22. Disaffiliation using paragraph 2553 must be complete by December of 2023, therefore must be approved by the June 2022 or June 2023 North Georgia Annual Conference. This is the sixth of a series of articles offering accurate and objective responses to such misperceptions or misinformation. Is The UMC really? The General Conference is the ultimate legislative body of The United Methodist Church. Ask The UMC helps answer general questions about disaffiliation and misinformation about the church's official positions. It is currently the only pathway for departure. What are the major differences between The United Methodist Church and the Global Methodist Church? The Paragraph 2553 legislation, approved by the denomination and the Virginia bishop and Cabinet for disaffiliation, has a sunset date of December 31, 2023. Normal General Conference sessions include a week of legislative committees prior to the General Conference body meeting together as a whole. Learn more, FAQ #4Is the UMC really letting departing churches retain their pastors? In conjunction with 2553, and as the first steps to a possible disaffiliation, churches should contact their District Superintendent to schedule an information meeting and spend 30 days in a prayerful discernment process for the congregation to be in alignment with Gods purpose for the church. 217 South Rankin Road, Alcoa, TN, 37701 P.O. Instead they take a seat in a charge conference, and become active in a local church that is part of that charge and have most of the rights of professing membership in that local church. Yes. 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. All transfers of property shall be made prior to disaffiliation. This FAQ provides clarity and accurate information about the process of disaffiliation for those who may be considering it and to dispel rumors and confusion. There seems to be a good bit of inaccurate information swirling. But once a congregation has completed this process. Not only are the visas and passports causing travel issues, there are also issues with vaccinations for COVID-19 for many delegates in other countries. This date is October 7. How much will it cost to disaffiliate? More information about the commission can be found in 511 of the Book of Discipline. That agreement must be consistent with the following provisions: a) Standard Terms of the Disaffiliation Agreement. As 2553 was adopted specifically to address Disaffiliation of Local Churches Over Issues Related to Human Sexuality, it is clearly the most appropriate provision for these circumstances. 2. Find the complete list of the district superintendents, Virginia United Methodist Center Offices and Staff, Pictorial Directory of the United Methodist Center Staff, Map of Churches in the Virginia Conference, A Message from our Virginia Conference Lay Leader, Martha Stokes, General Conference 2024: Virginia Conference Delegation, 33 churches disaffiliated at Special Called Annual Conference, Church court: No new elections needed for General Conference 2024, Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference is this week, Reminder: October 2022 Annual Conference Sessions, Virginia Conference Responds to Firm Claiming to Represent 26 Churches Seeking Disaffiliation, Judicial Council Issues Important Disaffiliation Ruling, Watch webinar, view resources from July 12 Q&A webinar, Virginia Delegation will share information about Christmas Covenant; ask for endorsement in 2023, https://www.resourceumc.org/en/churchwide/general-conference-2020, https://www.umnews.org/en/category/general-conference. That vote does not complete the process of disaffiliation. Ask The UMC has received many questions from individuals who tell us they are being told they must choose between The UMC and the GMC. or council/board chair to contact the district superintendent for further conversation. At stake is the fact that Paragraph 2553 creates a limited right for disaffiliation. Instead, the conference's process is grounded in the Discipline's Paragraph 2549, which is typically used when a local church is closed because it no longer serves the purpose for which . the Annual Conference for approval in 2023. Timeline - June through September 2022. During this challenging time with the postponement of the 2020 General Conference to 2024 and the launch of the Global Methodist Church on May 1, 2022, some churches have discerned to disaffiliate from The United Methodist Church. The Virginia Conference is also confident it meets all relevant requirements of church and civil law. What are the basic terms for disaffiliation resolutions? These are May 6 and October 7. The Wesleyan Covenant Association created the Global Methodist Church. The North Texas Conference will continue to welcome all children in its camping programs, introducing them to the love of God in a grace-filled, Weve found many of them useful and powerful to collect insights from various stakeholders of our organization. If the church conference votes to disaffiliate from The United Methodist Church, the terms and conditions for that disaffiliation shall be established by the board of trustees of the applicable annual conference They will remain with the UMC. EOC churches that have disaffiliated from The United Methodist Church. 2. A few conferences, such as California-Pacific, Illinois Great Rivers, and Baltimore-Washington, have required payments for some percentage of the local churchs property value in addition to the payments named in the Book of Discipline as a condition of disaffiliation. 3. Paragraph 2553 limits the purpose of disaffiliation under its terms solely as a remedy for those congregations disturbed by the changes made to policies regarding homosexual practice, marriage, and ordination by the 2019 General Conference, or "by action or inaction of its annual conference related to these issues which follow." 17. This encompasses apportionments, pension liabilities, other liabilities, and numerous other matters. [This paragraph became effective at the close of the 2019 General Conference. Some local churches have taken the initiative to seek disaffiliation themselves. 23. Because each foundation has its own articles of incorporation, churches considering disaffiliation and that use a United Methodist related foundation will want to contact their foundation to find out what services the church may continue to expect should it disaffiliate so the church may plan accordingly. Everyone may find a home in the UMC. While most of the churches in the North Texas Conference will continue faithfully doing the good work of The United Methodist Church, the Contact your district superintendent if you have questions. transfer them to its new entity, at the point of disaffiliation. United Methodist Communications is an agency of The United Methodist Church, 2023
