Time is Running Out for Traditionalist United Methodists!

John Lomperis on July 28, 2022

More and more United Methodists are becoming aware of our denomination’s inevitable split and irreconcilable divisions over a range of deeper doctrinal and moral issues beyond same-sex marriage. But many are not aware that time is running out for theologically orthodox or traditionalist United Methodists to continue in connection with like-minded congregations currently in the United Methodist Church, without losing their local church properties.

It is universally agreed that as we divide between the Global Methodist Church and the “Continuing United Methodist Church” that the former will continue the UMC’s moral standards while the latter will be more liberal. This means that the UMC will be the denomination that keeps those bishops who deny the resurrection or sinlessness of Jesus Christ, and will be the denomination in which about half or more of its Americans will believe that “Jesus committed sins like other people.” The only way for your congregation to avoid being permanently trapped in such a denomination is to leave the United Methodist Church.

Nobody likes to be rushed. But I am sorry to have to say that United Methodist conference officials claiming “there is no need to rush” to leave the UMC are usually not telling the full truth. In fact, time is running out for United Methodists who do not want to be trapped in an increasingly impossible and unfaithful situation. This also applies to non-conservative congregations who do not want to become forever locked inside the UMC.

The reality is that if congregations can afford their annual conferences’ present disaffiliation terms but do not move soon to use this process, many will probably miss their last chance to get the best (or least-bad) deal they will ever be offered.  

After separating from the UMC, congregations can take time, if they wish, to explore options for which other denomination, if any, to join. (Although it is the Global Methodist Church that will allow them to remain in connection with a great many like-minded brothers and sisters now in the UMC).

But for leaving the UMC, our denomination’s Council of Bishops (in which power is becoming increasingly concentrated, at the expense of the UMC’s judicial and legislative branches) has “affirmed by an overwhelming majority that paragraph 2553 in the Book of Discipline would be the primary paragraph used….”

That Paragraph 2553 has an explicit expiration date of next year! And in practical terms, congregations have less than one year—and in some cases as little as half a year—to use the one promoted pathway to avoid becoming permanently trapped in the UMC’s increasingly “woke,” liberal post-separation future (which will be very different from the UMC as we have known it).

Discipline Paragraph 2553 was adopted by the 2019 General Conference. It and other church-law changes made by that conference can be read in the 2019 Book of Discipline Addendum and Errata. One key difference between this liberal-authored disaffiliation process and other, conservative-authored alternatives (and a reason why liberal-institutionalist delegates ensured that this Paragraph 2553 process was the one adopted) is that Paragraph 2553 only lasts for a limited time, now approaching its conclusion.

Sub-section 2 of ¶ 2553 states clearly: “The choice by a local church to disaffiliate with The United Methodist Church under this paragraph shall be made in sufficient time for the process for exiting the denomination to be complete prior to December 31, 2023. The provisions of ¶ 2553 expire on December 31, 2023 and shall not be used after that date.”

But what does it mean to act “in sufficient time”? One key, required, near-final step of ¶ 2553’s process is that any disaffiliating congregation must obtain permission from its annual conference. Annual conferences can only take such action by voting to do so, while they meet in session. Almost all U.S. annual conferences will have their regular sessions in May or June 2023. I know of none that, as of this writing, will have any special session later in 2023.

So if a congregation does not move in time to get its annual conference to approve its disaffiliation by May or June 2023, it will miss its last chance. The second half of 2023 won’t matter. When the annual conference meets again in 2024, then ¶ 2553, by its own terms, “shall not be used.”

And time is running out even before May 2023. The actual, effective deadline for congregations to act is much earlier.

Most annual conferences are requiring disaffiliating congregations to take their votes long before the annual conference session, sometimes several months. But your congregation can only take this vote to disaffiliate at a “church conference,” scheduled by your district superintendent (DS). So congregations should generally plan for significant lag time between when they request a vote to disaffiliate and the date when the DS actually schedules the vote.

And before that, any congregation moving this direction should generally have some discernment process of at least a few weeks.

So time is indeed running out for United Methodist congregations.

