9/24/2023 - Church Vote Announcement

Our special called Church Conference was held on Sunday, September 24. There were 443 ballots cast at the church conference. 208 votes (47%) were cast to remain with the United Methodist denomination and 234 votes (53%) were cast to disaffiliate from the United Methodist denomination. With 53% of the votes in favor of disaffiliation not meeting the 67% requirement, the measure to disaffiliate from the United Methodist Church did not pass.

Special thanks go to our planning team, credentialing team, nursery workers, and church staff for their extra help with this vote and meeting. Thank you to everyone who came out to make their voice heard during the Church Conference for the vote. For those who are disappointed by these results, please know that you are still welcome and loved at HFUMC! We strongly believe that God is going to continue to do great things here, and we hope that you will continue to be part of that work. Please reach out to the church office if you'd like to talk. We care about you!

Most importantly, please pray for our church that these decisions will empower us to reach even more people for Jesus here in Hendersonville and around the world!

In Christ,

Pastor Don

___________________________________

The Church Conference (membership-wide vote) for Hendersonville First United Methodist Church’s professing members to vote on whether to disaffiliate from the United Methodist denomination will take place on Sunday, September 24, 2023, at 3:00 p.m. It is our hope that all church members will be there to cast their vote on this important day.

A final Q&A session will be held on Sunday, September 17 at 2:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary.

During this time, the pastors invited all HFUMC attenders to seek God's guidance by:

1.) Praying for HFUMC at 2:17pm daily

2.) Participating in a weekly "Wesley Fast" from Thursday evening to Friday evening - if able

3.) Subscribe to the newsletter

3.) To remember Wesley's first General Rule to "Do no harm"

Voting Procedures (for the church conference vote - Sunday, September 24 at 3 PM)

Credentialing will begin at 3:00 p.m. and voting will commence as soon as all in attendance are registered and seated in the gym. (Note: This is a change in the procedure that was originally communicated. Per updated guidelines from the Conference Office, all members must be present and vote together, there is no provision for absentee ballots. You must be present to vote.

You will enter the church from the atrium or carport doors and proceed to Genesis Hall. Childcare will be provided in the Children’s Wing for infants through PreK (first floor through the carport entrance). Please leave parking spaces nearest the carport entrance available for our members with mobility challenges.

Credentialing Process: We will have registration tables in Genesis Hall set up alphabetically by last name. Bring a photo ID to present to a church volunteer for verification. Youth without photo IDs can be verified by a parent. You will initial next to your name on the member list and will be provided an official ballot.

Once you receive your ballot you can be seated in the gym. Once all members are seated in the gym the District Superintendent, Jerry Wallace, will call the meeting to order, explain the process, and you will have the opportunity to vote. A sample ballot will be mailed to all members in advance of the vote so you can familiarize yourself with the wording.

Voting will be a simple marking of “yes” or “no” and you will sign your ballot. Yes is a vote to disaffiliate, no is a vote to stay affiliated with the United Methodist Denomination. Ushers will guide each row to the front to place votes in the ballot box. After all votes are submitted, we will pray together, and members will have the option to leave or stay until the votes are counted.

Two vote counters, who are not affiliated with our church and are not local residents, will count the votes and Jerry Wallace will certify the vote count and notify the church members of the result. Disaffiliation from the United Methodist Denomination may only be passed by a 66.7% or greater “Yes” vote of the ballots distributed at the Conference.

An email will be sent to all church members once the vote count is announced.

Frequently Asked Questions - updated 9/12/2023

Q: What exactly will HFUMC be voting on during the upcoming Church Conference?

A: The members of HFUMC will be voting on whether to disaffiliate from or remain in the United Methodist denomination.

Q: When and where will the Church Conference be held?

A: The vote will be held during a formal meeting of all church members (a “Church Conference”) on Sunday, Sept 24 at 3PM in the HFUMC Gym/Contemporary Worship Center (note that this is different than the sanctuary location listed on the sample ballots that have been mailed.)

