UMNews - 3/21/23: Court rules on filling vacancies, another GC before 2027
The Judicial Council, the United Methodist Church’s top court, has ruled on questions from the Council of Bishops about the coming General Conference, now scheduled for 2024. The bishops had asked about filling delegate vacancies and whether another General Conference needs to be scheduled after the postponed 2020 General Conference takes place in 2024. Read more here.

UMNews - 3/20/23 : Eurasia and Estonia begin exit from church
Church regions in Eurasia and the Baltics, built up after the breakup of the Soviet Union, now plan to leave The United Methodist Church. Delegates of the Northern Europe and Eurasia Central Conference voted on March 18 to allow the church regions to begin the withdrawal process through a multistep process in church law for church regions outside the United States. Read more here.

Commentary from UMNews: The many meanings of Connectionalism by Dr. David Scott
Connectionalism has always been an essential part of what it means to be Methodist. Recent divisions in The United Methodist Church have raised a host of questions about the meaning of connectionalism, particularly as some congregations leave. As current forms of connection change, our theological understanding of connectionalism may need to change also. Read Dr. Scott’s commentary here.

Commentary from FLUMC News: As Methodists grapple with disaffiliation, the world is watching by Joe Henderson
The headlines focused for several years on the split in The United Methodist Church over the ordination of gay clergy and performing same-sex marriages in UMC sanctuaries have had an effect, whether we like it or not. The only way to counter that is for each follower of Jesus Christ to honestly answer the question he asks us all: Who do we say he is? Read Joe’s commentary here.

But when I asked whether those comments came from members on one side or the other, he shook his head and answered, “No.”

UMNews - 3/13/23: International group pursues regionalization
The Standing Committee on Central Conference Matters, an international United Methodist body, is giving fresh energy to efforts to restructure the global denomination so that its different geographic regions would each have greater autonomy and stand on equal footing. They are forming a task force to harmonize the Christmas Covenant and a Connectional Table proposal for a U.S. structure with the goal presenting a common proposal to come before General Conference delegates when they meet in 2024. Read more here.

UMNews from March 2, 2023: Bishop: Time to move from rancor to revival
In a highly unusual churchwide address, the Council of Bishops president urged fellow United Methodists to pivot away from the rancor around church disaffiliations to the work of church renewal. Read more here.

UMNews from March 1, 2023: Church court addresses disaffiliation questions
United Methodist Church’s top court released nine rulings March 1 related to a church law that governs how congregations can leave the denomination with property. The eight decisions and memorandum from the United Methodist Judicial Council all stem from questions raised about the Book of Discipline’s new Paragraph 2553 — approved by the 2019 Special General Conference in St. Louis. Read more here.

UMNews from March 1, 2023: Report sheds light on disaffiliating churches
The Lewis Center for Church Leadership has done a report that compares characteristics of disaffiliating churches with those remaining in The United Methodist Church. Read more here.

Special Sessions of the Annual Conference
”I think it is important to provide opportunities for the annual conference to consider requests for disaffiliation from churches who have followed the process outlined in Paragraph 2553 of our Discipline.” - Bishop Tom Berlin. For more information, specifically for lay members to the special session, click here.

Wespath expands services to Methodist kin
The United Methodist Church’s pension and benefits agency now extends its services to two other denominations in the broader Wesleyan family, the African Methodist Episcopal Church, founded in 1816 and the Global Methodist Church which began last year. Wespath’s plans for each denomination are completely separate from The United Methodist Church’s pension plan. Read the UMNews article here.

Annual Conference Special Sessions for Disaffiliations
A number of U.S. annual conferences are scheduling special sessions in 2023 to deal mainly with church disaffiliations. The Book of Discipline’s Paragraph 2553 allows churches to leave The United Methodist Church with property if they meet certain financial and procedural requirements, including at least a two-thirds vote by the congregation and approval of the disaffiliation agreement by the congregation’s annual conference. The provision expires at the end of 2023. Find the full list of specials sessions here.