Yes, ¶ 2553 deserves much critique for not being nearly as reasonable, fair, or gracious as it should be. But the fact is that other options are extremely limited. Some have touted the Discipline’s alternative processes of ¶ 2548.2 or ¶ 2549, which remain theoretically possible. But these processes can only be used where the bishop allows it, and very few bishops appear willing to do so. Pursuing a variety of legal actions carries its own costs and risks, and should only be done after careful, prayerful wrestling through what 1 Corinthians 6 teaches about lawsuits between believers. (One key question may be how much teachings about lawsuits between believers apply when your bishop does not even believe in the sinlessness or resurrection of Jesus Christ, or affirms other bishops who promote such heresies.)

I realize that ¶ 2553’s process is not really an option for many. Bishops argue that it does not apply outside of the United States (based on selectively citing ¶543.17). Many are in conferences that have imposed additional, draconian costs on any disaffiliating congregations. Many other congregations cannot afford the unreasonably high exit fees being demanded supposedly for “unfunded pension liabilities.” (Concern for retirees’ pensions is legitimate, but the way this is being unfairly misused is a different story.) So many will be forced to pursue other options.

But many traditionalist United Methodists are in congregations that can afford their conference’s current exit fees (even if they need a loan to do so). And with all of the traditionalists already leaving, the majority of U.S. annual conferences are unlikely to ever elect another theologically conservative General Conference delegate.

Some in this situation may have considered waiting to see about getting a better deal from the 2024 General Conference.

This would effectively mean waiting until ¶ 2553 expires (losing your bird in hand) to see if the future General Conference may adopt something better (an unlikely bird in the bush).

This would be extremely risky, for several reasons.

First, as many others disaffiliate, the politics in what is left of the UMC are shifting rapidly.  Many of the sorts of delegates most supportive of less punitive separation options will not be delegates to the next UMC General Conference, because they will have moved into the Global Methodist Church.

While liberals are not guaranteed a clear majority as early as 2024, rather than 2028, with votes shifting away from America, it is entirely possible that the next General Conference will become hopelessly deadlocked and accomplish very little, on separation or anything else. (Liberals probably would be guaranteed a clear majority in 2024 if certain bishops would be more reasonable in letting conservatives leave.)

Secondly, it is theoretically possible that the 2024 General Conference may re-adopt ¶ 2553 and limit annual conferences imposing additional costs. But I see no widespread support among institutionalist liberal leaders (who are becoming increasingly dominant) for reducing the minimum costs required by ¶ 2553. So if your congregation chooses to wait, you may, at best, needlessly suffer through another two years of attrition, in an increasingly heavy-handedly liberal denomination, only to finally get a deal that is no better than what you are offered now.

Thirdly, we must consider how bishops act. American United Methodist bishops are increasingly brazen in disregarding church rules that they don’t feel like following. So even if the 2024 General Conference adopts a theoretically better “gracious exit” process, that does not guarantee that the bishop you have by then will let you use it.

Also, it is widely agreed that the politics have shifted in every jurisdiction, so that there will probably not be a single theological traditionalist among the large number of new U.S. bishops who will be elected in a few months. If your current bishop is allowing congregations to leave under terms your congregation can handle, the new bishop that you may get as early as January may or may not impose additional burdens or restrictions. But the earlier your congregation begins its disaffiliation process, the harder it would be for a new bishop to derail it.

Finally, in much of the United Methodism, we are seeing momentum towards making disaffiliation more difficult and costly. Consider how:

  • In March, the increasingly powerful Council of Bishops decided “by an overwhelming majority” to effectively discourage allowing congregations to leave under less difficult terms than ¶ 2553, and by “a strong majority” actually affirmed, without any limits, the option of imposing “additional standards” to make life more difficult for disaffiliating congregations.
  • In 2020, leaders and caucus groups representing progressive and “centrist” constituencies strongly publicly endorsed the Protocol of Reconciliation and Grace through Separation, which among other things would have allowed congregations, by a simple-majority vote, to disaffiliate without paying any exit fee. But then last month, these same leaders and groups all issued a statement renouncing their past support for the Protocol and suggesting that they only wanted to let congregations leave, by ¶ 2553’s unfair two-thirds supermajority vote, only after they make immediate payments supposedly for the sake of unfunded pension liabilities (which are often made unreasonably high).
  • In the Florida Conference, Bishop Ken Carter, a prominent former president of the Council of Bishops, previously allowed congregations to leave under much more gracious terms than ¶ 2553. But now he is insisting on imposing much more difficult terms on exiting congregations.
  • The Peninsula-Delaware Conference had had a relatively more reasonable process, but then recently faced the bombshell announcement that, from now on, disaffiliating congregations will be forced to pay “50% of the real property fair market value” (see Paragraph 4.a.x). This is for properties most have already paid for with their own money! This dramatic change came with the conference getting a new bishop, Latrelle Easterling, an original signatory of the Protocol.