Q: Why is HFUMC making this decision now instead of after the next General Conference?

A: While the denomination will not make any changes to its discipline until the next General Conference (slated for April 23—May 3, 2024 in Charlotte, NC), unfortunately, some options for local churches will no longer be available by that date.

The disaffiliation process defined in Paragraph 2553 of the Book of Discipline was a temporary provision created by the 2019 General Conference for churches desiring to exit the denomination for reasons of conscience over the Book of Discipline or the actions/inactions of their annual conference. This provision is set to expire on 12/31/2023 (which was a date set before the 2024 General Conference was ever scheduled) and there is currently no guaranteed process of disaffiliation for churches who may desire to exit the UMC in the future.

Q: Are there any indications of what may come from the next General Conference?

A: While it is not possible to fully anticipate the decisions of next year’s General Conference, there have been a few recent developments within the General Conference and its leadership which members of the HFUMC Conference Planning Team feel are important for HFUMC’s awareness and consideration. While it should be clearly noted that these changes are not official or binding unless approved by the General Conference, it is the planning team’s desire for the HFUMC membership to be aware of these developments with their potential implications for the denomination as we seek to be informed and prayerful in our upcoming Church Conference.

1.) The first development is that a new version of the denomination’s Social Principles (a portion of the Book of Discipline that outlines the denomination’s guidance for responding in faith to current-day issues) has been presented by the Board of Church and Society of the UMC for the review and approval of the General Conference.1 Within this updated version of the Social Principles, the denomination’s understanding and approach to human sexuality and marriage (if approved) would be altered in the following ways:

(In defining appropriate sexuality) “We support the rights of all people to exercise personal consent in sexual relationships, to make decisions about their own bodies and be supported in those decisions, to receive comprehensive sexual education, to be free from sexual exploitation and violence, and to have access to adequate sexual health care.” 2

(Definition in current Book of Discipline) “Although all persons are sexual beings whether or not they are married, sexual relations are affirmed only within the covenant of monogamous, heterosexual marriage.” 3

(In defining marriage) “Within the church, we affirm marriage as a sacred, lifelong covenant that brings two people of faith into union with one another and into deeper relationship with God and the religious community.” 4

Definition in current Book of Discipline) “We affirm the sanctity of the marriage covenant that is expressed in love, mutual support, personal commitment, and shared fidelity between a man and a woman.” 5

2.) The second development is a new “Regionalization Plan” submitted by the Standing Committee on Central Conference Matters to be reviewed and approved by the General Conference. 6 If approved, this new plan would significantly alter the manner in which the denomination approaches policy-setting. As opposed to having a singular polity on important social denominational issues (including human sexuality) that is voted on as a whole by consensus within the global General Conference, the new plan (if approved) would allow for each of the seven central conferences (in Africa, Europe and the Philippines) along with the US to each have the ability to vote equally and independently to adapt their own policies from the Book of Discipline on how to best express the mission of the church within their respective region/culture. While the basic doctrinal standards that represent the core Wesleyan beliefs would remain the same in each conference, the new plan would permit a more “regionalized” approach to understanding and contextualizing the Book of Discipline and church polity within each region. 7

Q: Why are some churches choosing to disaffiliate from the UMC?

A: Some of the chief reasons some churches are choosing to disaffiliate include: theological differences pertaining to human sexuality, fundamental differences in approach to scripture, fundamental differences in approach to mission, lack of perceived trust in the UMC to resolve the conflict, and some churches’ desire to become independent or align with another Wesleyan denomination. Some churches are also choosing to disaffiliate due to the ongoing unrest within the denomination caused by some bishops, Annual Conferences, and pastors who have chosen not to abide by the current Book of Discipline and the way in which such decisions have impacted the witness and reputation of the denomination.

Q: Why are some churches choosing to remain in the UMC?

