Breaking news: Court rules no more UMCSC church separations via Para. 2549

The Judicial Council—the denomination’s top court—has ruled that Para. 2549 of the United Methodist Book of Discipline cannot be used for church disaffiliations. 

This ruling, Decision 1512, means the Local Church Closure and Separation Process, approved by the Trustees of the South Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church, is no longer available as a means of separation from the denomination.

The Advocate will have a full story in the next (December) edition. In the meantime: 

• Read the article by the United Methodist News Service on this ruling and several others handed down by the court

• Read a joint statement on the court’s decision from South Carolina’s Resident Bishop Leonard Fairley and the Rev. Shannon Bullion, chairperson of the Trustees of the Annual Conference.