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4.9.7 Disaffiliation Process
2. Routine or regular maintenance was for $3,442 on the Conference Center. In addition, gutters were replaced for $2,605 as old gutters were pulling away from building and in rough shape. Building was tested for mold at a cost of $846. This is done routinely to ensure the basement air quality is safe for employees and visitors.
The Leola farmland lease was renewed with the current renter for $100/acre for three years. Churches were notified and advised concerning the bankruptcy filing of the Boy Scouts to help protect their ministries in the event that sexual misconduct occurred within a church-sponsored group. The Trustees worked with the Cabinet in the Dickinson Prairie Winds UMC disaffiliation. Submitted by Jeff Pospisil, Board of Trustees
4.9.6 Dakotas Conference Disaffiliation Process updated May 2022 REVISED PROCESS FOR DISAFFILIATION (PARAGRAPH 2553) PRIOR TO DECEMBER 31, 2023
STEP 1: INITIATION OF THE PROCESS
1) The governing body (such as Administrative Board, Leadership Team or Church Council) of the local church writes a letter to the district superintendent expressing a desire to disaffiliate “for reasons of conscience regarding a change in the requirements and provisions of The Book of Discipline paragraph 2553 related to the practices of homosexuality or the ordination or marriage of selfavowed practicing homosexuals … or the actions or inactions of its annual conference related to these issues …” a. Church members shall be notified through church communication channels that this request has been made. 2) Within 30 days of receiving the letter, the district superintendent: a. A District Superintendent (DS) and a representative of the Conference Board of Pensions/conference staff will meet with church leadership and pastors to share the following.
Financial Obligations:
1. The local church shall pay any unpaid apportionments for the 12 months prior to disaffiliation, as well as an additional 12 months of apportionments (BOD 2553). The amount for the additional 12 months of apportionments shall be equal to the amount of a church’s unpaid 2020 apportionments. 2. The local church shall pay the pension liability in full to the Dakotas Annual Conference Board of Pensions by the disaffiliation date set forth in the disaffiliation agreement with the Dakotas Conference Board of Trustees. *pending approval from the Board of Pensions. 3. The local church shall urchase the church building and property from The United Methodist Church (UMC) for $1.00 and transfer title to the new incorporated name. All costs for transfer of title or other legal work shall be borne by the disaffiliating local church. 4. Other obligations may apply, such as loans and grants identified by conference treasurer.
Clergy Credentials:
5. If the pastor(s) of the disaffiliating congregation(s) intends to join the Global Methodist Church (GMC); they are responsible to notify the Dakotas Annual Conference Board of Ordained Ministry and Conference Secretary in writing of their intent to withdraw (paragraph 360.1) to unite with another denomination. The pastor will follow the process outlined by the GMC to obtain credentials. Once the GMC has approved the credentials, this becomes the date of withdrawal from the UMC. a. The pastor surrenders all membership in the annual conference, including membership on committees or boards, the ability to attend conference events as a member and conference funds for continuing education. b. Pension and Health Benefit changes will occur. See Wespath for more information. 6. If the pastor of a church disaffiliating to the GMC, desires to remain United Methodist, the pastor will be reappointed to a United Methodist congregation as soon as prudent, but no later than the next appointment cycle (July 1 start).
Other:
7. Congregation members will lose access to any staff provided by the conference once the disaffiliation is complete unless an agreement for shared staff has been reached. 8. Lay members of the disaffiliating church will surrender all membership in the annual conference, including membership on committees or boards, and the ability to attend conference events as a member. 9. Lay persons of the congregation who wish to remain UMC will be assisted in transferring their membership to another UMC in the Conference and may continue to participate in conference events and leadership. 10. Pastoral coverage and supervision will become the responsibility of the GMC and their process.
11. The church will be governed by the rules and policies of the GMC. 12. Disaffiliation process and timeline (steps below) including readiness assessment work and communication regarding church conference, must be completed. 13. Draft of disaffiliation agreement between the Dakotas Conference Board of Trustees and the local church Board of Trustees will be created.
14. Additional paperwork may be required by the GMC, and it is expected that the pastor and congregation follow the procedures outlined by the GMC to complete the transition. 15. Disaffiliation process as outlined below.
3) The District Superintendent and local church governing body will send a joint letter (model letter provided by the district superintendent) to all members of the congregation announcing the initiation of disaffiliation and the readiness assessment process.
