The ongoing dialog within The UMC (2022)

Summaries

From United Methodist Communications

Episode 13 - November 2023 - Celebrating new and growing congregations while grieving the loss of local churches that have chosen to disaffiliate. we give thanks for committed United Methodists and their many stories of hope.
Episode 1 - September 2022 - Explains splintering that occurred in The United Methodist Church.
Episode 4 - January 2023 - Find hope even in the midst of local church disaffiliations. Amongst grief and sadness, there is also opportunity. 
Episode 6 - March 2023 - Excerpts of Bishop Thomas Bickerton’s recent State of The UMC Address, titled Reclaim. Revive. Renew. View the entirety of the Address.
FVUMC: Overview of the debate within The United Methodist Church presented by Rev. Owen Barrow (Recorded in May 2022)

NC Annual Conference June 2023: Presentation by Rev. Adam Hamilton on future of The United Methodist Church.

Informational Resources

The NC Conference staff recommends these resources to help answer frequently asked questions.

From United Methodist Communications & The United Methodist News Service

UM Communications operates a service called "Ask The UMC". As members of The United Methodist Church debate the church's stance on human sexuality, some congregations are considering whether they wish to leave the denomination. During this challenging time, misinformation about the church's official positions, how a church can exit, and what the future holds is causing added stress for many. Ask The UMC has created this series of FAQs designed to help dispel false information and provide accurate answers to the questions received.

United Methodist Foundational Documents:

From Our North Carolina Conference

Chronological Background of the Discussions Within the Denomination

In 2016, The United Methodist Church held its General Conference - which convenes every 4 years to conduct the business of the denomination and make changes to the church's laws and policies. Facing bitter fracture over the subject of human sexuality, the 2016 General Conference delegates, elected to represent every region of United Methodism worldwide, set a special General Conference to navigate this topic and created the Commission on a Way Forward. That conference met in 2019.

At General Conference 2019, legislation was passed and language updated in the Book of Discipline - the denomination's book of law - regarding the practice of homosexuality, the ordination of LGBTQIA clergy, and the definition of marriage. These updates, which did not fundamentally change the denomination's existing statements, were part of what was called the Traditionalist Plan.

It is important to note that the changes do NOT ban LGBTQIA people from membership and participation in The UMC denomination. They do strengthen penalties for pastors who break the church laws. Legislation was also passed which created a "Gracious Exit Plan" for any church choosing to disaffiliate with The UMC .

United Methodist pastors and members who had hoped for adoption of one of the proposed plans considered to be more progressive struggled with this outcome. A UM News Service article acknowledged: "...LGBTQIA people, their loved ones, and allies were hurt by the speeches, rhetoric and decisions of the General Conference." A different way to resolve the differences was needed without doing further harm. (See: Why is this work important? in the Protocol FAQ)

Pandemic, Protocol, and Postponements

Due to the pandemic, General Conference 2020 was postponed until 2024 and later rescheduled again to 2024. Planning for the 2024 conference has included the creation of two strategy teams focused on event logistics and travel/visa issues. Their Effort Aims to Stop General Conference Delays.

Recognizing the continued impact of the debate about human sexuality, the Council of Bishops released a document they called "A Narrative for the Continuing United Methodist Church". "We cannot be a traditional church or a progressive church or a centrist church," they assert. The bishops envision "a denomination rooted in Scripture, centered in Christ, and welcoming to all churchgoers - however they identify."

An ad hoc group of leaders from the traditionalist, centrist, and progressive constituencies within the denomination, including clergy and laity, came together with a professional mediator and developed a solution to which all agreed called the "Protocol of Reconciliation & Grace Through Separation." It was intended to be developed into legislation for the next regularly-scheduled General Conference in 2020. However, due to GC postponement, some groups which previously supported the Protocol announced in 2022 that they can no longer support its adoption (Protocol's Day Has Passed, Some Negotiators Say).

From Bishop Connie Mitchell Shelton - NC Conference

Newly appointed Bishop Connie Mitchell Shelton offers this message of Graceful Hospitality:

From Bishop Fairley - NC Conference

While serving as NC Conference Bishop in 2021, Leonard E. Fairley, shared his perspective in a number of messages to the conference. He continually called for everyone to treat one another in a gracious manner.