Disaffiliating churches could face huge insurance costs
The requirement by the Florida Conference that disaffiliating churches acquire property and liability insurance equal to the Conference’s current insurance policy has caused some to ask why this action is necessary. Insurance in the state of Florida is a complicated matter, and the need for additional information is understandable.  Read the FLUMC News article here.

North Georgia hits pause on disaffiliations
Shared for jurisdictional context. The North Georgia Annual Conference, which is the largest United Methodist conference in the US, has put a hold on allowing congregations to disaffiliate from the denomination as conference leaders believe much misinformation has been spread raising the question about the validity of congregational votes. Read the UMNews article here.

Bishop Berlin Announces Virtual Special Sessions of the Annual Conference
”I think it is important to provide opportunities for the annual conference to consider requests for disaffiliation from churches who have followed the process outlined in Paragraph 2553 of our Discipline.” - Bishop Tom Berlin. Read the announcement here.

Many Florida churches still deciding about disaffiliation
Bishop Tom Berlin has a message of grace and peace for churches and individuals who continue to grapple with whether to remain with The United Methodist Church or leave. The decision doesn't need to be contentious, even when churches and parishioners disagree on the best way forward. Read the FLUMC news article here.

Church court deals with General Conference delay
In its coming session, The United Methodist Church’s highest court faces multiple questions related to the delay of the denomination’s top lawmaking assembly to 2024 including will a new slate of delegates need to be elected and more questions about church disaffiliations. Read the UMNews article here.

Finding ‘God’s next’ for United Methodism
Hundreds gathered in Dallas and online for “Space at the Table: Conversations of Hope for the UMC Future. Hosted by Dallas’ Lovers Lane United Methodist Church, the gathering featured individual addresses as well as panel discussions with United Methodist bishops, seminary professors and young clergy. Read the UMNews article here.

Church court: No new elections needed for GC2024
The United Methodist Church’s Judicial Council concluded that no provision in church law allows for a General Conference to be canceled. That means the same lay and clergy delegates can vote at what many United Methodists expect to be a momentous gathering. Read the UMNews article here.

A Pastoral Update from Bishop Ken Carter
Bishop Carter offers an update on the Florida Conference’s response to the lawsuit and other issues related to the future of the UMC, responses to Hurricane Ian and more. Read the letter here.

UMC History: Splits, Separations and Reconciliations
Dr. Ashley Boggan Dreff, General Secretary of the General Commission on Archives & History of The United Methodist Church introduces a series of short videos that teach about the history of separations and reunions in the predecessor denominations of The United Methodist Church. Playlist made from United Methodist Videos and UM General Commission on Archives and History. Check out the playlist here.

Ask the UMC: Is The United Methodist Church really...?
Updated with Part 7, Ask The UMC offers a series of questions and answers to help clear up some common misperceptions or misinformation around disaffiliation. With some congregations considering leaving The United Methodist Church or just wondering about its future, Read Part 1, Part 2 , Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, and Part 6.

Update on a Motion to Dismiss the Disaffiliation Lawsuits
The Florida Conference formally responded to the lawsuit brought by 106 congregations seeking an alternative path to disaffiliation by filing a Motion to Dismiss the Complaint. Read the statement here.

UMNews: Churches discern whether to stay or go
United Methodists are tackling the question of whether to leave The United Methodist Church because of differences in theology and LGBTQ participation in church life. Read the UM News article here.

Statement: From the Africa Colleges of Bishops
Shared for global context, a majority of The United Methodist Church (UMC) bishops in Africa have condemned the Africa Initiative group and the Wesleyan Covenant Association (WCA) for spreading falsehoods about The United Methodist Church in Africa. Read the statement here.

A Letter from Bishop Carter on the recent Judicial Council ruling
Bishop Carter addresses the Judicial Council’s ruling on Paragraph 2548.2 and its implications. Read the letter here.

Press Release: UMC bishops welcome Judicial Council’s clarification
The Council of Bishops expresses gratitude for the Judicial Council’s ruling that clarified that Paragraph 2548.2 of The Book of Discipline is not a process of church disaffiliation from The United Methodist Church. Read the press release here.

UM News: Church court clarifies property-transfer rules
The United Methodist Church’s top court ruled that a much-debated church law can only be used for transferring property — not members — to another denomination. Read the August 23 UMNews article here.