Time really is running out for many traditionalist United Methodists in America. Every day presents new risks of bishops imposing new bombshells and burdens.

Of course, much more could be said about how disaffiliations should be handled with Christian charity, in contrast to the greed of many bishops and conference bureaucrats. But as we discern the wisest course of action for our congregations, we cannot ignore the realities of how disaffiliations actually are being handled. 

If there is any chance that becoming permanently chained inside the UMC’s rapidly changing structure could be unhelpful for your congregation, then, if you have not done so already, you should first learn your annual conference’s disaffiliation process (usually posted on the annual conference website) and then contact your Wesleyan Covenant Association chapter for guidance.

And remember, fellow United Methodists, our time is running out!

  1. Comment by Reynolds on July 28, 2022 at 8:19 am

    Wow! You finally get it. The liberals were never going to allow a vote on the Protocol. They have always played the long game and now conservatives need to play just as well as they have. By 2028, with the numbers From Africa conservatives could take over the church. You just have to be willing to fight. The question is will WCA fight or run for the hills.

  2. Comment by Steve on July 28, 2022 at 11:33 am

    A self-fulfilling prophecy. The traditionalist “representatives” that met to negotiate the Protocol after the traditionalist victory at GC2019 agreed to the abeyance of punishment for LGBT+ clergy but did not agree to the continuation of 2553 until the Protocol passed. Now the same people and their supporters complain that LGBT+ clergy are not being punished while telling traditionalists they have a time limit to get out. All to the benefit of the traditionalists who negotiated the Protocol and are now with the GMC.

    My annual conference agreed to treat the requirements to disaffiliate under 2548 and 2549 no different than those under 2553. So there’s no rush here.

    Reynolds is right. We traditionalists (and I am one) need to fight the long game like the progressives are. We are gaining ground and numbers. I think that’s the reason for the rush. People are beginning to figure out we may not need the GMC.

  3. Comment by Gary Bebop on July 28, 2022 at 1:24 pm

    This is a crackling good fire that John has ignited here. I admire this cat, or as Elvis would say, “Go cat, go!” In some jurisdictions, the defection of churches to the GMC will not be a significant watershed, but are great numbers needed except to score talking points against the UMC? Maybe John will tell us. The so-called “long game” is a mythical construal. You know the drill: “Past performance is no guarantee of future returns.”

  4. Comment by Buddy Whatley on July 28, 2022 at 1:27 pm

    One consideration might be the growing number of conservative churches and pastors leaving shifts power to the remaining progressives who will likely making it harder and harder to leave as they see their “prize” falling apart before their eyes…

  5. Comment by td on July 28, 2022 at 1:49 pm

    Now we explicitly know why they continue to postpone general conference. It’s probably time to face the fact that they have no intention to show mercy to those with whom they disagree. They are completely opposed to oppression unless they are the ones doing the oppressing.

  6. Comment by Pat on July 28, 2022 at 1:54 pm

    This article says it all. It is no surprise traditional Methodists are leaving the UMC and finding new places of worship, fellowship, membership and service?

  7. Comment by Claude on July 28, 2022 at 2:05 pm

    How in the world did we go from a great traditionalist victory in 2019 to a situation where we’re being told to pay ransom money to liberals for a lifeboat?

  8. Comment by Steve on July 28, 2022 at 2:50 pm

    Claude,
    Because the lifeboat negotiated the ransom.

  9. Comment by Jeff on July 28, 2022 at 3:44 pm

    Claude,
    >> How in the world did we go from a great traditionalist victory in 2019 to a situation where we’re being told to pay ransom money to liberals for a lifeboat?

