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Dear Friends in Christ,
Recently I have received reports and updates on summer worship series, summer mission trips and vacation Bible schools through many of our congregations. Thousands of United Methodists in our congregations have been at work serving Christ by serving others (Matthew 25:31-46—Whatever you have done for the least of these, you have done for me. – verse 45).
Another way we as United Methodist live out Matthew 25, especially verse 45, is through a common sharing of apportionments. Each week, a portion of what United Methodists give through the offering plate or online or by mail supports ministries with others in our region and around the world. This year, our connectional ministries giving percentage is higher than last year. You are generous, and we are grateful for your faithfulness.
Recently the Wesleyan Covenant Association (WCA), an organization that is encouraging congregations to leave The United Methodist Church, sent a letter to many United Methodists within EPA encouraging them to tell their congregations to stop giving their apportionments. While this strategy may hurt the denomination, it will greatly impact “the least” among us. It will hurt our Hurricane Ida relief efforts, our grants to congregations in low-income communities, pastor’s salaries in low-income communities, our camp and retreat ministries, our support for hospitals and clinics in Africa, the deployment and work of missionaries around the world, hunger and disaster relief efforts, and many more ministries that we share in through our giving.
You can read further about how you are helping people at home and around the world by selecting the following link: Together We Do More. As United Methodists we seek to live out Matthew 25, especially verse 45, every day. We apportion giving to serve Christ Jesus in more ways than any one congregation could do on its own.
We recognize congregations will leave The United Methodist Church at this time. Creating more dissention and disruption is a strategy to weaken The United Methodist Church and to weaken our mission to serve Jesus Christ at home and around the world. We hold no malice toward the congregations who seek to leave. In fact, the denomination has lessened the burden for those who seek to leave.
Prior to the 2019 Special General Conference session, if a congregation wanted to leave the denomination it would have to forfeit its property or purchase full ownership of it. The Trust Clause in our Book of Discipline, paragraph 2501, like apportionments, is based on Acts 2:44 and 4:32—“They shared/had all things in common.” Today, because paragraph 2553 was added to The Book of Discipline in 2019, congregations temporarily may leave with their property for a fraction of the cost.
The WCA has targeted us because we, like other conferences, are being faithful to our Wesleyan heritage and the people who have served and shared faithfully. The WCA claims the terms developed by our Board of Trustees are punitive. Let’s look at each term.
- Remit unpaid apportionments for the 12 months prior to disaffiliation and for an additional 12 months. This is required by the General Conference and paragraph 2553 and was approved by the Annual Conference Session in 2021.
- Remit a Pro Rata Share of the Unfunded Pension Withdrawal Liability, as calculated by Wespath. This is to pay for clergy pensions, ensuring that clergy who are retired and those presently serving will receive their full pension. This is required by the General Conference and paragraph 2553 and was approved at Annual Conference in 2021.
- Retiree medical obligation. This is for medical insurance for retirees. This is permitted by the General Conference and paragraph 2553 and was approved by the 2021 Annual Conference Session.
- Ministry Transition Payment. This is to pay for the ongoing compensation of a pastor who does not leave the denomination with their congregation. This will not be a required payment if the pastor leaves with the disaffiliating congregation. If the pastor receives a new appointment during this transition period, all unused funds for this term will be returned to the congregation. This is permitted by the General Conference and paragraph 2553 and was approved by the 2021 Annual Conference Session.
- Missional Transition Support Payment. This payment will be up to one-third of a congregation’s financial assets to assist in the ongoing development of mission and ministry of The United Methodist Church. This is permitted by the General Conference and paragraph 2553 and was approved by the 2021 Annual Conference Session.
- Unforgiven Historical Balances Owed. This refers to a congregation’s unpaid loans and billings. This was approved by the General Conference and paragraph 2553 and was approved by the 2021 Annual Conference Session.
- Repay any grants received from or through The United Methodist Church. This refers to recent grants given to the congregation. This is permitted by the General Conference and paragraph 2553 and was approved by the 2021 Annual Conference Session.
- A $5,000 fee to the EPA archives at Historic St. George's. This amount is required to be paid from the assets of a church that discontinues as a congregation of The United Methodist Church. This is permitted by the General Conference and paragraph 2553 and was approved by the 2013 Annual Conference Session and reaffirmed by the 2021 session.
- Share of the Annual Conference’s BSA Settlement. All conferences and churches are assisting with the Boy Scouts of America settlement for abuse that occurred in troops housed in United Methodist congregations. This is permitted by the General Conference and paragraph 2553 and approved by the Board of Trustees.
- Flat rate Administrative Fee of $6,500 for all administrative costs for a congregation to disaffiliate. This is permitted by the General Conference and paragraph 2553 and was approved by the Board of Trustees.
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Legal and administrative costs borne by the conference if a church seeks to disaffiliate outside of paragraph 2553. This is permitted by the General Conference and paragraph 2553 and was approved by the Board of Trustees.
For most congregations, this will be a fraction of the cost associated with disaffiliating, as compared to a congregation having to relinquish all property or pay for all property (paragraph 2501).
Withholding apportionments will not only hurt our work for Christ Jesus among the least, but it may also make it more costly and difficult for a congregation to disaffiliate. Right now, we are in a season in which we can inflict more pain and harm to one another and to our witness for Christ. Or we recognize there are differences within the church, and together we will help those who seek disaffiliation to leave peaceably and with dignity, while ensuring that United Methodist needs and financial responsibilities are met.
The United Methodists of EPA are generous. You have freely given; and collectively, our percentage giving this year is higher than last year. Thank you. Let’s continue working together to have a strong finish to this year, as we help the others in our region and around the world.
Our pledge is to work with all of our congregations, including those who seek to disaffiliate. We invite everyone to work together and not make a challenging time even more challenging for us all.
Keep the faith!
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