaffiliation and covenanting process? The Southeast Jurisdictional Conference is November 2-4, 2022. A total 421 congregants voted 295 voted to disaffiliate, but 126 voted to remain with the United Methodist Church fold. Is it fair to increase Shared Ministry apportionments or draw from GNJ designated funds to cover this cost? 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 letter will identify dates for the Church Conferences and other pertinent information needed to prepare for the conferences. UMF will prepare this amendment for you. Whether you are super-familiar with what's happening across the United Methodist Church or you're entering into the discussion, here are some resources on how it relates to us at First Methodist Carrollton and some further reading you may be interested in. 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. 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. 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. This paragraph does not create a right nor a process for congregations to disaffiliate from The United Methodist Church. Wenn Sie Ihre Auswahl anpassen mchten, klicken Sie auf Datenschutzeinstellungen verwalten. 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. The financial payments of the Term Sheet must be fully paid by December 31, 2023, for a congregation to disaffiliate. Recently, the North Carolina Annual Conference published the process for clergy and churches to disaffiliate from the United Methodist Church. Disaffiliation of a congregation is not final until approved by the Annual Conference and the final term sheet fulfilled before December 31, 2023. 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. These questions have made it clear that there is a lot of confusion and misinformation in the church about this topic. Our witness, as servants in the community. But do the numbers match the rhetoric? Why are terms different from conference to conference? 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? 2548.2, and, under some circumstances, 2549.3.bmay be sometimes also be involved to address related property issues. Carrollton, Texas 75010. How were the terms determined? Your church likely has a rich history in its connection to the United Methodist Church. Stay up-to-date on important announcements, events and more. 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. 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! 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. If your church is considering or has decided to leave the United Methodist denomination, its important to know that the Foundation can still manage your funds. Church Cell: 828-507-7759. For example, disaffiliation may lead to a decline in membership and financial contributions. 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. As with any legislative motion, an Annual Conference can choose to accept or reject the motion. 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. No. This provision about property transfer is not about a vote for the congregation to disaffiliate or join another denomination. Nearly 700 persons participated in one of the four forums. As an ex officio member of a committee, the pastor may vote on decisions before the body. Your Foundation remains firmly grounded in helping you achieve the dreams God has placed on your heart. Receive Communications and/or Join Our Support Lists! First United Methodist Church in Washington will disaffiliate from the United Methodist Church. Below is a list of strategies to get there. 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 . Please encourage your leaders and congregations to support the General Administration Fund apportionment at 100 percent. You can find the Discipleship Ministries resources here. Nearly half of the UMC congregations. The Global Methodist Church was established earlier this year in response to the United Methodist Church becoming more progressive in their views on allowing LGBTQ+ members of clergy and performing wedding ceremonies for gay couples. It is not about a congregation changing its denominational affiliation. Question about 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.. 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. You can also reach out to any of the people listed on this page. 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). In other cases, churches have chosen to disaffiliate in order to reduce their financial burden and focus on their local community. Video here (starts at 40 minutes into presentation): https://vimeo.com/722681837#t=40m.
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