Posted on 06/22/2024 6:37:00 PM PDT by fwdude
Delegates from United Methodist churches that voted to leave the denomination but have been blocked from disaffiliating spoke up in frustration on Tuesday at the annual meeting of the Alabama-West Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church.
A group of 44 churches that wanted to disaffiliate had sued the conference and appealed to the Alabama Supreme Court, which ruled it is a matter that must be decided by the church, not secular courts.
(Excerpt) Read more at al.com ...
Satan is with those who encourage evil.
“They are now holding these more conservative churches hostage.”
I don’t see the problem. Just don’t go, don’t give any money, and if it suits you, get in touch with the people like yourself and start meeting somewhere else. It’s only a building, not a prison. Mathew 18:20
wy69
Fine. I’d go to another church. Stop tithing, stop attending, stop volunteering.
The African congregations in Africa all managed to disaffiliate without problems somehow ...
If Paul was around, he’d be writing a letter right now.
“The churches had argued that it was a matter of property issues and that a civil court could intervene. The Supreme Court said the churches must pursue the matter through the denomination’s own judicial system.”
“Hey we just want to leave. Can’t we just go and do that?
Bishop: “Well you can check out anytime you want but you can never leave.”
Several UMCs in our area (TX) left, with no problem.
They all seem to be doing well, PTL!
“..It’s only a building...”
No, it much more. Most of those churches are old, going back generations. The congregation has met, worshiped, fellowshipped, served, played together for most of their lives. The “building” was built by their parents and kin folks. The cemetery is where their family over the years is buried. In that “building” they, their friends and family have been baptized, married and buried. The local church is family.
One of the problems is that if they leave without their say so, they lose their retirement plans, the church property and any funds. They’re holding them hostage. We’re talking millions of dollars in most cases. Of course, those things are as dross when compared to eternity, but they should be able to leave without losing any of those things.
In many cases, the PCUSA reached the point that they’d rather have cash rather than an empty building. I’m not sure that the UMC has reached that point in some areas.
They sent out invitations to the African church delegates to the conference too late so they couldn’t get visas.
African churches in the UMC are very conservative.
They may have to leave with the people but without their property, but that’s all to the good.
Each conference set its own rules for leaving. Some conferences were lenient, some were harsh. In some areas there was an active campaign to delay votes until the period of disassociation had passed.
Having said that, I will echo what another has said, "Leave, it is a building not a prison."
It depends, and federal law can be complex for church plans, but if they did try to cut off retirement benefits, the impacted person should consult an attorney practicing in this area, as they may have vested rights.
I know enough to know that I don't know enough in this area.
wow- are they thuper duper powerful! Just leave- and tell the higher ups that they can keep their crappy immoral practices- they are gettign back to God and His word- and form some other religious affiliation
It’s only a building and property the church wants to keep to sell so the head church can pocket millions of dollars for itself.
I know of two who wanted to leave but were blocked. Both are ready to just walk.
One church is part of this lawsuit. Their property is valuable and the UMC wants it.
The churches are free to leave the United Methodist Church any time they want.
This is a battle over church assets.
The issue is that the congregations have a lot of personal assets invested in the church, and the pastor is likely on a retirement plan with the UMC. All that goes away and assets get confiscated, probably hundreds of thousands if not millions of dollars.
Yes, I agree that integrity is more important. But there is a cost that needs to be counted. And when they played by the rules when congregations were allowed by the denomination to separate, and then they were denied, that is a matter of principle.
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