Our Process of Discernment and Disaffiliation
While there are no guidelines for how to move through a discernment process, church leaders began the process with the primary goal that this church be able to move past the divisive issues facing the UMC by making a decision on whether or not to disaffiliate. While some churches are choosing to have a small group of leaders go through the process and make a recommendation to the greater church body, TFUMC’s leaders believed the whole church body should go through the process together. Here is a brief overview of the process TFUMC has gone through:
June 24, 2022 – Lay Leadership submitted an email to District Superintendent Rev. Doreen Smalls, expressing the desire that TFUMC begin a process of discernment over the issue of disaffiliation.
July 3, 2022 – The Weekly Bulletin highlighted the division in the UMC, expressed that Rev. Doreen Smalls had been contacted, encouraged the church membership to take actions to begin to educate themselves, and to begin to pray over the issue at hand.
Sunday, August 28, 2022 – Town Hall w/ Rev. Jay Hanson. Rev. Hanson serves The Chapel in Brunswick, GA. The Chapel is one of the 62 UM churches who disaffiliated at the Called South Georgia Annual Conference on August 20, 2022. Rev. Hanson will be sharing about The Chapel’s journey, as well as his personal journey to becoming an Elder in the Global Methodist Church. You can watch Town Hall #1 HERE.
Sunday, September 11, 2022 – Town Hall w/ Rev. Dr. Ben Gosden. Rev. Gosden serves Trinity Church in Savannah, GA. Trinity Church is a UM church that leans Progressive. We’ve asked Rev. Gosden to visit Thomasville and present a Progressive point of view. You can watch Town Hall #2 HERE.
September 14, 2022 – A survey designed to gauge our congregation’s views on the ordination of “self-avowed practicing homosexuals” and whether UM Clergy should person same-sex weddings, was mailed to every church member. See survey and results.
Sunday, September 18, 2022 – Southwest District Gathering w/ Bishop Graves. 4pm-6pm at Tifton First UMC. This was an opportunity to hear Bishop Graves’ thoughts on the future of our Conference.
October 6, 2022 – Our District Superintendent, Rev. Doreen Smalls visited TFUMC to host a congregational Q&A regarding disaffiliation. You can watch Congregational Q&A HERE.
October 18, 2022 – In a vote of 14-4, the Administrative Council decided to call for a congregational vote to decide whether our church will disaffiliate/depart from the United Methodist Church..
October 28, 2022 – Church publications (digital & print) began including church disaffiliation vote date.
January 4, 2023 – Letter mailed to church members informing them of the Called Church Conference scheduled for January 22, 2023. Read the letter.
January 22, 2023 – Called Church Conference – In a vote by 390 members of this church, 77.7% were in favor of disaffiliating from the United Methodist Church. This surpasses the 2/3 majority required by ¶2553 of the UM Book of Discipline.
The results were as follows:
303 voted in favor of disaffiliation.
87 voted against disaffiliation.
January 24, 2023 – Administrative Council tasked the Nominations Committee with putting together a small team of people to pray, research, and report back to the Administrative Council their findings regarding potential future denominational affiliation.
March 10, 2023 – A letter is sent to all Members with an update on the disaffiliation process. Read the letter.
March 21, 2023 – Research Team presented their findings regarding potential Methodist/Wesleyan denominations this church might want to affiliate with. A useful comparison chart.
April 25, 2023 – A letter is sent to all Members with an update on the disaffiliation process. Read the letter.
May 21, 2023 – Called Annual Conference during which disaffiliation requests should be ratified.
June 30, 2023 – effective disaffiliation date
