The Path Forward
UPDATE 5/22/23
Dear Friends,
I hope all is well with you all as we continue to be in ministry with and for Jesus Christ. It is a joy to work together to Love God, Love Neighbor, and Make Disciples. Let us always keep that as our focus.
Last week the court case that we have been a part of was heard and the judge ruled that all of the churches involved in the case would be allowed to vote on the issue of disaffiliation. This past weekend, we received an update that the Annual Conference would not appeal this ruling. In addition, I was informed by our District Superintendent, Dr. Jessica Terrell, that the date for McEachern’s Church Conference to vote on the issue of staying in the UMC or disaffiliating from the UMC would be set as Sunday, August 27, 2023 at 1 PM. Also, a date for a Called Annual Conference Session for the purpose of voting on those churches who have voted to disaffiliate from the UMC has been set for November 18.
I encourage everyone to be in prayer for discernment for the future of McEachern. I want to remind us all that when we began this process we said that we had three hopes: that everyone would be heard, that everyone would be loved, and that everyone would be blessed. Let us all conduct ourselves accordingly.
Peace,
Dr. Doug
UPDATE 4/4/23
At the end of last week a lawsuit was filed on behalf of McEachern and 184 other United Methodist Churches of the North Georgia Conference seeking to reverse the “pause” that North Georgia Conference leadership had placed on the Disaffiliation Process and allow churches to vote on whether to stay in the UMC or leave the UMC. Please be clear, the lawsuit is not to cause McEachern to disaffiliate, it is simply to allow the process to move forward to a vote by the congregation in order to make a decision.
Please pray for our Bishop, Cabinet, and Conference Trustees as well as for our own McEachern leadership as we travel down this path. Pray for a quick resolution. And be patient and continue to support the amazing ministry that is happening at McEachern. We will continue to update our website with any new information under the Path Forward. I also urge you to read Bishop Dease’s letter found on the ngumc.org website or you can click on the following link.
– Dr. Doug
The information contained on this website is for informational purposes only and represents a good faith effort by the MMUMC Path Forward Task Force to educate and inform our congregation on the full range of perspectives regarding the current issues facing the UMC and their impact on the future of our church. The inclusion of any links herein does not imply a recommendation or endorsement of the views expressed within them by the Path Forward Task Force, and we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness or factual accuracy of any opinions/information presented. We encourage the congregation to prayerfully consider all information disseminated, independently verify any information upon which you rely, and seek out truthful information on your own such that if the time comes, you will be able to make a decision on disaffiliation or not based upon your own informed heart and mind.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the decision McEachern is facing?
McEachern is facing the decision of whether to stay in the United Methodist Church or disaffiliate (leave) the United Methodist Church. Many UMC congregations are not considering or debating the issue -they have simply chosen to stay in the UMC. McEachern has chosen to explore the issue and prayerfully discern what the congregation will do.
2. What is disaffiliation?
Disaffiliation is a process described in paragraph 2553 in the Book of Discipline that allows a congregation to leave the UMC with all of its property and resources under very limited circumstances, namely: “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 by the actions or inactions of its Annual Conference related to these issues which follow.” The choice by a local church to disaffiliate with the UMC must be made in sufficient time for the process for exiting the denomination to be complete prior to December 31, 2023 when the provisions of par. 2553 are set to expire.
3. For churches considering the possibility of disaffiliation, what is the process that will be used in our Annual Conference?
The overall framework for disaffiliation is found in par. 2553. You can find that document here. The process is as follows:
a) The Church Council must vote by simple majority of members of the Council present at a duly called meeting of the Council to request a Called Church Conference for the purpose of considering the question of staying UMC or disaffiliating. If the Church Council decides not to request a called Church Conference, then the process to disaffiliate ends and the church remains in the UMC.
b) If the Council requests the Church Conference, the request must be submitted to the District Superintendent between Jan. 1 and Feb. 28, 2023.
c) The Church Conference date will be set by the District Superintendent sometime after March 1, 2023.
d) At the Church Conference, a vote will be taken. The vote will be by members of the church and they must be present to vote. There are no proxy votes or mail in votes or Zoom votes. In order for disaffiliation to be approved, at the duly called Church Conference 2/3 of the members present must vote in favor of disaffiliation. If a church member is present and chooses to abstain from voting, this is considered a no vote against disaffiliating. If less than 2/3 vote to disaffiliate, then the disaffiliation process ends and the congregation stays in the UMC.
e) If the Church Conference vote is to disaffiliate, a simple majority of members of the Annual Conference must approve the ratify the decision at a regular or called session of the Annual Conference. The North Georgia Annual Conference is held each year in June.
4. Who are the members who can vote?
Any member of McEachern currently on our church roll can vote. We are beginning a process to try to contact inactive members to find out if they still want to be included on our membership roll. A person can only be removed from our roll if they request to be removed either verbally or in writing or if their name is presented to the annual Charge Conference as one to b removed for two consecutive years.
5. Does a United Methodist congregation have to vote?
No. If a congregation desires to remain in the UMC, no vote is necessary. Many congregations are waiting until General Conference 2024 in order to see what will happen in the UMC and how disaffiliating congregations have managed.