STEP 2: READINESS ASSESSMENT
1) Within 60 days of the joint District Superintendent/church leaders’ letter to the congregation, the governing board/pastor assembles the following information and provides copies to the DS: a. Compile the following information: This includes but is not limited to: i. information on endowments, trusts, and/or foundations which may have designated funds directly tied to the UMC ii. information on any loans/grants that have been provided through the UMC iii. audited list of church membership by The United Methodist Book of Discipline paragraph 231. This list shall be made available to the entire congregation in print at least 30 days prior to any called church conference disaffiliation vote. iv. Disaffiliation Readiness Assessment Document (may also be used by the church board as part of the member survey) 2) The governing board conducts a congregational survey of all members for the purpose of sharing accurate information and determining readiness. The survey shall include at a minimum the questions listed below. 3) The governing board holds at least one assessment informational meeting at which the congregation is invited to ask questions and to share their input to complete the readiness assessment. It is recommended that this meeting include a district superintendent. 4) The completed readiness assessment is made available to the congregation, district superintendent, District Board of Church
Location and Building, and Conference Board of Trustees for the purpose of their assisting in the development of the terms of the disaffiliation agreement. 5) After the congregational assessment informational meeting(s) and survey, the district superintendent meets with the local church governing body to determine readiness to proceed to a church conference vote. The congregation shall be informed of when this meeting is taking place. a. If it is determined the congregation is not yet ready, the district superintendent and the governing board will determine other appropriate steps. b. If they are ready to move forward, the 120-day clock to complete the process begins.
STEP 3: CHURCH CONFERENCE ACTION
1) The district superintendent schedules a church conference to vote on the audited membership list and the motion to disaffiliate following all procedures for timeliness and promotion currently enumerated in ¶246.6 of the 2016 Book of Discipline. a. All relevant information from the disaffiliation readiness assessment and notification of date and time of the church conference must be provided to the congregation at least two weeks prior to the Church Conference by postal mail and by electronic means. b. The Common Table shall be provided with the completed disaffiliation process checklist to ensure all steps in the process have been completed prior to a vote. 2) Church Conference is conducted by the district superintendent. A two-thirds vote, by written ballot, of church members present and voting is required for passage (no proxy, ZOOM or absentee voting). a. Disaffiliation Church Conference Agenda i. Prayer/Devotion ii. Audited Membership List – discussion and approval iii. Disaffiliation – discussion, questions, prayer, and vote iv. Closing Prayer
b. Balloting procedure for disaffiliation i. Paper copy of the approved audited membership list is provided to the district superintendent ii. Paper ballots are provided to each person in attendance. (one side of the ballot asks for name and contact information which will be cross checked with the audited membership list before ballots are tabulated, other side printed with yes/no) iii. Ballots are collected and tabulated by district superintendent and designated helper. c. If the vote to disaffiliate passes, then the remaining steps in the process are followed.
Superintendent contact information will be shared as an acknowledgement of support for anyone who wishes to remain
United Methodist. d. If the vote to disaffiliate is defeated (does not reach the 66% threshold), the process is terminated. If the congregation wishes to continue to pursue disaffiliation, they must restart the entire process.
STEP 4: COMPLETION OF DISAFFILIATION AGREEMENT
1) The district superintendent, annual conference Board of Trustees representative, Conference Chancellor, local church Board of
Trustees representative, local church Finance Committee chair, and senior or lead pastor meet to complete the disaffiliation agreement reflective of the information gathered from the readiness assessment. 2) Once the agreement is completed, the local church Board of Trustees votes to ratify and execute the disaffiliation agreement. 3) After the local church Board of Trustees ratifies and all checks for apportionments and other financial obligations have cleared, the conference Board of Trustees votes to ratify and execute the agreement.
1) The disaffiliation agreement is fully executed when the annual conference approves. 2) There is a presumption that when a local church has faithfully and fully completed the disaffiliation processes that the Book of
Discipline, GCFA and the Dakotas Conference require, the Dakotas Annual Conference will vote to approve the agreement as executed in Step Four. 3) If the congregation fails to complete any of the terms in the approved disaffiliation agreement by the deadline set within the document, the whole agreement is null and void.
DISSAFILIATION READINESS ASSESSMENT
(to be completed by elected church leadership with input from congregational meeting and congregational survey)
1) What is the leadership’s rationale for requesting disaffiliation from The United Methodist Church?
2) What is the expected immediate impact of disaffiliation in terms of participation/affiliation with the congregation?
a. How have you measured that? (e.g congregational survey)
b. What, if any, impact could disaffiliation have on the key ministries of your church?