A: There are a variety of reasons why some churches are choosing to remain in the UMC. Some of the primary reasons include: a desire to avoid conflict and division amongst their congregation in taking a church conference vote, a belief that the 2024 General Conference will remove restrictive language concerning sexuality and same sex marriage (which supports the congregation’s belief), a desire to stay in connection with other United Methodist Churches and ministries, a desire to remain part of the UMC regardless of future changes in the Book of Discipline, desiring to remain within a denomination of diverse beliefs, and an uncertainty of alignment with another denomination.

Q: What have other churches within our TWKUMC Conference decided to do?

A: Our TWKUMC churches have had a number of responses to the current developments within the denomination. Some of our conference’s churches have decided to disaffiliate, while others have chosen to remain, while some have predetermined that they will remain within the UMC regardless of any changes made within the General Conference. Other churches have decided to wait until the next General Conference in hopes that the denomination’s future will be more clear (even though there is no guarantee for another opportunity to disaffiliate).

As of the first special annual conference this past May, 162 churches (of 840 local churches) within the TWKUMC Conference have disaffiliated.8 Additional churches (exact number unknown) are slated to disaffiliate in the next (and final) special annual conference on November 19, 2023.

Q: Who is eligible to vote? How can one verify their voting eligibility?

A: All current professing members are eligible and encouraged to vote. A “Professing Member” is a baptized Christian who has taken the vows of membership (after baptism, confirmation or transfer of membership from another church) who agrees to be a part of and support the ministry at HFUMC.

If you are uncertain of your membership status, please call or email Suzanne Newman, Church Secretary, at (615) 824-8725, Suzanne.newman@hfumc.org, or stop by the church office where we have a full printed list of church members available for review. Suzanne will also be present on September 17 during and after the Q & A session at 2 pm to verify status.

Q: How will the Church Conference vote be taken?

A: Credentialing will begin at 3:00 p.m. on September 24th and voting will commence as soon as all in attendance are registered and seated in the gym. (Note: This is a change in the procedure that was originally communicated earlier this Summer. Per updated guidelines from the Conference Office, all members must be present and vote together, and there is no provision for absentee ballots. You must be present to vote.

You will enter the church from the atrium or carport doors and proceed to Genesis Hall. Childcare will be provided in the Children’s Wing for infants through 5 yrs (first floor through the carport entrance). Please leave parking spaces nearest the carport entrance available for our members with mobility challenges.

Credentialing Process: We will have registration tables in Genesis Hall set up alphabetically by last name. Bring a photo ID to present to a church volunteer for verification. Youth without photo IDs can be verified by a parent with an ID. You will initial next to your name on the member list and will be provided an official ballot. Once you receive your ballot you can be seated in the gym. Once all members are seated in the gym the District Superintendent, Jerry Wallace, will call the meeting to order, explain the process, and you will have the opportunity to vote. Sample ballots were mailed to all members on September 6th in advance (so you can familiarize yourself with the wording of the ballot).

Sample Ballot

Voting will be a simple marking of “yes” or “no” and you will sign your ballot. Yes is a vote to disaffiliate, no is a vote to stay affiliated with the United Methodist Denomination. Ushers will guide each row to the front to place votes in the ballot box. After all votes are submitted, we will pray together, and members will have the option to leave or stay until the votes are counted.

An email will be sent to all church members once the vote count is announced.

Q: What do I bring the day of the vote?

A: Please bring a photo ID and a pen.

Q: Have we provided the District Office with all forms required prior to the Church Conference?

A: Yes—the required forms were submitted prior to the deadline; including, Exhibit B of the Disaffiliation Agreement listing the church’s assets along with a complete list of names and addresses of the members.

Q: If we vote to disaffiliate, what is required to finalize the disaffiliation process?

1.) Approval of the final Disaffiliation Agreement (along with a certification of the vote) will be signed by the HFUMC Trustees Committee.

2.) A quitclaim deed would be submitted to the conference office that, once fully executed by both HFUMC and the TWKUMC Conference, would remove the conference’s interest in exercising its rights to HFUMC property through its trust clause.