    In my opinion it happened because the WCA subtly shifted from its early recognition that the progressives are heretics in the true meaning of that word and need to shape up or ship out. Under the influence of embracing comity at all costs, the loopy Barney the Dinosaur “why can’t we all just get along?” types like Bob Phillips and (to a lesser extent) Ritter and Lambrecht began to trade the bright line of CHRIST the WORD’s sword of division (good/evil, light/darkness, GOD/belial) for “friendship with the world” and the view that the proper metaphor for the division is “mitosis” — you know, a healthy cell undergoing its normal growth thing, producing two bodies that are equally righteous but simply cater to different people groups.

    In the context of this increasingly cowardly doctrinal sloppiness, the feckless and incompetent “woke traditionalist” Keith Boyette took on a job that was way over his head. Cheered on by the far more persistent and savvy progressives, and 1 Cor. 6:5-7 notwithstanding, our “team” obligingly bent over for non-Christian Ken Feinberg and snatched defeat from the jaws of victory in a one-sided, poorly negotiated protocol of separation — that, incidentally, threw our most courageous and righteous brothers and sisters in Africa under the bus.

    The consequences flow from the above. A lawless (but again, persistent and savvy) episcopacy, the ravages of the Kung Flu, and the emergence of full-blown cultural marxism from the flames of Minneapolis in June 2020, all but finished off our naive, accommodating, doctrinally adrift crew of “elders” and “leaders”. They went off to build their next institution — they’re urging you into their greener pasture, but the sheep are pretty much left to themselves to figure out how the heck to get past the barbwire fence keeping them in.

    That’s my opinion; take it for what it’s worth. I no longer have a dog in the fight; the UMC left me. May GOD have mercy on the flock, the majority of which do not deserve what has befallen them at the hands of the failed institution that is the UMC.

  10. Comment by Star Tripper on July 28, 2022 at 3:52 pm

    Methinks that the depravity will grow in the rump UMC to such an extent that the Rainbow Warriors will come to any traditional UMC churches left and bang on the doors demanding to “know” the congregants. Just like in Sodom it is time to flee.

  11. Comment by Roger on July 28, 2022 at 3:52 pm

    The Kicker in these circumstances is that the Bishop has the controlling power to set the controlling date for filing Disaffiliations. Once you reach that point, the Annual Conference will act only on those meeting the earlier deadline, with the official paper work in hand. The GMC and WCA have not explained theirselves well yet either. The Time Clock is ticking and the race is in the last quarter of the race.

  12. Comment by PSC on July 28, 2022 at 5:56 pm

    “It is universally agreed that as we divide between the Global Methodist Church and the “Continuing United Methodist Church…” is the same inaccurate binary choice the WCA/GMC keeps presenting. Some congregations have already joined other progressive or traditional denominations, and some have chosen to go indy/non-denom.

  13. Comment by Steve on July 28, 2022 at 6:54 pm

    PSC,
    Right. That is why the WCA/GMC and their supporters are talking about “time running out” now. Traditional UMC churches started leaving for already established Wesleyan denominations. Dr. Jeff Greenway, a GMC supporter, said on a podcast a couple of months ago that the GMC moved up its start date because large churches, such as Frazer UMC a mega-church in Montgomery, AL that had hosted WCA conferences, are joining established traditional denominations. (Frazer joined the Free Methodists). With the questionable behavior of those leading the GMC, those traditional methodist churches who chose to leave the UMC may be better served to join a proven Wesleyan denomination that has been around.

  14. Comment by Jeff on July 28, 2022 at 7:08 pm

    Star Tripper, the Rainbow Warriors will very soon be knocking at the doors of the *GMC* churches as well. That applies especially to the significant percentage of the supposed GMC “traditionalists” who nevertheless find certain aspects of today’s “wokeness” (i.e. cultural marxism) to be attractive. The principle of “intersectionality” guarantees that those who disclaim the Alphabet Mafia but embrace racism under the delusion of “anti-racism” will not, indeed cannot, be left alone by the Alphabets for long.

  15. Comment by Gary Bebop on July 28, 2022 at 7:08 pm

    Again, John shows courage and chutzpah to reveal what’s in his hand. He will say more if we are receptive to it. That’s what I want to read, not more bitter diatribes from the disaffected and frustrated. So the “game plan” didn’t work out. That’s our sorrow, but things have a way of working out. The Spirit hasn’t quit the field.