3) How do you anticipate your relationship/connection with other United Methodist churches or the Dakotas Conference ministries changing if you disaffiliate?
4) How has the congregation assessed the potential financial impact of disaffiliation on its giving and expenses, and how are you planning for those impacts?
5) How is the congregation intending to meet the financial obligations of disaffiliation (apportionment and pension liability)?
6) What are your current pastor’s intentions and plans? Will he/she remain UMC (and therefore take a new appointment) or is their intent to obtain credentials in the GMC? Is the congregation aware of the pastor’s plans?
7) How have the staff been engaged in the discussion around disaffiliation, including any implication for their employment? What is the staff’s commitment to continue with the congregation if it pursues disaffiliation from the UMC?
8) How has the congregation been informed about the disaffiliation process and its implications and been engaged in discussion about the future vision for mission and ministry of this congregation?
9) If a vote were held today on disaffiliation, what is your estimate of the percentage that would vote yes? How did you reach that determination?
10) Anything else you want the District Superintendent, the District Board of Church Location and Building, and the Annual Conference Board of Trustees to know?
Congregational Survey must include the following questions:
What are your questions or concerns regarding this change? What are you most concerned about losing with this decision? What are you most excited about with this decision? Should the ________ church proceed with the disaffiliation process? (Choices: yes, no, not at this time)
PROCESS CHECKLIST FOR DISAFFILIATION
Step STEP 1: INITIATION OF THE PROCESS
1) Letter from the governing board to the DS 2) Congregation informed that the board has initiated the process of disaffiliation 3) Within 30 days of receiving the letter, the district superintendent meets with church leadership and pastor(s) 4) The district superintendent and local church governing body send a joint letter to all members of the congregation announcing the initiation of disaffiliation and the readiness assessment process.
STEP 2: READINESS ASSESSMENT
5) Within 60 days, the governing board/pastor compiles information and provides copies to the DS. Information includes, but is not limited to: a. information on endowments, trusts, and/or foundations which may have designated funds directly tied to UMC. b. information on any loans/grants that have been provided through the UMC c. audited list of church membership by The United Methodist Book of Discipline paragraph 231. This list shall be made available to the entire congregation in print at least 30 days prior to any called church conference disaffiliation vote. d. Disaffiliation Readiness Assessment Document (may also be used by the church board as part of the member survey)
Date Completed
a.
b.
c.
d.
4) The governing board conducts a congregational survey of all members 5) The governing board holds at least one assessment informational meeting at which the congregation is invited to ask questions and to share their input to complete the readiness assessment. It is recommended that this meeting include a DS.
How/when/what was communicated for the meeting?
Meeting date:
6) The completed readiness assessment is made available to the congregation, district superintendent, District Board of Church Location and Building, and Conference Board of Trustees for the purpose of their assisting in the development of the terms of the disaffiliation agreement.
STEP 2: READINESS ASSESSMENT (continued) Step
7) After the congregational assessment informational meeting(s) and survey, the district superintendent meets with the local church governing body to determine readiness to proceed to a church conference vote. 8) Congregation informed of the above meeting
STEP 3: CHURCH CONFERENCE ACTION
11) The district superintendent schedules a church conference to vote on the audited membership list and the motion to disaffiliate following all procedures for timeliness and promotion currently enumerated in ¶246.6 of the 2016 Book of Discipline. a. All relevant information from the disaffiliation readiness assessment and notification of date and time of the church conference must be provided to the congregation at least two weeks prior to the Church Conference by postal mail and by electronic means.
12) Church Conference is conducted by the district superintendent. A two-thirds vote, by written ballot, of church members present and voting is required for passage (no proxy, ZOOM or absentee voting). If vote to disaffiliate passes; continue to steps 4 and 5. If disaffiliation is defeated the process is terminated.
STEP 4: COMPLETION OF DISAFFILIATION AGREEMENT
13) Joint meeting to complete the disaffiliation agreement. (See list of participants in Step 4, number one, in the description of the process.) 14) Local Church Board of Trustees meeting to ratify the agreement 15) After the local church Board of Trustees ratifies and all checks for apportionments and other financial obligations have cleared, the conference Board of Trustees vote to ratify and execute the agreement.
STEP 5: ANNUAL CONFERENCE APPROVAL
16) The disaffiliation agreement is fully executed when the annual conference approves. 17) There is a presumption that when a local church has faithfully and fully completed the disaffiliation processes that the Book of Discipline, GCFA and the Dakotas Conference require, the Dakotas Annual Conference will vote to approve the agreement as executed in Step Four.
