Process of Deciding ​

EXPLORE:

• Contact your DS

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DISCERN:

• Include the whole church

• This is not a leadership-only matter

• Contact your DS for support with structuring a productive discernment process

• Schedule a meeting with your DS and church members and leadership to review your discernment process, and to receive and review together the Local Church Checklist for Disaffiliation

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INITIATE DISAFFILIATION PROCESS:

• Request in writing your desire to have a Church Conference and include a list of your Professing Members with your request

• Send the request to your DS, and to Bishop Palmer and Conference Treasurer, Bill Brownson

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BEGIN THE DETAILED WORK:

• Work through each item on the church disaffiliation checklist

• Send requested information to this email address: p2553@wocumc.org

• Through your DS, request an estimate of pension liability share

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DS CONVENES A CHURCH CONFERENCE:

• Scheduled by DS

• Minimum 10 days’ notice to all professing members provided in two ways

• 2/3 vote of professing members present and voting required to disaffiliate

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IF DISAFFILIATION VOTE PREVAILS:

• Complete the detailed work following the checklist

• This work is designed to complete a legal separation and assist the new church with matters it must consider

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ANNUAL CONFERENCE VOTE:

• All items must be completed and submitted in advance of Annual Conference session

• October 31 is the deadline for consideration at the November 19, 2022 Special Annual Conference Session.

• Final share of pension liability is provided by the Conference

• An affirmative vote by the Annual Conference is necessary for disaffiliation

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CLOSE OUT THE PROCESS:

• Church presents the conference with a check for the cost of disaffiliation

• Legal agreements are executed by the disaffiliated church, district superintendent and conference representatives

• Trust clause is released and deed(s) transfers(ed) are notarized and executed