Gibsonburg United Methodist Church
What: Special Church Conference When: October 2nd at 3:00 pm Where: Gibsonburg United Methodist Church Sanctuary Why: We will be voting on disaffiliation from the United Methodist Denomination Who: Only members in attendance are able to cast a vote THIS VOTE IS IMPORTANT: For further information about the importance of this vote please contact the church office @ 419-637-2131 or a member of the Leadership Team of Gibsonburg United Methodist Church. We would be happy to answer any questions you may have about disaffiliation from the UMC. |
Disaffiliation Discussion Dates and Times at the Church
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Disaffiliation Question and Answer
Q: What is Disaffiliation?
A: To better understand disaffiliation, we must first understand the United Methodist Denomination. The United Methodist Church is a denomination which is One (1) church with many locations. This means all locations of the United Methodist Church are part of the same church called the United Methodist Church. In fact, all United Methodist Churches are governed by the same governing policies. We call this governing document The Book of Discipline. This creates a connectional system which connects all United Methodist Churches by the same governing policies, namely The Book of Discipline, and the same mission, namely Making Disciples for the Transformation of the World.
For a local church to be part of this connectional system called the United Methodist Church (denomination) there are requirements from the local church. The main requirements for local churches include but are not limited to the following. First, apportionments are paid to the West Ohio Conference and the Maumee Watershed District. Apportionments are paid to support and fund the higher administration of the UMC as well as to fund ministries and initiatives through the West Ohio Conference and the Maumee Watershed District. Secondly, the pastors of the local United Methodist Churches are appointed (assigned) by the Bishop. The local church cannot choose their pastor. Thirdly, unfunded pension liabilities incurred by retired clergy is paid by a monthly pension amount billed to the local church each month. The pension being paid by the local church is in addition to the apportionments and is separate. Lastly, the church buildings are the property of the West Ohio Conference. This means all United Methodist Church buildings in West Ohio are held by a Trust which is overseen by the Trustees of the West Ohio Conference.
Therefore, disaffiliation is to separate from the United Methodist Denomination or to state it succinctly; Disaffiliation is to dis-affiliate from the United Methodist Church.
Q: If GUMC decides to disaffiliate what happens if I wish to remain a member of the UMC?
A: You will still be able to remain a member of the UMC. Assistance will be provided so you can find another congregation and your membership will be transferred there. Please know – Gibsonburg United Methodist Church will keep our mission. We will stay true to God’s call to be on mission in this community.
Q: How will we decide if Gibsonburg UMC disaffiliates or not?
A: We will have a congregational vote. This will be a vote held by the District Superintendent at a specified date. Only members of Gibsonburg United Methodist Church will be allowed to vote. Only those in attendance at the congregational meeting for the vote will be able to vote. This means there will be NO absentee votes, nor will there be any early votes. Only those partaking in the conversation before the vote at the congregational meeting will be allowed to vote.[1]
For the motion to disaffiliate to pass there is a required 2/3 vote. This means there will need to be 2/3 of those in attendance and voting to pass this motion.
Q: Where does the leadership board of Gibsonburg United Methodist stand on the issue of disaffiliating from the UMC?
A: The Leadership Board of Gibsonburg United Methodist Church voted unanimously to begin the process of disaffiliating from the United Methodist Denomination.
Q: What are the benefits to disaffiliate?
A: The benefits are and not limited to the following. First, what began as a good thing, the connectional system of the UMC is broken and is now a hinderance to the mission of Gibsonburg United Methodist Church. Disaffiliating will allow the church to have more freedom and less encumbrances to be on mission for Jesus!
Secondly, disaffiliating will remove the requirements of paying apportionments and pension liabilities. This will allow some financial freedom to do more ministry.
Thirdly, disaffiliating will allow the Gibsonburg United Methodist Church to retain BOTH buildings located at 200 E Madison and 795 W Madison here in Gibsonburg. Also, the parsonage on Wendler will be retained by Gibsonburg UMC as well.
Fourth, disaffiliating will allow the governing structure of Gibsonburg United Methodist Church to become more agile. In an ever-complex world with complex problems we as a church need to become more agile to meet the needs of our world. Being more agile will allow us to respond quickly and efficiently to those needs.
Fifth, disaffiliating will allow the church to choose their own pastors and not have them assigned by the Bishop of the West Ohio Conference.
Q: Does it cost anything to disaffiliate?
A: Yes, it will cost 2 years of apportionments and an amortized pension liability amount. The latest estimate we received to disaffiliate was $74,000. In the future the cost to disaffiliate will only become more expensive.
Q: Why now? Why disaffiliate now?
A: It is more advantageous to disaffiliate now because of legislation which was added to the Book of Discipline in 2019. This legislation will expire December 31st 2023. This legislation is called paragraph 2553. You can read more about the details of paragraph 2553 at www.westohioumc.org
Q: Where can I find more information about disaffiliation?