3.) HFUMC’s disaffiliation request would need to be formally approved by a special called Annual Conference meeting of the TWKUMC (for approval of all churches in the conference disaffiliating since the last special called Annual Conference meeting this past May), scheduled for November 19, 2023.

4.) Payment of an estimated $700,000 would be due on November 30, 2023. (Note: This money is currently held and available in an unrestricted reserve savings account of HFUMC).

Q: What are the next steps if we vote to disaffiliate?

A: Initially, nothing changes in our church’s day-to-day functioning. We would form a group to lead the church in a decision-making process about our long-term plan on whether to affiliate with another denomination.

Please visit this link (https://hfumc.org/church-conference-vote) and scroll down to download the Church Comparisons for detailed comparisons of various denomination options.

Q: What if I still have questions?

A: If you have additional questions, please utilize one or more of the following resources:

Refer to the materials posted on the HFUMC website under the “Church Conference Vote” tile via this link: https://hfumc.org/church-conference-vote.
Attend the Church-wide Q&A session scheduled for Sunday, September 17th at 2:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary.
Reach out directly to a member of the Church Conference Planning Team: Tracey Silverman, Ted Brown, Dennis Cavin, Charley Elliott, Mike Fussell, Kelley Hess, Don Hutchinson, Mary Cay Koen, Chris Renner, Trey Sandefur and Joshua Strader.

May God bless our church and guide each of us during this process.

Other Recent Updates From the Committee

ECDWF Report to Council

Decision Tree

Church Comparisons

QA Session April 30, 2023

ECDWF Report #14

Voting Procedures August 17, 2023

April 18, 2023 update

April 10, 2023 Update

March 19, 2023 Update

Feb. 27, 2023 Update

Feb. 15, 2023 Update

JAN. 29, 2023 Update

Nov 14,2022 Update

Nov. 9, 2022 Update

The Education Committee to Discern the Way Forward (ECDWF) prepared this document to educate and inform our congregation of the issues we face. The committee is charged with providing the issues in an unbiased and factual manner based on extensive research and consultation with experts in our denomination.

In the coming months the ECDWF will host a number of informational and listening sessions to both explain the situation and to gain an understanding of our members’ thoughts. We trust this document will serve as a foundation for those sessions.

The issues are complex and often confusing. We ask that each member draw his or her conclusions with prayerful discernment.

The information is organized in the following manner:

The ECDWF— its purpose, organization, and objectives
Issues facing the United Methodist Church
Specific issues applicable to HFUMC
The next steps for HFUMC

A. What is the mission and who are the members of the ECDWF?

The task of the ECDWF is to provide factual, unbiased information to our congregation about the issues currently facing the UMC, while also providing constructive forums for congregants to ask questions and initiate in prayerful dialogue together. The ECDWF will share the findings resulting from the questionnaire and listening sessions with the Council of Stewards.

The members of the ECDWF are:

Dennis D. Cavin (Chair)
David Bair (Chair of Staff Parish Relations Committee)
Ted Brown
Dave Cleary
Mike Fussell (Chair of Christian Legacy Committee)
Kelley Hess
Don Hutchinson (Senior Pastor)
Mary Cay Koen
Patrick Parker (Chair of HFUMC Trustees)
Tracey Silverman (Chair of Council of Stewards)
Joshua Strader (Associate Pastor of Connections)
Rebecca Wells (Chair of Children First Committee)

The ECDWF is not responsible for making decisions on behalf of HFUMC. Rather, the scope of work within this team will be to educate the congregation on the issues facing the United Methodist Church as they relate to HFUMC and to facilitate a fair and open discourse so that the congregation is informed.

B: What are the Major Issues Facing the UMC?

The UMC has historically been a church of diverse views especially on social issues. Our churches range theologically from conservative to moderate to progressive. Many believe that this diversity makes us better able to make disciples of the world. Feelings about homosexuality are very diverse around the world as are feelings about how literally to read the Bible. We do not differ on the fact that we come to salvation by grace through faith, the triune God, the golden rule, or the great commission, creeds, or other basic tenants of our Faith. We differ dramatically in our view about the church’s approach to human sexuality. We are also being asked if we can remain one with others who think differently.

