The 2019 Special Session of the General Conference of The United Methodist Church adopted legislation establishing the limited right of a local church to petition its annual conference to disaffiliate from the denomination “for reasons of conscience regarding a change in the requirements and provisions of the Book of Discipline related to the practice of homosexuality or the ordination or marriage of self-avowed practicing homosexuals as resolved and adopted by the 2019 General Conference, or the actions or inactions of its annual conference related to these issues which follow.” This limited right, codified as the Book of Discipline’s new Paragraph 2553, expires December 31, 2023.
Local churches seeking to disaffiliate from The United Methodist Church during this limited time frame are required by ¶2553 to fulfill the financial obligations specified in that paragraph. The 2019 Special Session also adopted ¶1504.23 requiring that a local church changing its relationship with The United Methodist Church shall contribute a withdrawal liability in an amount equal to its pro rata share of any aggregate unfunded pension obligations.
Judicial Council Decision 1424 affirmed that the Annual Conference has the authority to develop additional procedures and standard terms (which become part of the Disaffiliation Agreement) that are not inconsistent with the minimum standards for disaffiliation required by ¶2553.
Wisconsin’s Disaffiliation Task Force is recommending the following process and timeline for use by our annual conference’s congregations seeking to disaffiliate.
1. Initial Conversation: By September 1, 2022, the initial conversation between the District Superintendent and the pastor and/or lay leadership of the local church must take place.
2. Initial Meeting: By October 1, 2022, the initial meeting with the local church leadership, the District Superintendent and the Conference Disaffiliation Discernment Team must take place.
3. Follow up conversation between the pastor and the District Superintendent: At or near the time of the Initial Meeting.
4. Period of Discernment: A two-month period of discernment following the Initial Meeting to allow the church to make a fully informed decision about whether or not to explore disaffiliation.
5. Formal Request to Explore Disaffiliation: Local Church submits the “Formal Request to Explore Disaffiliation under ¶2553” application form no later than December 1, 2022.
6. Determination of Eligibility for Disaffiliation: Conference Board of Trustees reviews the “Formal Request to Explore Disaffiliation” and notifies the local church within 30 days of the date of receipt of the Formal Request whether or not the request meets the requirements for disaffiliation specified in ¶2553.1.
7. Pastor communicates his/her intentions: By December 1, 2022, the District Superintendent must receive a letter from the pastor indicating his/her intentions regarding continued service in The United Methodist Church.
8. Formal Application for Disaffiliation: If the Conference Board of Trustees determines that the Local Church’s Formal Request to Explore Disaffiliation meets the requirements of ¶2553.1, the local church desiring to continue the disaffiliation process must submit its “Formal Application for Disaffiliation” application form by January 15, 2023.
9. Required Documentation: By January 15, 2023, the local church submits required documentation, which must accompany the “Formal Request for Disaffiliation” form.
10. Request for Church Conference: By January 15, 2023, the Conference Disaffiliation Coordinator must receive a letter from the local church requesting a church conference for the purpose of considering a resolution on disaffiliation.
11. Preparations for the Church Conference: The Conference Board of Trustees, Treasurer, and District Superintendent prepare appropriate documents for the Church Conference referenced below.
12. Church Conference: By March 15, 2023, the church conference must meet and approve a disaffiliation resolution by a two-thirds majority of the professing members present at the church conference.
13. Action by the Annual Conference Board of Trustees and Cabinet: By April 15, 2023, the Conference Board of Trustees, Conference Treasurer, and Assistant to the Bishop must prepare a legislative item for Annual Conference action.
14. Payment of Financial Obligations for Disaffiliation: The local church must submit payment in full for all financial obligations due to the Annual Conference and for the escrow account no later than two weeks prior to the opening of the Wisconsin Annual Conference Session at which the disaffiliation request will be considered.
15. Annual Conference Action: In June 2023 (dates TBD), the Annual Conference must vote on the disaffiliation resolution prepared and submitted by the Conference Board of Trustees.
16. Implementation: By December 31, 2023, all terms of the disaffiliation agreement must be met by the local church.
17. Time Limit: December 31, 2023 – Date upon which disaffiliation agreement becomes null and void if any terms remain unfulfilled.