A: You can go to the West Ohio Conference website to read more about disaffiliation and the process. The website is Disaffiliation | West Ohio Conference of The United Methodist Church (westohioumc.org)
[1] Per the West Ohio Conference’s website Disaffiliation tab there is allowances for those who can only attend by zoom providing they are able to take part in the conversation. Having tried to “zoom” people into meetings in the past and being aware of the struggles it presents such as the lack of being able to be part of the larger conversation we will stay with only those in physical attendance being able to vote.
A: To better understand disaffiliation, we must first understand the United Methodist Denomination. The United Methodist Church is a denomination which is One (1) church with many locations. This means all locations of the United Methodist Church are part of the same church called the United Methodist Church. In fact, all United Methodist Churches are governed by the same governing policies. We call this governing document The Book of Discipline. This creates a connectional system which connects all United Methodist Churches by the same governing policies, namely The Book of Discipline, and the same mission, namely Making Disciples for the Transformation of the World.
For a local church to be part of this connectional system called the United Methodist Church (denomination) there are requirements from the local church. The main requirements for local churches include but are not limited to the following. First, apportionments are paid to the West Ohio Conference and the Maumee Watershed District. Apportionments are paid to support and fund the higher administration of the UMC as well as to fund ministries and initiatives through the West Ohio Conference and the Maumee Watershed District. Secondly, the pastors of the local United Methodist Churches are appointed (assigned) by the Bishop. The local church cannot choose their pastor. Thirdly, unfunded pension liabilities incurred by retired clergy is paid by a monthly pension amount billed to the local church each month. The pension being paid by the local church is in addition to the apportionments and is separate. Lastly, the church buildings are the property of the West Ohio Conference. This means all United Methodist Church buildings in West Ohio are held by a Trust which is overseen by the Trustees of the West Ohio Conference.
Therefore, disaffiliation is to separate from the United Methodist Denomination or to state it succinctly; Disaffiliation is to dis-affiliate from the United Methodist Church.
Q: If GUMC decides to disaffiliate what happens if I wish to remain a member of the UMC?
A: You will still be able to remain a member of the UMC. Assistance will be provided so you can find another congregation and your membership will be transferred there. Please know – Gibsonburg United Methodist Church will keep our mission. We will stay true to God’s call to be on mission in this community.
Q: How will we decide if Gibsonburg UMC disaffiliates or not?
A: We will have a congregational vote. This will be a vote held by the District Superintendent at a specified date. Only members of Gibsonburg United Methodist Church will be allowed to vote. Only those in attendance at the congregational meeting for the vote will be able to vote. This means there will be NO absentee votes, nor will there be any early votes. Only those partaking in the conversation before the vote at the congregational meeting will be allowed to vote.[1]
For the motion to disaffiliate to pass there is a required 2/3 vote. This means there will need to be 2/3 of those in attendance and voting to pass this motion.
Q: Where does the leadership board of Gibsonburg United Methodist stand on the issue of disaffiliating from the UMC?
A: The Leadership Board of Gibsonburg United Methodist Church voted unanimously to begin the process of disaffiliating from the United Methodist Denomination.
Q: What are the benefits to disaffiliate?
A: The benefits are and not limited to the following. First, what began as a good thing, the connectional system of the UMC is broken and is now a hinderance to the mission of Gibsonburg United Methodist Church. Disaffiliating will allow the church to have more freedom and less encumbrances to be on mission for Jesus!
Secondly, disaffiliating will remove the requirements of paying apportionments and pension liabilities. This will allow some financial freedom to do more ministry.
Thirdly, disaffiliating will allow the Gibsonburg United Methodist Church to retain BOTH buildings located at 200 E Madison and 795 W Madison here in Gibsonburg. Also, the parsonage on Wendler will be retained by Gibsonburg UMC as well.
Fourth, disaffiliating will allow the governing structure of Gibsonburg United Methodist Church to become more agile. In an ever-complex world with complex problems we as a church need to become more agile to meet the needs of our world. Being more agile will allow us to respond quickly and efficiently to those needs.
Fifth, disaffiliating will allow the church to choose their own pastors and not have them assigned by the Bishop of the West Ohio Conference.
Q: Does it cost anything to disaffiliate?
A: Yes, it will cost 2 years of apportionments and an amortized pension liability amount. The latest estimate we received to disaffiliate was $74,000. In the future the cost to disaffiliate will only become more expensive.
Q: Why now? Why disaffiliate now?
A: It is more advantageous to disaffiliate now because of legislation which was added to the Book of Discipline in 2019. This legislation will expire December 31st 2023. This legislation is called paragraph 2553. You can read more about the details of paragraph 2553 at www.westohioumc.org
Q: Where can I find more information about disaffiliation?
A: You can go to the West Ohio Conference website to read more about disaffiliation and the process. The website is Disaffiliation | West Ohio Conference of The United Methodist Church (westohioumc.org)
[1] Per the West Ohio Conference’s website Disaffiliation tab there is allowances for those who can only attend by zoom providing they are able to take part in the conversation. Having tried to “zoom” people into meetings in the past and being aware of the struggles it presents such as the lack of being able to be part of the larger conversation we will stay with only those in physical attendance being able to vote.