Next Steps
For Current United Methodist Churches
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
Next Steps
Step 1 — Research
Your church must not only research the issues that are facing the denomination but the current state of your local church. While many churches have held disaffiliation votes that were nearly unanimous, this is the result of careful analysis of the local church, understanding the most important issues of the congregation, the unity (or disunity) in belief between clergy and laity, as well as thoughtfully educating the congregation on the issues currently facing the UMC. Many churches are meeting with Sunday schools, holding church-wide informational meetings and Q&A sessions, ensuring that all are informed.
For those who determine they wish to depart from The United Methodist Church, the opportunity is provided through Paragraph 2553 of the Book of Discipline of the UMC. Through this process, a church may choose to leave the UMC, dissolve the trust clause and allow the local church to leave, taking full ownership of their church property. Unfortunately, this opportunity officially ends on its own terms at the end of 2023. For churches desiring to disaffiliate, a significant fee will be required, including the current and next years apportionments as well payment of a pension liability fee that can easily be 2-4x your current annual apportionments.
Step 2 — Prayer
After fully researching and educating the congregation as well as understanding the general desire of the church, entering a time of concerted prayer by the congregation is essential, to seek the will of the God in the life of the church.
Step 3 — Vote
When the primary lay leadership body (administrative council, board, church council, etc) believes their church is ready to make a formal decision to disaffiliate from the UMC, this body should vote to call for a Church Conference of all present professing members of the congregation. After approving such a vote, the lay leadership should immediately notify the District Superintendent of this request.
The District Superintendent will then schedule an informal meeting with the church to discuss the intent of the church and next steps. A Church Conference will then be scheduled. The DS has 120 days from initial notification to schedule a Church Conference for a vote. The vote must be completed by April 1, 2023 to be considered for the Annual Conference in June 2023.
At the Church Conference, the professing members of the congregation present and voting must vote in favor of disaffiliation by a 2/3rds margin. If approved, this will initiate the disaffiliation process.
For those who have already decided they wish to join the GMC, a vote may be taken to do so pending disaffiliation. More information can be found in the Next Steps — For Disaffiliated Churches page.
Step 4 — Plan & Prepare
Once the church has voted to disaffiliate, the significant work of disaffiliation begins. Each district may have specific demands, but generally include the preparation of funds required to disaffiliate, significant legal preparation, and removal of all UMC signage and branding, including the Cross & Flame. The church and the conference will enter into a formal disaffiliation agreement setting the date and terms of disaffiliation. Many churches seeking disaffiliation engage the services of a lawyer familiar with the UMC disaffiliation process to assist in this effort.
The church will also need to consider how it will operate after disaffiliation. This includes a consideration of connection, self-governance, healthcare and retirement for clergy and staff, ordination and continuation of clergy — all currently provided by the UMC. Options include joining an existing denomination such as the GMC or other Wesleyan tradition, or going independent.
For more information on the benefits and steps required to join the GMC, refer to the Purpose statement on this site as well as our FAQ.
Step 5 — Disaffiliation
At the Annual Conference in June of 2023, the Annual Conference delegates will vote by majority whether to approve the disaffiliation of all churches that have completed all necessary steps to disaffiliate under Paragraph 2553. After approval, the payment of the necessary fees, and a final inspection by the District Superintendent, the trust clause will be removed and the church will receive any and all deeds for the real property of the church.
Step 6 — What’s Next?
After disaffiliation, the church must determine its best path forward in the mission to serve God in making disciples of Christ. For those who wish to join the GMC, you can continue to the the Next Steps — For Disaffiliated Churches.
FAQ
How did we get here?
The United Methodist Church (UMC) is experiencing a crisis of theology and identity that has been culminating for 50 years. While the presenting issue is human sexuality — particularly the performing of same-sex weddings and the ordination of LGBTQIA+ clergy, the true underlying issue is a theological divide that looms over the church.
The authority of scripture has been challenged, the divinity and authority of Christ questioned, the miracles of Jesus including the virgin birth and resurrection denied and the condition of sin rejected — rendering unnecessary our need for salvation and continuing sanctification. This divide is ultimately centered in questions of theology and doctrine.
Are there any examples of violations of the Book of Discipline?
Sadly, more than we have room to describe. One clear example is UMC Bishop Karen Oliveto of the Mountain Sky Area (Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah and part of Idaho) — a practicing, legally married lesbian who has overseen and encouraged the marriage and ordaining of homosexuals. Not only is her ordination in violation of the Book of Discipline (BoD), she continues to break the rules of the BoD that she swore to uphold. Yet, as noted by the Institute of Religion & Democracy’s (IRD) Blog Juicy Ecumenism, in multiple articles (here, here and here), the more concerning issue is Olivetto’s remarks that disregard the scriptural understanding of Jesus. Oliveto has warned the church to not “create an idol out of him [Jesus]” while also implying that Jesus was prejudiced and a bigot. An idol is by definition a false God.
The Western Jurisdiction in which Oliveto serves (as well as the North Central Jurisdiction) have openly thwarted the agreed standards of the UMC by stating they will not respect the BoD in regards to human sexuality.
Are there any examples of breaking with the core theological beliefs of scriptural, orthodox Christianity?
Bishop Mike Lowry — former Bishop of the Central Texas Conference of the UMC, spoke clearly of the theological dysfunction in the UMC in an article for Firebrand magazine, A Fight for the Faith Delivered Once for All. Bishop Lowry was often exposed to repeated, concerning beliefs within the leadership of the UMC, such as a conversation between two District Superintendents:
“[O]ne prominent DS asserted that talk of crucifixion should be jettisoned. She stated, ‘we have to stop preaching that Jesus died on the cross for us… it does damage to people.’”