More information about the commission can be found in, You can view the full statement about the General Conference postponement, This decision was made based on many factors including the backlog for visas and passports for brothers and sisters from other countries that would prevent them from obtaining the necessary documentation to travel to the United States. The other limit is purpose. At the same time, again, depending on their articles of incorporation, they may be able to offer other kinds of services, such as education about charitable giving, to anyone. The General Council on Finance and Administration shall develop a standard form for Disaffiliation Agreements under this paragraph to protect The United Methodist Church as set forth in 807.9. All costs for transfer of title or other legal work shall be borne by the disaffiliating local church. On March 8,2022, the Council of Bishops requested a declaratory decision from the Judicial Council on whether an annual conference can separate from the denomination under the provision of the Book of Discipline. As part of the decision-making process, the commission received a report from the U.S. State Department that visa applications are backlogged in some countries for up to 800-plus days and the visa process also includes a complex interview process which is also backlogged and delayed. FAQ #2 Is the UMC reallydropping prohibitions related to human sexuality? A local church checklist Name of Church and District _____ Church Pastor name, phone number and email _____ Church Contact name, phone number and email _____ . This will largely be determined by the decisions and deliberations of local churches. We want all of our churches to continue to be part of the UMC, however for those that must leave, we wish them to go in peace following the process provided by the General Conference. The process begins with an information session from the District Superintendent, to answer all your questions and review the process. Local churches considering disaffiliation should seek legal counsel if they have endowments, trusts or donor-directed funds they manage themselves or that are under management by others (such as foundations, see below). The health and safety of all of the delegates and other attendees is of utmost importance. Our friends at United Methodist Communications have put together their own list of FAQs to try and help provide clarity around questions and keep misinformation at bay. You can find the video of that webinar as well as materials and other information on the conference website. One or more congregations may disaffiliate, but those that remain are still, at least at that time, part of the same charge. The United Methodist Church believes that a local church disaffiliating under 2553 shall continue to share common religious bonds and convictions with The United Methodist Church based on shared Wesleyan theology and tradition and Methodist roots, unless the local church expressly resolves to the contrary. The South Carolina Conference has fully implemented the changes. Is the process negotiable? The way the questions are framed in these articles reflects they way they came to us. The agreement shall include a recognition of the validity and applicability of 2501, notwithstanding the release of property therefrom. BasisBecause of the current deep conflict within The United Methodist Church around issues of human sexuality, a local church shall have a limited right, under the provisions of this paragraph, to disaffiliate from the denomination for reasons of conscience regarding a change in the requirements and provisions of the Book of Discipline related to the practice of homosexuality or the ordination or marriage of self-avowed practicing homosexuals as resolved and adopted by the 2019 General Conference, or the actions or inactions of its annual conference related to these issues which follow. The General Board of Pension and Health Benefits shall determine the aggregate funding obligations of the annual conference using market factors similar to a commercial annuity provider, from which the annual conference will determine the local churchs share. As such, a local church disaffiliating under 2553 shall continue to be eligible to sponsor voluntary employee benefit plans through the General Board of Pension and Health Benefits under 1504.2, subject to the applicable terms and conditions of the plans. Process Following Decision to Disaffiliate from The United Methodist ChurchIf the church conference votes to disaffiliate from The United Methodist Church, the terms and conditions for that disaffiliation shall be established by the board of trustees of the applicable annual conference, with the advice of the cabinet, the annual conference treasurer, the annual conference benefits officer, the director of connectional ministries, and the annual conference chancellor. it is, from the standpoint of The United Methodist Church, an independent congregation. Furthermore, the Virginia Conference is committed to dialogue with churches unsure about what course to take. United Methodist-related foundations and credit unions are independently incorporated non-profit entities. The initial step is for the church to notify its district superintendent, schedule an information meeting, and then institute a 30-day discernment process. This completed form must be submitted by email from the Church's designated contact person/s identified below and with "[Church's Name] - Disaffiliation Information Form" in the subject line and sent to the following individuals: Sarah Jenkins - Conference Chancellor BasisBecause of the current deep conflict within The United Methodist Church around issues of human sexuality, a local church shall have a limited right, under the provisions of this paragraph, to disaffiliate from the denomination for reasons of conscience regarding a change in the requirements and provisions of the Book of Discipline related to the practice of homosexuality or the ordination or marriage of self-avowed practicing homosexuals as resolved and adopted by the 2019 General Conference, or the actions or inactions of its annual conference related to these issues which follow. period of discernment that unfolds over 9-12 months and is conducted in partnership with conference leadership. The local church shall pay any unpaid apportionments for the 12 months prior to disaffiliation, as well as an additional 12 months of apportionments. Disaffiliating churches may also find legal counsel helpful in creating and filing new incorporation paperwork, obtaining new 501(c)3 letters, and revising their deeds once they are approved for disaffiliation.