On the surface of this divide is homosexuality yet advocates on both sides of the controversy agree homosexuality, is just one issue that divides the denomination. The divide is much deeper and more profound than has been addressed in both the media and some parochial publications.

As in most things there are two prominent views to this divide.

One view holds the application of scripture as the most important consideration in determining the orthodoxy of our beliefs. Do we believe in the Bible or not? If we ignore the 6 passages about homosexuality, what will be next? Should we punish ministers/ churches/ conferences that do not follow the UMC Book of Discipline, our constitution?

Another view would say that homosexuality is the one tipping point of the discussion. We have always had diversity in the interpretation of scripture even though we all believe that scripture is sufficient to bring people to salvation. We haven’t come to this talk of splitting over the Virgin Birth or at what point Christ became both fully human and divine. These topics have been around forever and are certainly not mainstream thoughts or concerns. People have historically left the Methodist Church over other important issues such as slavery and civil rights.

The church’s 2016 Book of Discipline recognizes the “sacred worth” of all persons, but also states that "the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching" and bans financial support of LGBTQ+-based groups. Since the 2019 Special General Conference, which confirmed the principles spelled out in the Book of Discipline that homosexuality is incompatible with Christian beliefs and that the sanctity of marriage is between one man and one-woman, the divisiveness has only deepened. Given the outcome of the 2019 Conference, progressive churches and conferences have made it clear they will not support the governing rules of the Book of Discipline and that the denomination has reached a position of irreconcilable differences.

There is little question that the US has experienced dramatic division over cultural issues bringing into question shared morals, values, and beliefs.

Below is a simplified look at the issues in point-counter point manner. This is not to suggest that a person resides in just one column or the other. Many people find they agree and disagree with positions in both columns and would consider themselves Centrist.

It is abundantly clear that the Methodist Church is irreconcilably divided over the authority of Scripture, the interpretation of the Bible, and the debate over the church’s sexual ethics, including its teachings on marriage and its ordination standards. This debate can be summarized by the intertwined subjects of biblical interpretation and the church’s understanding of scriptural authority. ***

The United Methodist Church does not recognize or celebrate same-sex marriages. According to the Book of Discipline, “Ceremonies that celebrate homosexual unions shall not be conducted by our ministers and shall not be conducted in our churches.” The denomination’s official policy includes support of laws that define marriage as a union of one man and one woman as reaffirmed in the 2019 Special Conference. **

Nevertheless, many clergy and individual churches have voted to celebrate weddings despite restrictions set by the General Conference. **

One well known prominent Methodist minister has proposed that there are three categories or buckets that the Scriptures can be divided into: (1) some parts of the Bible were never actually true expressions of God’s will, so they do not apply to us, because they reflect only the time and place in which they were written,(( Very Small Bucket)), (2) other parts were true expressions of God’s will at one time, but no longer are, so they do not speak to our current context of God’s will for us has changed, ((Small Bucket)), (3) there are parts of the Bible that were true, still are, and always will be (( Large Bucket)). ***

** “ United Methodist Divided” by Dale McConkey

*** “Are We Really Better Together” by Rob Renfroe and Walter Fenton

C. How did the United Methodist Church come to this point in our history?

The Methodist movement began in England in 1738 with the Methodist Episcopal Church formation in 1784. The Evangelical United Brethren evolved from German-speaking religious movements that started in the early 19^th century. The Methodist Church and Evangelical United Brethren Churches merged in 1968 to form the United Methodist Church.