Another DS agreed & argued further that in the UMC communion liturgy:
“There should not be any confessional language at all. We have to stop making people feel guilty and like they need to confess sins, when they come to church.”
These are only two of numerous examples of the significant theological divide between rapidly dividing core beliefs on doctrine and theology.
Why are these clear violations of the discipline allowed?
While the Book of Discipline is clear, bolstered by the 2019 passage of the Traditional Plan reaffirming the Biblical understanding of marriage and ordination, the entire establishment including Bishops and various conference bodies have failed to uphold the doctrine of the church. Worse, there is no mechanism for external accountability of the Bishops and those entrusted to enforce the Discipline. Violations are often ignored or swept under the rug. Sadly, the structure of the United Methodist Church is dysfunctional and ineffective in upholding the covenant entered by all United Methodists.
This may be happening elsewhere, but why should we be concerned here in South Georgia?
While many churches and even a very small number of Annual Conferences like South Georgia have been able to avoid significant exposure to some of the issues occurring throughout the UMC, the theological divide is spreading rapidly, including in Annual Conferences to our north and south who have experienced deeper issues in recent years, including legal action taken by an Annual Conference against a theologically conservative church and its pastor. It seems inevitable that these issues will arise in the South Georgia UMC Annual Conference in the near future.
Additionally, while churches in South Georgia may be allowed to worship God and practice in a manner that matches their desired theological context for some time in the future, whether it’s a year or five, the apportionments paid by the local churches still go to fund organizations and groups within the UMC, including the UMC seminaries, that are actively supporting the progressive ideologies and “doctrine” (noted “God is Queer” [Duke] and “UM Seminary Illif Embraces Paganism”).
Why are my UMC leaders not sharing this same information with us?
While many in South Georgia have supported traditional understandings of scripture and theological and doctrinal beliefs, the upheaval and change to the institution is difficult. The UMC has had great spiritual impact on the lives of many in the past and continues to provide opportunities for ministry that have often taken many years to develop. For many, their are concerns over provision in the future and the risks of the unknown. Many who hold traditional beliefs still hold out hope that the institution can be saved or there is room for all in the “Big Tent” of The United Methodist Church. This has caused many in the leadership of the UMC to take a stance to guide the denomination towards this goal. Unfortunately, this means that many are left without a full understanding of the issues facing the UMC or the potential theological issues that each person must prayerfully assess to maintain spiritual integrity.
Why now? Can’t we wait until better terms are available in 2024?
Sadly, many have professed waiting for better terms in the future. Many theologically conservative laity and clergy leadership have spent a significant amount of time considering this over the past two years. The primary reasons to consider choosing to leave now are as follows:.
With the postponement to 2024 of the General Conference, it is likely that more progressive delegates will be present, resulting in the change to our current UMC The Book of Discipline to remove the biblical definition of marriage, allow same-sex marriages and ordination of self-avowed practicing LGBTQ+ persons, and the complete removal of The Traditional Plan that was approved by majority vote in 2019.
The opportunity for disaffiliation from the UMC will expire Dec. 31, 2023. Once it expires, churches will lose their ability to leave the UMC by a declarative act of the General Conference. While the SGA Board of Trustees has committed to extending disaffiliation beyond 2023, the specific details on this extension and its legal validity are unknown. Such an extension would take place outside the defined disaffiliation terms of paragraph 2553 and left to the discretion of the Board of Trustees.
Additional requirements could be added for those who pursue disaffiliation through Paragraph 2553. This has already occurred in other annual conferences and is often driven by the presiding Bishop or progressive leadership in the conference..
The Disaffiliation Fee for Pension Liability is tied to the stock and bond markets and could go up (or down). While currently projected to be lower at this time, it is completely unknown what it may be in the future.
Delaying disaffiliation means that churches continue to pay apportionments to the UMC. Some of those payments go directly to support progressive ideology and agendas inconsistent with traditional Wesleyan, biblical understanding.
The leadership of the UMC, particularly the Council of Bishops and the delegates to the Jurisdictional Conference are overwhelmingly theologically liberal. In the election of new bishops, SGA could receive a theologically liberal Bishop or merge with another Annual Conference that already has such a Bishop (such as Florida or North Georgia). With the recent Judicial Council ruling (Decision Number 1445 on May 20, 2022), the Jurisdictional Conference will meet and could appoint a new Bishop for South Georgia as soon as January 1, 2023.
People are walking away from UMC churches because they are tired and weary of this unresolved conflict and would prefer to put this distraction from the Gospel behind and fully pursue God’s call and purpose for the church.
What are the deadlines for disaffiliation under Paragraph 2553?
Paragraph 2553 will expire under its own terms on December 31, 2023. To be approved for disaffiliation by Annual Conference in June of 2023, a church must have completed their conference vote by April 1st, 2023. A District Superintendent has 120 days to schedule a Church Conference once notified. To be assured a church conference vote, the lay leadership must vote and notify their District Superintendent before December 1st, 2022 to be guaranteed that opportunity. Preparation including research and education as well as prayer, need to be occurring now.
Where can I find more information?
It is important to research these issues from multiple sources. Many resources are available outside the UMC for fair and balanced information, including: firebrandmag.com, peopleneedjesus.net, juicyecumenism.com, and goodnewsmag.org. People Need Jesus also maintains a compendium of all news articles from all sources and perspectives on the current schism.