UMC Current Landscape
Options For The FuturePray for Piney Grove as we continue planting, nurturing and growing relationships in Christ Jesus!
UNITED METHODIST CHURCH SPLIIT: QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Remain in the UMC
Future uncertain with orthodox churches leaving via disaffiliation or transfer
Process: No need to vote or make any changes to current status
Book of Discipline still governing order
Requirements:
Property of Piney Grove remains in possession of the denomination
Continue to pay tithes/apportionments according to the Arkansas Conference
Continue to pay fair share of church’s portion of unfunded liability to Wespath pastors retirement fund
Timeline: anticipation of possible legislation changes at General Conference 2024
Par. 2553 Disaffiliate reasons of conscience
Become an independent church
Process: Majority vote Administrative Council of the church
Send letter to District Superintendent
Enter 3 Month Discernment time with Bishop and District Superintendent
Final Vote via called Church Conference
Requirements:
Pay all current year tithes and another 12 months in advance
Repay any grants
Pay church’s portion of unfunded liability present and future to Wespath pastors retirement fund
Pay legal fees to transfer deed to church
Must be approved at Arkansas Annual Conference
Must be approved by Conference Board of Church location and building
Timeline: Sunset clause 12/31/23
Par. 2548.2 Transfer to another (Wesleyan) evangelical denomination
Connection to another Episcopal denomination
Process: Majority vote Administrative Council of the church
Send letter to District Superintendent
Enter 2 month Discernment time with Bishop and District Superintendent
Requirements:
Bishop and majority Cabinet Approval
Approval of District Board of Church location and building
Enter into Comity agreement
Agree to promissory note of church’s portion of unfunded liability present and future to Wespath pastors’ retirement fund
Timeline: Open ended
Presentation Script
Note about how to use the script with the slide presentation: this script and the accompanying slides (below) were created to be as user-friendly as possible. Each slide is numbered with the corresponding section of the script in red. An explanation of each slide can be found in bullet points with subcategories in bold.