The history of the Methodist Church is replete with division and splits dating from 1792 when the Republican Methodist melded into the Church of Christ all the way up to 1968 with the Evangelical Church of North America from EUB/Methodist merger. Issues that have caused these splits include:

Bishops Authority to appoint preachers
Discrimination and slavery
Lack of laity representation and elder election
Church government by bishops and pastoral appointments
Loss of Wesleyan standards by “new school” Methodism
Emphasis on sanctifying grace (holiness)
Local Churches ownership of their property

D. Understanding the Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church

The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church, originated over two hundred years ago. It is the instrument for setting forth the laws, plan, polity, and process by which United Methodist govern themselves. The Discipline defines what is expected of laity and clergy as they seek to be effective witnesses in the world as part of the whole body of Christ. As of today, during every ordination ceremony at Annual Conferences, prospective ministers are asked if they will abide by and uphold the Book of Discipline once ordained.

The Book of Discipline is a book of covenants that set forth the theological grounding of The United Methodist Church in biblical faith. It asserts that all who are baptized and confirmed are ministers of Jesus Christ. It affirms with John Wesley that solitary religion is invalid and that Christ lays claim upon the whole life of those who accept him as Lord and Savior.

The Book of Discipline contains a constitution that guides churches with a legislative process (General Conference held every four years), an executive process (Council of Bishops, annual conferences, and local churches) and a judiciary process (Judicial Council).

The Book of Discipline states that the mission of the Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Local churches and extension ministries of the Church provide the most significant arenas through which disciple-making occurs.

The Book of Discipline

Tables of Contents

A Brief History of The United Methodist Church
The Constitution
Doctrinal Standards and Our Theological Task
Articles of Religion of The United Methodist Church
The Confession of Faith of the Evangelical United Brethren Church
The Ministry of All Christians
Social Principles
The Local Church
The Ministry of the Ordained
The Superintendency
The Conferences
Administrative Order
Church Property
Judicial Administration

E. The Methodist Church is governed by a hierarchy of Conferences

General Conference:

The General Conference is the primary legislative body of The United Methodist Church and is the only entity authorized to speak officially for the church. General Conference customarily meets every four years to determine legislation related to connectional matters but can meet at other times for special called sessions. Changes to The Book of Discipline can only be authorized by the General Conference. Each annual conference elects pastors and lay people as voting members to the General Conference.

Annual Conference:

The Annual Conference is the basic body of the church (Constitution, paragraph 33). The term dates to the early days of the Methodist movement when founder John Wesley established a conference to instruct and supervise Methodist preachers. We use “annual conference” to reference both the body and the gathering of the body. The annual conference approves candidates for ordination and handles all matters concerning clergy. The annual conference equips its local churches for ministry and provides a connection for ministry beyond the local church (paragraph 601).

HFUMC is in the Tennessee-Western Kentucky (TNWK) conference, which was formed January 1, 2022, as part of the UMC’s reorganization. There are 918 churches in the conference with nine District Superintendents. The bishop is William T. McAllily and the District (Cumberland River) Superintendent is Rev. Jerry Wallace.

Charge Conference:

A pastoral charge is one or more churches to which an ordained or licensed clergyperson is appointed. A charge conference is the governing body of the charge; and the church council, the executive agency of the charge conference, guides the church’s ministry throughout the year. The District Superintendent presides over the annual charge conference as well as any special charge conferences.

Church Conference:

The church conference is a meeting of all church members each who have a vote on decisions placed before the conference.

HFUMC Council of Stewards:

The Council of Stewards is the executive agency of the charge conference and guides HFUMC’s ministry throughout the year. At HFUMC the Council is led by Tracey Silverman. In some UMCs, it carries the title of Church Council. Stewards are paid staff and laity leaders. The paid staff are hired by the Staff Parish Relations Committee. Laity stewards are sought by the Committee on Nominations and Leadership to serve in the committees and ministries outlined by The Book of Discipline. The Committee on Nominations and leadership presents its recommendation at the annual charge conference. After nominations from the floor, laity stewards are elected by congregational vote.

F. Why is it important for HFUMC and other churches to be aware of the denominational issues now?

Thirty-Two United Methodist leaders from traditional, centrist, and progressive caucuses met together after the called 2019 Special General Conference to discuss ways to allow for a "win-win" situation in the continued debate over issues related to human sexuality. The decision by this group was to have an amicable separation within the United Methodist Church. The result of their work produced a consensus document known as the Protocol of Reconciliation and Grace through Separation.