  16. Comment by Betrayal on July 28, 2022 at 7:09 pm

    The conference that I am familiar with is the West Ohio conference, run by the supposed bishop/leader of the flock who led/facilitated the negotiations over the Protocol. Immediately after that he started tearing down the structure to turn the conference into a personal fiefdom, hiring more and more staff and dumping districts out the window.

    I still am amazed that there is a recently conference staff member for ‘diversity and inclusion’, and others who more or less do the same thing. If a leftist conference in a leftist denomination with a leftist POC bishop has to have a staff member like this it speaks clearly that they cannot even find something that satisfies them.

    I am very tempted to tell the people in my church that the best solution is simply leave the church as a group and empty the place out. Take all they can carry. Then leave the building keys at the conference office office and say ‘its yours’.

  17. Comment by Kent Wilfong on July 28, 2022 at 7:51 pm

    If you can’t move then being told to run is irrelevant. I blame the GMC for jumping the gun. The 2016 BOD is still in effect with MOST members and churches following it. What would 2 more years have been? But no, like petulant children the GMC had to do the “I’ll show you” to the world. Now the only churches that can join the GMC are those who can afford it. Fortunately my faith is in God and not man made institutions. I will serve my churches and make disciples regardless of what the UMC or GMC does. That is what God called me to do.

  18. Comment by Kent Wilfong on July 28, 2022 at 8:33 pm

    Here is my take, the only churches that can join the GMC are those who can afford it. Let’s face it, the GMC messed up. The 2016 BOD is still in effect, and most of the churches and the members in the USA are adhering to it. Those who are breaking covenant are a minority. What would waiting two more years have done? Nothing. But, like a petulant child, the GMC said ” You can’t tell me what to do” and ran off. Now, the churches that are on the margins can’t leave the UMC because of the draconian regulations put in place. This also means that only churches who are flush with cash can leave the UMC and go where they want. The only other option to leaving the UMC is to close the doors, which is happening more that we would like to think.

    As a pastor of two churches who cannot leave, I will not leave, simply because I will not leave my flock, wherever that may be in the future. I have no faith in man-made institution, my faith is in God the Father. He has called me to make disciples, and that is what I intend to do until he says it is enough.
    I am disappointed in both the UMC and the GMC and I only see a future in following Jesus Christ. Good luck to all.

  19. Comment by Sad on July 28, 2022 at 11:51 pm

    The blogable frustrations being flung at the UMC are an interesting way to kickoff the GMC campaign for being a more “right” denomination. Spoiler alert: all denominations get it wrong…even the gmc will get it wrong. I pray that the shift can occur where it’s not pointing fingers and blaming the UMC for all of their pain and suffering and the GMC can – dare I say – get back to being more like Jesus? Sometimes it’s just ok to move on and be respectful. Breakups happen, but we don’t need every grievance about them posted online …

  20. Comment by Jody Flowers on July 29, 2022 at 5:20 am

    Disagreeing over doctrine and polity is to be expected and in some cases can be healthy. However, the way we UMs are going about it is embarrassing and is destroying whatever Christ honoring witness we had left. The dishonesty. The political posturing. Treating our Discipline as a Jeffersonian document, lifting up that which supports the agenda of institutional preservation at all costs while ignoring and smugly defying our mutually agreed upon and connection maintaining covenant. As Christians we’re called to contend for the faith once entrusted to the saints. We UMs have opted to contend with one another. Have mercy on us Lord Jesus, please have mercy.

  21. Comment by PSC on July 29, 2022 at 6:54 am

    Steve,
    Bingo!

  22. Comment by Bill T on July 29, 2022 at 7:18 am

    I would have the African Church unilaterally leave the UMC. Then join them in whatever they call themselves.

  23. Comment by Anthony on July 29, 2022 at 9:53 am

    Criticizing the people at WCA and the GMC is cowardly and inexcusable. All of the many unpaid hours and work that has gone in to bringing forth this Global Methodist Church is to be praised. I certainly do not have a better solution to the UMC schism for orthodox Methodists than this. Staying in the UMC and fighting for another 50 years is absolutely NO SOLUTION. Playing the long range game? How has that worked out for traditionalists? In one lifetime, 50 years of fighting is long enough. I have yet to see a realistic proposal of removing progressives from the UMC, in which they have taken over its leadership and will not relinquish. The laws of the UMC are unenforceable- and they know it. Even if they never get control of the delegates and General Conference, makes no difference to them. They’ll just keep defying the General Conference and the BOD where it displeases them. They cannot be stopped now by General Conference, the Judicial Council, or any other means in that they have succeeded in seizing the UMC, and there’s no turning back.

