FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. What is the mission of the Navigation Team? The mission can best be displayed through our call-to-action statements below.
When the Navigation Team completes its work -
i. Members of Fairview UMC will make an informed final decision on disaffiliation at a Church Conference of all professing members at a Church Conference on Sunday, January 29, 2023 at 2 PM
(EST) in the church sanctuary. Note: All professing members wishing to vote will need to be physically present in the meeting. There will not be a remote voting option available.
ii. Members of FUMC will collectively select our path forward (i.e. UMC Post-Separation, Global Methodist, Independent, and Wesleyan) and preserve our current congregational
relationships.
2. How does the Navigation Team plan to accomplish their mission?
a. FAQ’s document – The team will produce a living document where members can submit questions on disaffiliation and the path forward which we will research and publish answers. Current document will be found on the church’s website at www.visitfairview.net/disaffiliation-faq.
b. Key elements chart – a living comparative chart summarizing the key elements of the optional paths forward (UMC Post-Separation, Global Methodist, Independent, and Wesleyan). Current document can be found on the church’s website at https://visitfairview.net/denomination-comparison .
c. Conduct information sessions with representatives from potential paths forward.
d. Recommend additional resources for those seeking further details.
3. Who are the members of the Navigation Team?
Andrew Hunter - Chairperson
Lyle Bullington
Tim Davis
Mollie Dickenson
Faye Sams
Kyle Shinault
4. How can I submit questions to the Navigation Team?
If you would like to submit a question to the Navigation Team regarding UMC Disaffiliation, please go to the Disaffiliation Question form on the church’s website. A link to the form is here - www.visitfairview.net/disaffiliation-question.
5. Where will I find the Navigation Team published answers?
a. The Navigation Team will provide response to any questions asked after the team has researched thoroughly the subject matter. The question and answer will be posted to the church’s website at www.visitfairview.net/disaffiliation-faq.
6. Is there a process for disaffiliation? If so, where are we?
a. Yes, there is a process for disaffiliation defined by each annual conference. The Western North Carolina Conference has posted the process for member churches - https://www.wnccumc.org/disaffiliation-process-and-information.
b. FUMC has completed items #1 - #7 and the next major milestone is the Disaffiliation Resolution vote set to take place on Sunday, January 29, 2023 @ 2 PM in the sanctuary.
7. Will Fairview UMC disaffiliate to join the Global Methodist Church if disaffiliation is approved?
a. While the majority of those leaving the UMC will join the Global Methodist Church, there are options available to Fairview. We could leave to join the Global Methodist Church, join the Wesleyan Church, or choose to be independent. It will be important in the coming months to schedule information sessions for remaining UMC, understanding the structure/operations of Global Methodist, pros/cons of being independent, or any other denominations.
8. How much will it cost to disaffiliate from the UMC?
a. The exit cost is broken into two areas - apportionments and current/future pension obligations. They both total to $149,288
Apportionments - ¶2553.4.b tells us that apportionments for the prior twelve months must be current and an additional twelve months. This will equate to approximately $25,000 for Fairview.
Current and future pension - ¶2553.4.d tells us our “liability in an amount equal to its pro rata share of any aggregate unfunded pension obligations”. Our District Superintendent communicated on November 1, 2022 this amount to be $98,654 for Fairview.
Additional costs will include changing signage, literature, reincorporating, etc. Theses costs will be defined further later.
9. What did the recent “poll” have to do with anything?
a. The “poll” has no official capacity in disaffiliation except to provide guidance to the Administrative Council on the membership’s opinion of what is right for Fairview. Its only purpose was to decide whether the majority wanted to go down the path of disaffiliation and if the majority did, then the poll and the required communication would satisfy the first step of the WNCC Disaffiliation Process.
10. How can we intelligently vote on disaffiliation from the UMC without knowing where we are going?
a. Great question! It was understood the poll would bring more questions than answers in the short run, and it delivered. However, it is important to know the interest of the membership before investing more time, effort, and expense. In steps 2 – 5 of the WNCC process, this is where that information comes to light. Please take steps 2 – 5 very seriously in the coming weeks and months as there will be ample opportunity to be more educated and ask questions. Be aware, these meetings, discussion panels, videos, etc. will be outside of worship services as we seek to keep worship services as intended……worship services.
11. What is next for the church?
a. With 85% of those voting seeking to pursue more information regarding disaffiliation, a Navigation Team has been formed and a Disaffiliation Resolution will be drafted. The Disaffiliation Resolution will detail the intent to disaffiliate from the UMC, details the costs of disaffiliation and what the future associations with denominations would look like. The Disaffiliation Resolution is the document that Professing Members will be presented at a duly called Church Conference overseen by Rev. Dr. Sam Moore or his designee. Members will vote on this resolution and if 2/3 of those present approve, then it becomes official to the WNCC UMC we desire to disaffiliate. If the 2/3 majority is not met, the effort stops and Fairview remains UMC.
12. What is the difference in a Disaffiliation Resolution and Disaffiliation Agreement?
a. The Disaffiliation Resolution is presented to the membership for the purpose of receiving the member vote of the topic. The resolution is less detailed than the agreement.
b. If 2/3 majority of members approve the Disaffilition Resolution, a Disaffiliation Agreement will be written and it is the final and binding agreement for Fairview. This agreement would be presented to the WNCC conference administration in March to be considered a duly executed agreement of all the details required for Fairview to properly disaffiliate. This document contains very specific details such as the exact cost, addresses Tax ID issues, signage changes, name changes, etc.