Judicial Council Re: Decision Number 1449 re: ¶ 2548.2
On August 22, the UMC Judicial Council responded to a petition for Declaratory Decision from the Council of Bishops on Questions Related to ¶ 2548.2 of the 2016 Book of Discipline. Read the ruling here.

UM Insight Editorial: WCA Churches Aren't the Victims in UMC Splintering
Sharing for perspective on specific details related to General Conference 2019 and the trust clause. Read the UM Insight Editorial here.

Frequently Asked Questions: Disaffiliation Insurance Requirements
The Florida Conference has compiled an additional FAQ document addressing questions that have arisen regarding the insurance requirements of the Disaffiliation Agreement of the Florida Conference. Read the FAQ here.

A Guide to Apportionments for the Florida Conference, UMC
Craig Smelser, Conference Treasurer, put together a guide to explain how apportionments are calculated for our local congregations. You can find that guide here.

From UM News: Some large Texas churches vote on disaffiliation
Sharing for broader context of UMC disaffiliations. On Aug. 7, in votes taken within hours of one another, The Woodlands Methodist Church and Faithbridge — both large, traditionalist churches in suburban communities north of Houston — chose to disaffiliate. To read the UM News article, click here.

From The Lakeland Ledger: 'We are not enemies': Florida Methodists' cohesion tested by lawsuit
Bishop Carter comments in The Lakeland Ledger about the lawsuit and issues around the disaffiliations. Read the article here. Posted 7/26/22.

Courthouse News: Judge tosses lawsuit from Wisconsin church facing land loss after leaving denomination
The Hebron Community Methodist Church of Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin sued the Wisconsin Annual Conference to challenge the Trust Clause. The lawsuit was dismissed by a federal judge last week. Read the article here. Posted 7/25/22.

Frequently Asked Questions regarding the Disaffiliation lawsuits
The Florida Conference compiled a set of FAQs for laity and clergy to consider in light of the lawsuit filed by 106 Florida UMC congregations who want to exit the denomination. Read the FAQs here. Posted 7/19/22.

From UMNews: 106 Florida churches sue to exit denomination
More than 100 churches have jointly filed a lawsuit against the Florida Conference, seeking to leave The United Methodist Church with property without facing a hefty exit payment. Read Heather Hahn’s article here. Posted 7/18/22.

Florida Conference Response to Disaffiliation Lawsuits
Bishop Carter sends a letter to the laity and clergy of the Florida Conference in response to the report of a lawsuit filed by 106 congregations who desire to exit the denomination. Read the letter here. Posted 7/15/22.

FLUMC News: Conference approves disaffiliation of 14 churches
The formal departure of 14 churches from the Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church was approved Friday at Annual Conference in Lakeland. Read Joe Henderson’s article here. Posted 6/12/22.

Bishops seek ruling on application and meaning on Paragraph 2548.2
The Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church is requesting a declaratory decision from the Judicial Council on the meaning and application of Paragraph 2548.2 in the Book of Discipline. Read the press release which includes the submitted questions here. Posted 5/12/22.

Un-tied Methodism Podcast: UMC Discipline Paragraph 2548.2 - What's the Story?
As of late, your social media and inbox may keep referencing a particular paragraph in the Book of Discipline, paragraph 2548.2. But what is this paragraph about? When did it originate and why? Is it useful to us today or not? Listen to this episode of Un-tied Methodism hosted by Dr. Ashley Boggan Dreff, General Secretary of the General Commission on Archives and History of The United Methodist Church. Listen here. Posted 5/10/22

Continuing UMC Livestream with Alex Shanks
Rev. Alex Shanks shared about the Continuing UMC at St. Johns UMC Winter Haven. You can view the Facebook Video here. Posted 4/19/22.

FAQs on Disaffiliations and the Continuing UMC
In the Spring 2022, we released a set of FAQs in response to the launch of the Global Methodist Church. While much has happened since then, this document may be a helpful place to start as you engage conversations about disaffiliation and the continuing UMC. As we work on an update, view this current version of FAQs here. Added 3/23/22.