The Protocol allowed for the formation of a new orthodox "traditional" Methodist Church and allowed for the "Post Separation UMC" to repeal the traditional plan adopted in 2019 and remove all prohibitive language related to LGBTQ+ persons in the United Methodist Book of Discipline.

For the terms of the Protocol to be implemented, legislation incorporating its terms were to be presented to the 2020 General Conference. With the arise of the COVID pandemic, however, the 2020 General Conference was postponed three times and is now scheduled to meet in 2024

Following the subsequent postponements of the General Conference, there began a widespread withdrawal of support from progressives and centrists for the Protocol of Reconciliation and Grace through Separation.

Given the likely termination of the Protocol, churches who support the current Book of Discipline’s language maintaining that homosexual behavior is incompatible with Christian beliefs and that marriage must be between one man and one woman can disaffiliate from the UMC under Paragraph 2553 of the Book of Discipline.

Announcement from Bishop McAlilly, TNWK Conference, September 30, 2022:

“However, we recognize there are some churches that do not want to wait for the holy conferencing and discernment to take place at the 2024 General Conference. We strongly encourage these churches to have constructive conversations about their future. Then if after a period of discernment these congregations agree they no longer share the principles that have always defined us as a denomination, they may choose to leave the UMC through disaffiliation. As stated in Para 2553, added to the United Methodist Book of Discipline in 2019, “The choice by a local church to disaffiliate with the United Methodist under this paragraph shall be made in sufficient time for the process for exiting the denomination to be completed prior to December 31, 2023.”

G. Why are some churches choosing to disaffiliate from the UMC now?

Some churches are leaving because of theological differences pertaining to human sexuality, fundamental differences in approach to scripture, fundamental differences in approach to mission, lack of perceived trust in the UMC to resolve the conflict, and their desire to become independent or align with another Wesleyan denomination

Critical to the time discussion is the provisions spelled out in Para 2553 which expires December 31, 2023, as mentioned above. Churches that choose not to disaffiliate will then be subject to any decisions made by the 2024 General Conference which some predict may remove all restrictions pertaining to the practice of homosexuality, same sex marriage, and ordination of gay and lesbian ministers within the UMC.

H. What are the implications of a church desiring to disaffiliate?

Decision Making Process – A church conference shall be conducted in accordance with ¶ 248 and shall be held within one hundred twenty (120) days after the district superintendent calls for the church conference. 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.

Process Following Decision to Disaffiliate from The United Methodist Church - If a 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, (TNWK for HFUMC). That agreement must be consistent with the following provisions:

a) Apportionments - The local church shall pay apportionments for the 12 months prior to disaffiliation, as well as an additional 12 months of apportionments to include any unpaid apportionments. HFUMC has no unpaid apportionments.

HFUMC’s 24-month apportionment costs are approximately: $334,891.00

b) Property - A disaffiliating local church shall have the right to retain its real and personal, tangible, and intangible property. All transfers of property shall be made prior to disaffiliation. All costs for transfer of title or other legal work shall be borne by the disaffiliating local church.

c) Pension Liabilities - The local church shall contribute withdrawal liability in an amount equal to its pro rata share of any aggregate unfunded pension obligations to the annual conference. 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 church’s share.

HFUMC’s pension obligation is approximately: $410,465.00

d) Other Liabilities - The local church shall satisfy all other debts, loans, and liabilities, or assign and transfer them to its new entity, prior to disaffiliation.

HFUMC paid off all debt for church buildings in 2021.

e) Payment Terms - Payment shall occur prior to the effective date of departure.

f) Once the disaffiliating local church has reimbursed the applicable annual conference for all funds due under the agreement, the applicable annual conference shall release any claims that it may have under ¶ 2501 and other paragraphs of The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church commonly referred to as the trust clause.

g) A local church deciding to disaffiliate must discern if it will become independent or realign with another denomination. Items driving that decision are:

pastoral assignments,
ownership of property/assets
church’s role in making theological decisions on cultural issues similar to those currently facing the UMC)

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.