13. Does disaffiliation mean that LGBTQ+ persons are not going to be allowed to come to church?
a. Absolutely not. There is not, and will not be, a path forward being discussed that prevents anyone from coming to any Fairview UMC worship service or event.
b. Consistent with the current UMC Book of Discipline (2016) paragraphs below, all people are welcome.
¶ 4. Article IV. Inclusiveness of the Church—The United Methodist Church is a part of the church universal, which is one Body in Christ. The United Methodist Church acknowledges that all persons are of sacred worth. All persons without regard to race, color, national origin, status, or economic condition, shall be eligible to attend its worship services, participate in its programs, receive the sacraments, upon baptism be admitted as baptized members, and upon taking vows declaring the Christian faith, become professing members in any local church in the connection.
¶ 161.C. Marriage — We affirm the sanctity of the marriage covenant that is expressed in love, mutual support, personal commitment, and shared fidelity between a man and a woman. We believe that God’s blessing rests upon such marriage, whether or not there are children of the union. We reject social norms that assume different standards for women than for men in marriage. We support laws in civil society that define marriage as the union of one man and one woman.
¶ 161.G. Human Sexuality - … “We affirm that all persons are individuals of sacred worth, created in the image of God. All persons need the ministry of the Church in their struggles for human fulfillment, as well as the spiritual and emotional care of a fellowship that enables reconciling relationships with God, with others, and with self. The United Methodist Church does not condone the practice of homosexuality and considers this practice incompatible with Christian teaching. We affirm that God’s grace is available to all. We will seek to live together in Christian community, welcoming, forgiving, and loving one another, as Christ has loved and accepted us. We implore families and churches not to reject or condemn lesbian and gay members and friends. We commit ourselves to be in ministry for and with all persons.”
¶ 304.3. Qualifications for Ordination - While persons set apart by the Church for ordained ministry are subject to all the frailties of the human condition and the pressures of society, they are required to maintain the highest standards of holy living in the world. The practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching. Therefore, self-avowed practicing homosexuals are not to be certified as candidates, ordained as ministers, or appointed to serve in The United Methodist Church.
¶ 341. Unauthorized Conduct—6. Ceremonies that celebrate homosexual unions shall not be conducted by our ministers and shall not be conducted in our churches.
https://www.umc.org/en/content/homosexuality-full-book-of-discipline-statements
14. Given that the information in #13 above seems to align with Fairview’s “conservative” values, why would anyone consider disaffiliation at all?
a. Since 1972, there have been petitions at each General Conference to revise the language regarding homosexuality in general, allowing same sex marriages, homosexual ordainment, etc. The 2019 petitions can be found at https://um-forward.org/simpleplan.
b. Our conference bishop, Ken Carter, is committed to “reaffirm the abeyance that I signed with the Protocol, to cease the legal complaint processes related to LGBTQ+ persons in our church. For me, this is a fulfillment of our General Rule to do no harm.” Translated to mean that he is not enforcing the current discipline if violations are reported. https://www.wnccumc.org/detail/bishop-carter-pastoral-response-to-the-general-conference-announcement-16384698
c. ¶ 2553. Disaffiliation of a Local Church Over Issues Related to Human Sexuality – It is believed that the challenge on the current discipline’s definition of long held traditions of marriage, leadership qualification, ordainment, etc. will only intensify. Also, as currently written, after December 31, 2023 the church’s paths for exit if “The Discipline” changes will become exponentially more expensive (e.g. $2,900,000 is the 2022 tax value of Fairview assets).
d. There is little doubt that the voice of those wishing to continue the longstanding, traditional view will be diminished. As fellow traditional churches disaffiliate, the progressive voice will become stronger and more powerful.
15. Can’t we just stay UMC and remain traditional in our worship?
a. It has been stated this is an option, however we have not been able to substantiate on the UMC official website. We have requested more information from our District Superintendent if this is a viable option and have only been directed toward a form titled “Expanded Clergy Profile”. In this profile, both the church and pastors, self-describe themselves as progressive, centrist or traditional and there will be an attempt to appoint like-minded pastors with churches.
b. There is no path defined or described showing the UMC would have two disciplines (one with language and one without). Any churches who choose to “remain traditional” appear to be carried out through the “Expanded Clergy Profile” document. However, in the UMC universal going forward, there would be same sex marriages at some churches while not at others, homosexual clergy in some but not others, and homosexual bishops in some areas and not others.
c. Some further questions for thought are: Would it be right to suppose that if the other “controversial” language is stricken in the existing discipline, ¶613.19 might be modified to allow UMC funds to promote or support homosexuality? And if so, how would FUMC funds be kept from funding such education or events?
d. It appears the majority of US annual conferences (52%) will not implement the “traditional plan” and further want to remove offensive language to include homosexuals in leadership positions (https://booneumc.org/what-happened-at-annual-conference/#:~:text=The%20petition%20also%20rejected%20the,WNCC%20voting%20in%20the%20affirmative).
e. Regardless of a discipline change or a general conference vote opposing, the UMC is not going to enforce the current discipline and are already moving down a path of LGBTQ+ ordinations – https://www.umnews.org/en/news/western-elects-cedrick-bridgeforth-as-bishop.
f. It leaves us to conclude any stay UMC but remain traditional appears to be implementation of the “One Church” plan, where traditionalists are to practice what they want locally and don’t worry about what is happening at the UMC at-large.
16. What happens to memberships of those who wish to remain UMC if we vote to disaffiliate?
For those wishing to remain a member of the United Methodist Church, the conference has offered two options.
a. Do nothing with your membership, but notify the WNCC that you wish to remain informed.
b. Transfer your membership to the WNCC rolls, but not transfer membership to another UMC congregation.
https://www.wnccumc.org/remaining-umc-when-my-church-is-disaffiliating