6. Are there costs to a congregation pursuing disaffiliation?
Yes. The actual cost is determined on the day of disaffiliation but it will include the following:
– Payment of any unpaid Conference Apportionments for the 12 months prior to disaffiliation. (currently $137,000 in process of being paid)
– Payment of one additional year of Conference Apportionments. (Additional $137,000)
– An amount equal to the local church’s pro rata share of any aggregate unfunded pension liability of the Annual Conference. (currently $57,000 subject to change)
– Repayment of any Annual Conference grants since 2018. (identifying these)
In addition, the church will bear any legal costs incurred in the process. There will be other incidental costs of transitioning from being a UMC congregation as well.
7. Why would the church consider disaffiliating now rather than later? (Updated 5/17/23)
The General Conference 2019 approved a disaffiliation process for local churches to leave the UMC with all their property and resources. Since the beginning of Methodism, all churches have had within their deeds a Trust Clause which states that the land, buildings, etc are held in trust by the local church for the United Methodist Church. If the congregation ever ceased to be United Methodist, all the land, etc. reverts to the United Methodist Church.
The disaffiliation par. 2553 expires on December 31, 2023. If a church does not act prior to that time, then it will remain in the UMC.
We do not know how the UMC might change the Book of Discipline in the future. This includes whether or not there will be included a disaffiliation process included in the future.
8. What happens to the church records and membership records?
Upon disaffiliation, the local church is required to send a copy of all its church records and membership records to the Annual Conference while still retaining a copy for its own use.
9. If the church votes to disaffiliate, how will the church be governed?
The individual congregation will have to set up its own governance if it exists as an independent congregation. If the congregation affiliates with another denomination, then the governance of that denomination will be followed. Some churches that have already disaffiliated but have not yet joined another denomination are using the governing structure found in the 2016 Book of Discipline as it relates to the Local Church.
10. If the church votes to disaffiliate, what will happen to our Pastors and Staff?
The Staff are employees of McEachern and would not be affected by the church’s decision to leave or stay in the UMC.
The Pastors would not be able to serve McEachern if the church disaffiliates and if they continued as active United Methodist clergy. The Bishop and Cabinet have stated that even in retirement United Methodist clergy would be unable to serve any congregation that is not United Methodist. This last statement is currently being reviewed. The Pastors could serve McEachern if they give up their Ordination in the UMC and become clergy in another denomination.
11. Will the church join another denomination? And if so, which denomination?
If McEachern completes the process of disaffiliation from the UMC, then there are a number of options to explore. The congregation could remain independent or it could join another denomination. Information concerning these other denominations will be provided at a later date.
12. What happens to my membership at McEachern?
If the congregation votes to disaffiliate then your membership would remain at McEachern. If you desired to stay in a United Methodist congregation then you would have to transfer your membership to a local UMC congregation nearby.
Conversely, if the congregation decided to stay in the UMC, your membership would remain at McEachern. If you desired to leave the UMC then you would transfer your membership to a non-UMC congregation.
13. What happens with the McEachern Trust Fund? (Updated 5/17/23)
We are not certain at this time. To be certain would require a Declaratory Judgement from a judge. McEachern’s Trustees are investigating this.
14. Can a person be a member of the UMC and a congregation that is not UMC at the same time?
No. Your membership must be in one or the other.
Informational Links
Stay UMC Perspective
- The United Methodist Divorce is a Mistake
- “A Future With Hope: With Adam Hamilton”, Video
- Abide Web Resources, South Georgia Conference
- That We May Be One, Texas Conference Resource Page
- Stay UMC “What are the Big Concerns?“, North Alabama Conference
- Is the UMC Really? (Part 1) and (Part 2)
- “United Methodist Church”, Video by the Texas Conference of the UMC
- Diverse and Still United: A Conversation With Adam Hamilton and John Stephens
- Heartfelt Plea to the WCA – Stop Lying About the UMC
- North Georgia UMC Resource Page
- Download Handout from Meeting on 8/21/22 for Remain UMC Perspective
- Use Extreme Caution with WCA Tactics and Misinformation, Bishop Tracy S. Malone (Ohio) Message
- May 29, 2022 Sermon “Who Has The Final Word” by Dr. John Robbins
- Response to Rob Renfroe “Differences that Divide the UMC” Videos
- A Conversation on the Future of the UMC
- What It Means to Be in Connection
Leave UMC Perspective
- Differences that Divide the UMC, Six 12-15 minute videos
- How Did We Get Here and Where are We Going, 45 minute video
- Major Challenges Facing the UMC
- Major Challenges Facing the UMC Part II
- The Center Cannot Hold
- That Time Has Come
- Exiting United Methodism Now
- Do as I Say Not as I Do
- Will the Post Separation UMC be a “Big Tent”?
- A Vision for the Continuing UMC, 8 minute video
- Sinking Sand, Why I’m Leaving United Methodism
- On Separation, Schism, and Seasons
- Disaffiliation and the Coming Drop Dead-Line
- Bishop Scott Jones Q&A, 54 minute video
- Misinformation Abounds
Theology Resources
- Dr. John Robbins, Sermon, Who Has the Final Word, Video
- Pastoral Letter on Diverse Understandings
- Wesley Commentary on Often Cited Verses
- What Does the Bible Say About Human Sexuality
- How Can We Agree to Disagree?
- How to Read the Bible on Homosexuality
- UMC Q&A: Theology and Doctrine
- ‘Jesus Didn’t Say Anything About Homosexuality’ – A Christian Response
- New The Thoughtful Christian Series – Human Sexuality (Part 1) and (Part 2)