United Methodists voted on Tuesday in Mobile to call for loyalty among leaders in a non-binding resolution that reflects continuing concerns about more churches disaffiliating from the Alabama-West Florida Conference.
The resolution calls for current leaders who have a role in planning for the future of the denomination to be loyal to the denomination. So far, 240 churches have disaffiliated from the Alabama-West Florida Conference and more are preparing to leave in a special called session on Nov. 12.
James Van Sickle, a lay delegate from Cokesbury United Methodist Church in Pensacola, said the resolution calling for loyalty amounted to “telling your fellow Methodists to sit down and shut up or stop serving your church.”
One of those who helped write the resolution, the Rev. Emily Kincaid, from the staff of First United Methodist Church of Pensacola, disagreed. “It simply seeks to assure that those who are leading our annual conference in decisions to shape our shared future are committed to be part of that shared future,” she said.
United Methodists also discussed a change by the conference trustee board released on June 7 that set new rules on disaffiliation. Even churches that are already set to have disaffiliation votes in time for a November exit would have to go back and submit an “eligibility statement,” explaining how their plan to exit qualifies under United Methodist rules.
“We do not seek to be punitive,” said the Rev. Olivia Poole, president of the conference board of trustees.
Instead, the new rules “provide integrity to a process that can be difficult,” she said.
George Mingledorff, lay leader of Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Montgomery, said that for churches in the process of applying for disaffiliation by the deadline at the end of this year, it means “the rules change right in the middle” of the process.
“That’s paralyzed every church in the conference,” said the Rev. Karl Stegall, retired pastor of First United Methodist Church of Montgomery.
The conference approved a plan to downsize from eight districts to four, and a recommendation that Alabama United Methodists consolidate with one unified conference for the entire state instead of two. The recommendation would have to be approved by the Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference, but would entail moving the panhandle of Florida out of the Alabama-West Florida Conference and into a newly configured Florida conference.
“Southeastern Jurisdiction will have the final word,” said Bishop David Graves, head of the Alabama-West Florida Conference.
Such a realignment would mean that United Methodist churches in south Alabama would again be under the supervision of a statewide bishop based in Birmingham, as it was before 1988. The conference office in Montgomery would be sold under current plans.
The conference also issued a financial report that anticipated a $3 million impact in decreased funding due to disaffiliations. The conference will draw on financial reserves to soften the blow, dropping the budget from $7.2 million in 2023 to $5.9 million in 2024. By 2025, the budget would have to decrease to about $4.1 million, according to current projections.
To help offset disaffiliations, new churches and ministries have been started, including Grace-Prattville; Foundry-Opelika; Magnolia-Paradise Island; Abide-Panama City; Restoration-Cottondale; 3Rivers-Grand Ridge; Open Door-Pace; The Pour at the Ark-Panama City Beach; Resurrection Fellowship-Defuniak Springs; Troy Church Start; and New Gathering-Okaloosa County.
See also: United Methodists after split: ‘God is not finished with us’
Mountain Brook’s Canterbury United Methodist Church votes to stay in denomination
Another 132 North Alabama United Methodist churches disaffiliate: Trussville, Helena, Gardendale
‘Division is of the devil,’ United Methodist bishop says as 193 churches disaffiliate
United Methodists ‘crushed’ after being left behind by disaffiliating churches
United Methodists start new congregations where churches disaffiliated in North Alabama
United Methodist split: 198 churches leave North Alabama Conference
Frazer Memorial officially leaves the United Methodist Church
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United Methodists ask for loyalty from leaders, tighten rules on disaffiliation and downsize - AL.com
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