We recognize that our denomination is not perfect, and that we have a deep need for reparation, reform, and renewal. We mourn that some among us feel compelled to leave our denomination,” the open letter states. “We affirm that our work as United Methodist People is to offer and embody the saving, justifying, and sanctifying love of God. We affirm our commitment to lives of holiness, centered in the life of Christ. Although we may not always think alike, we affirm that together with God’s help, we will love alike – on earth as it is in heaven.”

"We go forward, remembering that there is a place at the table in the UMC. Remember that there is room for all in the UMC: traditionalists, progressives and centrists, though labels have no place at the table of the Lord. The love, peace, and justice of God never change."

Bishop Leonard E. Fairley, North Carolina Conference

Bishop Fairley: What Does The Lord Require? - published 9/8/22

Bishop Leonard E. Fairley's video message: What Does the Lord Require? - Published 9/8/22

Below are links to Bishop Fairley's letters shared with NC Conference laity and pastors around the topics of disaffiliation, unity, and grace:

What is the December 2023 deadline? (added 10/10/22)

There is a deadline of 12/31/2023 often referred to in the context of urging churches to vote to disaffiliate. This date comes out of the legislation passed at the 2019 General Conference and designated paragraph ¶2553 of the Book of Discipline. It defines a way for churches to disaffiliate specifically for reasons of conscience over issues involving church doctrine or practices regarding homosexuality. This legislation is written to expire on December 31, 2023.

The 2024 General Conference may or may not extend the validity of ¶2553 and may or may not pass legislation defining a different method of disaffiliation. Because of the unknowns, 12/31/23 has been used as a scare tactic to pressure churches that now "is their only chance" to leave and keep their property. It has also been incorrectly stated that churches should quickly begin the process for disaffiliation because some conferences may receive a new bishop in 2023 who could change the process. This is incorrect because the disaffiliation agreement was created and is under the authority of the NC Conference Board of Trustees, not the bishop.

While churches are NOT required to vote or take other action in order to remain in The UMC, if a church chooses to take a vote on disaffiliation, the process has clearly defined steps and requirements which can mean approximately a 6-month lead time is needed. All of this is explained in detail on our NC Conference website - visit nccumc.org/disaffiliation to read about the process for churches who wish to leave the denomination. Note that the process for a pastor and the process for individual laity are also outlined there. 

If individual members do not want to leave the denomination (added 10/13/22)

For individuals attending UMC churches where the church has voted to leave the denomination but the individual member does not choose to so, there is now a way for them to transfer their membership to the NC Conference until they are able to find a new church home. Bishop Fairley shared information about this in his video A Place at the Table. Details about this are available at nccumc.org/beumc/continue/. The page also allows searches of our NC Conference map for other nearby UMC congregations.

Disaffiliating Churches (updated June 2023)

After adoption of the NCC Board of Trustees report at Annual Conference in June 2023, a total of 308 churches have disaffiliated from the North Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church. Due to the required legal steps defined in Paragraph 2553 needed to disaffiliate, the Bishop has scheduled one more special called Annual Conference session for October 2023 to approve any additional congregations who have completed the process.

On Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022 a special Annual Conference session of the North Carolina Conference took place. The sole purpose of the called session was to affirm or not affirm the church conference actions of the local churches that have chosen to disaffiliate from The United Methodist Church under the provisions of The Book of Discipline Paragraph 2553. This call for this special session conforms to the disciplinary requirements found in Paragraphs 369.6 and 603.5. A video recording of the session, a pre-session briefing, the agenda, NC Conference Board of Trustees' report, Conference rules, and other resources are available on the NC Conference website at https://nccumc.org/scac2022/. The Trustees report describes the work of the Trustees related to disaffiliation and Paragraph 2553 and includes a listing of local churches whose church conference has approved disaffiliation from The United Methodist Church as of December 31, 2022.

Other Perspectives (section added 12/7/22)
Disaffiliation in the News (section added 12/7/22)

The articles below include information about conferences and churches moving through the disaffiliation process and the way the disaffiliation process has impacted the entire denomination.

For more information

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