First United Methodist Church New Braunfels is part of the United Methodist Church (UMC). The UMC is a world-wide denomination in the Wesleyan/Methodist tradition that traces its theology and beginnings to John Wesley. If you want to find out more about our denomination, check out UMC.ORG.
INFORMATION ABOUT FIRST AND DISAFFILIATION
TERMS
Wesylan
Theology and beliefs that trace back to John Wesley. Wesleyan theology is shared by all Methodist Churches as well as many others. Distinctive features of Wesleyan theology is an emphasis on entire sanctification (christian perfection) and grace.
General Conference
The world-wide gathering of clergy and lay-delegates in the UMC who meet to determine the rules and direction of the church. They typically meet every 4 years. The last General Conference (2020) did not happen because of the pandemic. The next scheduled General Conference is 2024.
The Book of Discipline
The rule book of the UMC specifies our rules and major doctrine.
Annual Conference
The Methodist Church is made up of regional bodies called Annual Conferences (who meet together annually). They are led by a Bishop. Pastors, unlike members of the congregation, are members of the annual conference. That is why, for example, UMC pastors “itinerate” or move to new churches every few years but generally stay in the same region (Annual Conference). We belong to the Rio Texas Conference. Our Bishop is Robert Schnase.
Disaffiliation
A process in which a local church chooses to leave the denomination, either to join another denomination or become an “independent” non-denominational church. Many churches began disaffiliation in 2019 due to an avenue voted during the 2019 Special General Conference which opened up a pathway of independence.
THE UMC IS IN THE NEWS A LOT - WHAT IS GOING ON?
Prior to 2024 many Churches left the denomination through a Paragraph 2553 in the Book of Discipline which allows churches to disaffiliate over issues related to ”reasons of conscience” – due to changes in the Book of Discipline concerning the “practice of homosexuality” or the “ordination or marriage of self-avowed practicing homosexuals.”
It is important to note that the Book of Discipline has not been changed and does not condone the practice of homosexuality, nor allow for the ordination or marriage of LGTB individuals. Paragraph 2553 was added anticipating either conservatives or liberals would want to leave the denomination, depending on what decisions or changes General Conference 2020 was to have made or not have made regarding the ordination or marriage of “self-avowed practicing homosexuals.”
After 2023 the option for churches to leave is still available in the Rio Texas Conference through different paragraphs in the Book of Discipline.
WHY ARE CHURCHES LEAVING NOW?
The COVID-19 pandemic caused the postponement of the 2020 General Conference. As mentioned, Paragraph 2553, added in 2019 at a special General Conference, created an avenue for churches to leave, assuming the General Conference in 2020 would provide a framework for resolution. Unfortunately, that paragraph sunsets at the end of 2023 due to lack of consideration that General Conference would be postponed until 2024. Some churches in some Annual Conferences believed leaving before Paragraph 2553’s sunset was their best option. The decision is not as urgent in the Rio Texas Conference, however, because our Annual Conference has a process in place that will allow for disaffiliation beyond 2023.
DO churches need to vote now to disaffiliate?
One of the most important things to understand about the process of disaffiliation is that different Annual Conferences have enacted different rules. Much of the information found on the internet is about other Annual Conferences – and do not apply to Rio Texas Annual Conference. Confusingly, one of the UMC’s Annual Conferences is called the “Texas Annual Conference,” but only represents east Texas. Despite being in Texas, we are not part of the Texas Annual Conference. Our conference is called the Rio Texas Annual Conference and it has opened up, through a policy of the Trustees, an avenue for disaffiliation into the future beyond 2023 and the sunset of Paragraph 2553. Bishop Schnase addresses the issue here:
What options are there for First UMC?
Remain UMC, no vote is required
It is important to be clear that no vote in necessary. A church will remain in the UMC if it takes no action. The majority of UMC churches are choosing this option.
Disaffiliate
Disaffiliation requires a 2/3 majority vote of the church membership. It also requires a period of discernment with a process led by the District Superintendent, paying off apportionments for 2 years (what we agreed upon at Annual Conference) and pension liability for previous pastors. A church that disaffiliates has a number of options. Some of them are listed below:
Become Non-Denominational
First could disaffiliate from the UMC and simply not reaffiliate with any other denomination. In the wake of similar church splits in other denominations many churches chose this path.
Join the Global Methodist Church
The GMC is a new Wesleyan denomination with a commitment to not ordaining practicing homosexuals and only allowing hetrosexual marriage. It is largely made up of ex-UMC churches. In our area churches that have left the UMC have largely joined the GMC.
Join the Free Methodist Church
The FMC is an already existing Methodist denomination that some churches have joined. It also is committed to not ordaining practicing homosexuals and only allowing hetrosexual marriage.
Join an Emerging Methodist Association
Associations of independent Methodist churches seem to be forming, though it will likely be a few years before this option is clear.
Where can I get more information about what our annual Conference process is?
Many people have asked about our Conference rules for disaffiliation and for information directly from the Bishop. The Rio Texas Annual Conference has a website devoted to “discerning pathways” that provides many links. You can find it here. The videos by the conference office help answer many of the questions. They also created a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) and reasons to stay UMC.