I. Why are some churches choosing to remain in the UMC at this time?

There is a myriad of reasons churches are waiting for the results of the 2024 General Conference before addressing disaffiliation. Chief among those:

A desire to avoid conflict and division amongst their congregation trying to get to a church vote
A belief that the 2024 General Conference will remove restrictive language concerning sexuality and same sex marriage which supports their congregation’s belief
A lack of financial ability to pay obligations of Paragraph 2553, within the Book of Discipline
A desire to remain part of the UMC regardless of future changes in the Book of Discipline
An uncertainty of alignment with another denomination

J. What are the implications of a church desiring to remain in the UMC?

The Church will not need to come to a decision or vote at this time
No changes will be made within the local church until next General Conference, if then.
If changes are made at the next General Conference that the church finds disagreeable, it may forfeit its ability to disaffiliate with the expiration of paragraph 2553

K. What are churches in the TNWK Conference doing currently?

There are currently a total of 921 churches in the TNWK Conference. Sixty churches disaffiliated at the 2022 Annual Conference and nine churches were closed.
Many of the remaining 852 churches are currently conducting discernment processes

L. What are the next steps in this time of discernment for HFUMC?

What will be the next steps in this time of discernment for HFUMC?

The ECDWF will learn from the recently published questionnaire
The ECDWF will establish listening sessions and discussion forums (Sunday School Classes, Small Groups, other)
The ECDWF will continue to publish fact papers relevant to the issues and updated guidance from the TNWK Conference
The ECDWF will submit a final report of ECDWF’s work to the Council of Stewards for the COS to determine whether the church should take a church wide vote
Should a vote be desired, HFUMC must:
Have Pastor Don Hutchinson contact our district superintendent Rev. Jerry Wallace. This is an important step, because exactly how the process will work varies by annual conference. The district superintendent will provide the most accurate information so our congregation can make its best decisions informed by the facts.
Understands that the denomination’s Trust Clause always remains in effect until disaffiliation. All congregations and ministries of The United Methodist Church hold their property and assets in trust for the denomination, and specifically for the annual conference.
Pay the cost referenced in Paragraph H above in order to maintain its church property.

What are the important timelines for HFUMC to be aware of?

The ECDWF will continue to work diligently educating and informing the congregation and provide the Council of Stewards their final report in sufficient time for the COS to make any determination on a potential church-wide vote before the December 31^st, 2023 disaffiliation deadline outlined in Paragraph 2553.
Bishop McAllily has established two special Annual Conferences for 2023 dedicated to making decisions for churches wishing to disaffiliate. These two conferences are in addition to the normal Annual Conference typically held in the month of June.
The first Special Annual Conference will be held on May 22, 2023. Churches wishing to disaffiliate at this Conference must have all their preliminary work and payments ready by Apr 3, 2023
The second Special Annual Conference will be held on November 13, 2023. Churches wishing to disaffiliate at this Conference must have all their preliminary work and payments ready by October 2, 2023

M. How will the desires of the HFUMC congregation be heard?

The ECDWF will host several information and listening sessions over the next several Pamphlet is distributed. In addition, ECDWF members will meet with Sunday School Classes, Small Groups, and other groups within the church to listen and learn. Once these actions are completed, there will be additional meetings to address unanswered questions or concerns.

N. What can we do to be helpful to the ECDWF?

Participate in as many listening sessions as possible and be in continual prayer for HFUMC and the ECDWF during this season of transition and discernment within the UMC.
Stay current with the discussion by talking with committee members, reading the summary reports of the ECDWF meeting (available at HFUMC.org), and committing to study and pray about the issues currently facing the UMC. Discuss the issues among your groups, friends, and family to discern your personal understanding and beliefs.
Pray continually that God will guide and move your daily walk with him.