    Of course there are these other established Wesleyan denominations and independent churches to consider. But, the Global Methodist Church is being made up of current, living, traditional-orthodox United Methodists who want to CONTINUE the on paper UMC under another name. Will it be perfect? There’s an obvious answer to that.

  24. Comment by John Kenyon on July 29, 2022 at 12:05 pm

    Good article that misses a major point. The UMC is one among many Christian denominations facing this schism. What will the Global Methodist Church do to assess how the UMC came to this debacle and prevent it from happening again?

  25. Comment by Joe R on July 30, 2022 at 6:40 am

    I am deeply saddened by the state of the UMC. As a short term member of 38 years I’ve invested a lot into it. However, it is nothing compared to what Jesus invested into my salvation. My allegiance is to the Triune God, not the UMC. This organization has been slowly dying. May the last Methodist turn out the lights and lock the door. God will be the judge the hearts of man.

  26. Comment by Stephanie Jenkins on July 30, 2022 at 8:57 am

    What is the point of being in a “church” if the resurrection of Christ and its’ meaning are the main idea? Too much wokeness and drama. Walk away.

  27. Comment by Dan W on July 30, 2022 at 11:47 am

    I appreciate John’s article and I appreciate the comments – even the angry comments.

    I’m a lifetime Methodist who left my local congregation when sermons became mostly politics with very little Gospel. I worshipped at that church 18+ years and learned early on, Methodists need a lot of patience and grace with each other. At one point, when congregation finances were severely limited, we needed to replace a couple of outdoor light fixtures, for safety/security reasons. My personal finances were also limited at the time, but I went to the local home improvement store and found a couple of outdoor fixtures on the clearance shelf. I bought them and installed them one Saturday morning. Our congregation’s small staff greatly appreciated the lights, especially in the Winter when they were locking up after dark. A few church members complained about the “industrial” look of the fixtures and vowed to obtain replacements that were more decorative. Those fancy fixtures never arrived. Some folks will always complain, thers will use their own time, talent and treasure to solve problems.

  28. Comment by Marvin J. on July 30, 2022 at 8:18 pm

    I was going to a UMC in a smaller town, and based on the church website I was optimistic that it might be more biblical than your usual UMC (even though they didn’t respond to e-mails…). Nope–the pastor is conceited and he teaches against biblical sexual morality. He also gave ‘three months’ as an example of when lack of church attendance becomes a concern. I did not notice any teenagers or young adults present for worship or small groups. I sincerely doubt that that church will be in service in 20 years, and many other UMCs are in the same boat, to the extent that it may even be the norm in some areas.

  29. Comment by Charles S. Oaxpatu on July 31, 2022 at 3:18 pm

    As a long-time United Methodist, I disagree with John’s article. In fact, I am joyfully counting down the days until every person who wants out of the UMC succeeds in leaving for the Global Methodist Church or their closest pleasing version of an Independent Fundamentalist Baptist (IFB) church where they are guaranteed to be happy. The only thing I cannot understand is why—–I repeat—–why—– these people did not join an IFB church decades ago. If you will quit whining about the pain of leaving—–and just leave—–happiness and peace will finally descend upon everyone. Please. Do not sweat it. Just leave ASAP.

  30. Comment by Jim Radford on August 21, 2022 at 12:01 pm

    In his general letter preceding this article, and to which the above article was linked, Mark Tooley appealed to those who are “tired of control and manipulation by the dysfunctional…” by the powers-that-be in the current (“post-separation”) UMC. Well, I myself am beyond tired of having to deal with the powers-that-be (read: movers and shakers) in the liberal-progressive psUMC. But let me ask the secessionists and potential secessionits: Do you actually believe that “control, manipulation and the dysfunctional” by the NEW powers-that-be are not going to be an intrinsic part of this new Global Methodist Church? That is, that political, theological, ecclesial, and philosophical jockeying will be absent in the forming of it? I very much doubt it.

The work of IRD is made possible by your generous contributions.

Receive expert analysis in your inbox.