S.C. trustees: One more year for separation discernment
By Jessica Brodie
South Carolina United Methodist churches trying to discern whether they wish to separate from the denomination have one more opportunity.
The trustees of the South Carolina Conference of The UMC released a statement regarding the continuation of the Local Church Discernment Process into 2025, affirming they will continue to offer that process as a means for local churches to determine whether they will separate from denomination.
They said the process, which concludes with a vote by lay and clergy members of the annual conference, will not continue after the 2025 Annual Conference gathering, slated for next June.
In its Aug. 5 statement, the South Carolina Conference confirmed the Local Church Discernment Process, and the related Separation Agreement, are centered on Para. 2549 of the UMC Book of Discipline.
The conference further noted requests for declaratory decisions on the constitutionality of the use of Para. 2549—which historically has been employed to close churches that are no longer able to function as United Methodist congregations—are on the fall docket of the UMC Judicial Council, which is the denomination’s top court.
However, the conference said any decision by the Judicial Council could affect the continued use of Para. 2549 as a means for separation.
The South Carolina Conference has already approved the separation of 225 churches from the UMC over the last two years, a total of about 23.4 percent. In 2023, 113 of the 958 churches separated from the denomination, comprising roughly 12 percent of the total. Many of those churches were some of the largest-membership churches in the conference. Then in June 2024, 112 additional churches separated from the South Carolina Conference.
The full list of 2023 and 2024 separating churches can be found at https://advocatesc.org/separation.
With changes in the Book of Discipline that passed at General Conference, many wondered whether churches would still be permitted to leave the UMC through the Local Church Discernment Process, as many had waited until the quadrennial gathering to determine their course, as requested by South Carolina conference leaders.
But according to a South Carolina Conference website release dated Aug. 5, the final round of the Local Church Discernment Process is available for churches whose congregations already have voted in 2024 to separate from the denomination, but were not able to meet the requirements of the Separation Agreement in time for the 2024 South Carolina Annual Conference to vote on their departure.
As well, churches whose congregations have never voted on whether to separate also are authorized to engage in the process.
During a July 26 meeting, trustees voted to extend the process for one more year and to update the “Checklist for Closure and Separation.”
Churches interested in pursuing the Local Church Discernment Process must have their church council communicate this to their district superintendent. For details about the process, see https://www.umcsc.org/discern.
Why have some churches left the UMC?
Separating churches left in 2023 and 2024 through the Local Church Discernment Process that is grounded in Para. 2549 of the Discipline, which is typically employed when a local church is closed because it no longer serves the purpose for which it was organized.
The churches wishing to leave signed a document stating they “find themselves unable to serve the purpose for which they were organized, because issues related to human sexuality have prevented them, in that they cannot accept the actions taken in The United Methodist Church. Thus, the issues of human sexuality have prevented them in their mission to make disciples for the transformation of the world.”
Those “issues related to sexuality” stem from a belief that the denomination had not upheld its previously stated doctrine (per the 2016 Discipline) that homosexuality is “incompatible with Christian teaching.”
That is, the churches who left were supporters of the incompatibility language and felt the UMC had not been upholding its stance properly.
The incompatibility language was eliminated from the Discipline at the most recent General Conference, April 23-May 3.
Why were churches concerned they would not be permitted to separate?
The changes implemented at General Conference caused many in South Carolina to wonder whether they would still be permitted to leave the UMC under Para. 2549.
However, the trustees’ statement indicated these churches will indeed be able to leave the denomination if they wish unless the Judicial Council rules otherwise.
To leave under the Local Church Discernment Process, South Carolina churches must complete an intentional, 30-day discernment process; satisfy financial obligations, including all unpaid apportionment giving and unpaid salary and benefits due to clergy; and satisfy or transfer of debts and other legal liabilities of the local church. Then, a churchwide vote must be taken indicating two-thirds of professing church members present agreed to formally declare the church can no longer continue to function as a UMC.
Where do the funds from separating churches go?
In a March 21 statement, the trustees announced the total amount received from the churches that departed in 2023 is a little more than $17.5 million.
The amount received from 2024 separating churches has not yet been released.
Most of that 2023 money already has been distributed or set aside for a specific purpose:
• $7.48 million “Hope Fund”—direct ministry grants that will be shared through the districts;
• $3.8 million in apportionment funds for 2023 and half of 2024 have been disbursed to conference ministries as part of the current year’s budget;
• $2.4 million to the Conference Council on Finance and Administration to ease the financial impact on local churches in coming years’ budgets;
• $1 million to Conference Congregational Development to help support local churches, new ministries and new church plants and communities where poverty is significant;
• $299,000 to cover unfunded pension liabilities; and
• $31,000 in direct billing for pastors’ pension and health benefits.
The trustees are holding $2.5 million to cover their operations and legal expenses. Trustees may release some or all of these funds for ministry after certain legal deadlines have expired.
What about funds for BIPOC churches?
At this year’s Annual Conference, concerns were expressed regarding equity in fund distribution over concerns that “BIPOC” congregations—Black, indigenous and other people of color—might not get the funds they need because of a lack of awareness or voice in the decision-making. The conference passed a motion asking a minimum of $5 million from the separating church funds be considered for BIPOC congregations, with Black Methodists for Church Renewal and the office of Congregational Development helping as advisors.
However, at their July 26 meeting, the trustees expressed their support for assisting BIPOC congregations but voted to make no changes in how the funds received from separating churches are distributed.
It is important, trustees stated, to maintain the board’s historical independence. They noted that principle is grounded in the Discipline, which gives trustees sole discretion for determining how best to use the funds from departing churches.
They said BIPOC congregations can and often do benefit from the areas of ministry that have been given funds received from separating churches.